Rihanna transcends. Over ten years and seven studio albums – from the dance floors of sweaty frat houses to bedroom chill sessions – she has become the official artist of the “turn up.” This near-universal love for her music, and her devoted #RihNavy, have made her Spotify’s most streamed female artist of 2015 – a title which Rih snagged without even releasing her long-awaited eighth studio album, Anti.
That’s not to say that Rihanna hasn’t released new music in the past year. She dropped three singles – a collaboration with Kanye and Paul McCartney, “Fourfiveseconds,”the vengeful “Bitch Better Have My Money” (BBHMM), and the more peaceful “American Oxygen.” But Drake, who was named Spotify’s overall most streamed artist of 2015, blessed us with an entire secret mixtape: If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, including the booty call anthem of forever, “Hotline Bling.”
Other Spotify winners include i-D cover star and love of my life Justin Bieber, who released Purpose on November 13 and nabbed the most Spotify streams for an artist in one day. MØ and Diplo’s “Lean On”earned the most streams of any song globally and The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness was the most streamed album of 2015.
Overall, Rih received a staggering one billion streams and 57 million listeners. Needless to say, if Anti had been in the game, she might have stolen Drake’s throne.
Credits
Text Hana Beach
Photography Paolo Roversi