Rihanna is first Black feminine artist to surpass 50 billion streams
Even and not using a new album in practically a decade, Rihanna continues to show why she’s one of the iconic and influential figures in music. Together with her newest achievement, she cements her place in streaming historical past — all whereas balancing household life and enterprise ventures.
A Report-Breaking Streaming Milestone
On Wednesday, Chart Knowledge confirmed a historic achievement for Rihanna. The worldwide celebrity has now formally surpassed 50 billion streams on Spotify, making her the first Black feminine artist in historical past to hit that milestone on the platform.
This quantity contains each her solo catalog and collaborative options, which span greater than 15 years of chart-dominating music. From early hits like “Umbrella” and “Take a Bow” to streaming-era smashes like “Work” and “Wanted Me,” Rihanna’s impression continues to resonate, even in her prolonged absence from common releases.
With this feat, Rihanna joins an elite circle of artists, male or feminine, who’ve crossed the 50 billion threshold — and he or she’s completed it with out releasing a studio album since 2016.
The Legacy of Anti
Rihanna’s final full-length album, Anti, dropped in January 2016, and stays a contemporary traditional. The album featured a daring, genre-blending sound, crucial acclaim, and big streaming success. Standout tracks included:
- “Work” that includes Drake (which spent 9 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100)
- “Wanted Me”
- “Love on the Mind”
- “Kiss It Higher”
Regardless of being practically a decade outdated, Anti has remained a streaming juggernaut, and continues to draw new listeners on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. As of mid-2025, Anti nonetheless sits among the many most-streamed R&B albums by a feminine artist.
Rihanna has launched a couple of songs since then, together with her 2022 comeback ballad “Elevate Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Perpetually — which earned an Oscar nomination — and most just lately, “Good friend of Mine” from the Smurfs film soundtrack, launched in Could 2025.
“Good friend of Mine” – A Style of Rih in 2025
Whereas not a conventional single or half of a bigger mission, “Good friend of Mine” reminded followers of what they’ve been lacking: Rihanna’s unmistakable voice and emotional supply. The observe, a playful and family-friendly tune featured on the Smurfs soundtrack, gave youthful audiences a style of Rihanna’s vary and launched her voice to a brand new era.
The discharge was warmly acquired and sparked renewed hope amongst followers that new materials — presumably even an album — is lastly on the best way.
A New Period of Rihanna: Music, Motherhood & Empire Constructing
Prior to now three years, Rihanna’s life has taken a serious flip — or a number of. She has turn into a mom of three, welcoming kids together with her longtime accomplice, A$AP Rocky, between 2022 and 2025. The couple has embraced household life, sometimes providing the general public candy glimpses of their children whereas sustaining a level of privateness.
Balancing motherhood with international fame isn’t straightforward, however Rihanna has completed so with magnificence and dedication — all whereas persevering with to run her Fenty empire, which incorporates:
- Fenty Magnificence, her billion-dollar cosmetics model
- Savage X Fenty, her inclusive lingerie line
- Fenty Pores and skin, her skincare label
- Ongoing work in style, perfume, and leisure partnerships
Rihanna is now simply as recognized for boardrooms as she is for billboards, redefining what it means to be a pop star within the 2020s.
Nonetheless Ready for “R9”
Regardless of her different ventures and the fun of motherhood, followers are nonetheless holding out hope for Rihanna’s long-awaited ninth studio album — dubbed “R9” by her devoted Navy fanbase.
In numerous interviews through the years, Rihanna has teased the mission — generally playfully, generally critically. At one level, she even joked that followers would “not be prepared” for the brand new sound she’s been experimenting with, which reportedly leans closely into Caribbean and dancehall influences.
But, because the years go by, the album has remained elusive. Nonetheless, the thrill surrounding any trace of recent music by no means dies down. The discharge of “Good friend of Mine” and her look on the 2023 Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present solely intensified hypothesis that R9 might lastly be on the horizon.
Why Rihanna’s 50 Billion Stream Milestone Issues
Streaming platforms have dramatically reshaped the music business over the past decade. In an period the place algorithms and playlist placements drive discovery, reaching 50 billion streams isn’t nearly recognition — it’s about cultural endurance.
Rihanna’s milestone issues as a result of:
- She hasn’t launched a studio album in 9 years
- She has maintained huge international streaming numbers regardless of being comparatively inactive musically
- She is the first Black feminine artist to hit this quantity — a groundbreaking achievement in an business the place Black ladies have lengthy confronted boundaries in each visibility and fairness
This achievement locations Rihanna in the identical league as streaming powerhouses like Drake, The Weeknd, Unhealthy Bunny, and Taylor Swift — all of whom have both launched a number of latest initiatives or remained closely energetic within the touring and music launch house.
Social Media Reactions & Fan Love
Followers around the globe took to social media to rejoice Rihanna’s historic milestone. Hashtags like #Rihanna50Billion, #R9When, and #TheNavy rapidly trended on platforms like Twitter (X) and Instagram. Many customers praised Rihanna for “dominating with out even making an attempt,” whereas others joked that she must “drop the album already.”
Whether or not or not R9 arrives this 12 months, Rihanna’s place in music historical past is already secured. She continues to interrupt data, redefine success, and encourage followers throughout generations — all whereas balancing motherhood, multi-million-dollar companies, and a international legacy.
Her 50 billion Spotify streams aren’t only a quantity — they’re a reminder that actual artistry transcends time, developments, and business timelines. Rihanna could also be quiet on the music entrance, however when she returns, it’s clear the world can be prepared — and listening.
