The world continues to wait for new music from Rihanna, just as it has for so many years. At this point, it seems entirely possible that she may never deliver another album. The singer made herself into one of the biggest hitmakers of all time, but these days, she appears more focused on her cosmetics empire, which helped make her a billionaire, as well as her children. When she does create music, it is almost always tied to film projects.
Thankfully, Rihanna remains a constant winner on the Billboard charts thanks to several of her most popular and critically acclaimed albums, as well as a handful of songs that helped define a generation of music lovers. One such smash, “Don’t Stop the Music,” proved that she was not only capable of producing a hit, but that she belonged among the queens of the dance floor.
Nearly two decades after its release, “Don’t Stop the Music” – built largely on a Michael Jackson sample – continues to grow globally. This frame, the smash hit reaches new peaks on two worldwide rankings while passing one of the final singles from what remains her latest album.
Rihanna’s Smash Reaches New Peaks on the Global Charts
“Don’t Stop the Music” improves on both of Billboard’s worldwide songs charts this week. The single advances six spaces to No. 89 on the Billboard Global 200, which combines sales and streaming activity from more than 200 territories.
The former Billboard Hot 100 top five win also breaks into the top 100 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. for the first time. As its name suggests, that companion ranking removes all consumption from the United States. “Don’t Stop the Music” pushes from No. 107 to No. 100.
Both positions mark new peaks for the dance-pop favorite. The track has now spent 25 weeks on the Billboard Global 200 and 21 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – despite the fact that neither list existed when the song was originally released.
“Don’t Stop the Music” Passes “Kiss It Better”
As “Don’t Stop the Music” reaches No. 89 on the Billboard Global 200, it climbs past “Kiss It Better” within Rihanna’s discography on that roster. The latter tune, one of the last singles from Anti – still her most recent set, even though it’s more than a decade old – marked its first appearance on the worldwide tally in March of this year.
“Kiss It Better” climbed to No. 90 in April and spent 11 frames on the Billboard Global 200 throughout the spring and summer. “Don’t Stop the Music” now beats that high point by one rung, and based on its performance throughout the past few weeks, the latter will likely continue to put distance between itself and the Anti favorite.
The song does not pass any other Rihanna hits on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – but it may do so in the next few weeks.
Rihanna Charts Five Global Hits
“Don’t Stop the Music” is one of four Rihanna singles that appear on both worldwide rankings this frame. The group is dominated by electronic dance-pop smashes, including “We Found Love” with Calvin Harris, “Only Girl (In the World)” and “S&M.”
Almost all of those tracks are on the rise. “S&M” is the only one of the four to decline on the Billboard Global 200, as it slips a few slots to No. 195.
“Umbrella,” Rihanna’s Grammy-winning collaboration with Jay-Z, gives the superstar a fifth global hit. The pop/R&B/hip-hop hybrid reenters the Billboard Global 200 in last place, at No. 200, after once breaking into the top 40, but it misses the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. entirely.
Rihanna Claims Two Dance Streaming Wins
“Don’t Stop the Music” is one of two Rihanna tracks that also appear on any American ranking. The tune holds at No. 7 on the Dance Streaming Songs chart – one space beneath its No. 6 peak. “We Found Love,” her Grammy-winning team-up with Scottish electronic dance producer Harris, returns to the same tally at No. 15.
Rihanna’s Anti Passes Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna charts two albums in America this week, as is often the case. Anti gains ground on the Billboard 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top R&B Albums charts, while Good Girl Gone Bad declines on the same three rankings.