Rihanna Named Biggest-Selling Digital Artist of All Time: Most Overrated 'Digital' Artist?

by SodaHead Slideshows Posted 2012/01/06 15:38:51

Related Topics: Rihanna, Biggest-selling, Digital Artist, Overrated, Nielsen Soundscan, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Black Eyed Peas, Digital, Gaga, Taylor, Perry, Katy, Artist

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Rihanna

Critics say she's all about s-e-x, but the Barbadian beauty has been named the biggest-selling digital artist of all time, with a total of 47.5 million digital downloads throughout her career.

Rihanna

Critics say she's all about s-e-x, but the Barbadian beauty has been named the biggest-selling digital artist of all time, with a total of 47.5 million digital downloads throughout her career.
The Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas take second place on the list with 42.4 million digital sales, despite their disappointing performance at last year's Super Bowl halftime show.
Eminem

The Real Slim Shady stands up in third place, with Eminem fans downloading 42.2 million "units" of his songs.
Lady Gaga

We love to hate on Lady Gaga, but she's in fourth place with 42 million units sold.
Taylor Swift

Critics (and Kanye) sometimes give her a hard time, but Taylor Swift is in fifth place with 41.8 million downloads.
Katy Perry

It pays to be a "Teenage Dream." Katy Perry takes sixth place on the list with 37.6 million downloads.
Lil Wayne

Rapper Lil Wayne has had a very big career, with 36.7 million downloads since 2004.
Beyonce

Probably the most talented person on the list, Beyonce takes eighth place with 30.2 million downloads.

Rihanna Named Biggest-Selling Digital Artist of All Time: Most Overrated 'Digital' Artist?

2,573 votes
Read all 282 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

	Rihanna
	The Black Eyed Peas
	Eminem
	Lady Gaga
	Taylor Swift
	Katy Perry
	Lil Wayne
	Beyonce

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Rihanna	558 votes	22%
	The Black Eyed Peas	214 votes	8%
	Eminem	186 votes	7%
	Lady Gaga	630 votes	24%
	Taylor Swift	223 votes	9%
	Katy Perry	184 votes	7%
	Lil Wayne	388 votes	15%
	Beyonce	190 votes	7%

It's official: Rihanna is the queen of the digital universe. Critics say she's all about s-e-x, but the Barbadian beauty is the biggest-selling digital artist of all time, according to a new report from Nielsen SoundScan.

In other words, working that sexy body has rung up a whopping 47.5 million digital downloads from July 4, 2004, to Jan. 1, 2012, the report says. And she's still only 23.

The Black Eyed Peas take second place on the list with 42.4 million digital sales, despite their disappointing performance at last year's Super Bowl halftime show. The Real Slim Shady stands up in third place, with Eminem fans downloading 42.2 million "units" of his songs.

We love to hate on Lady Gaga, but the Queen Monster is holding steady in fourth place with 42 million units sold. Taylor Swift takes the No. 5 spot with 41.8 million, and soon-to-be divorced Katy Perry is in sixth place with 37.6 million.

For the rest of the top 8, click through our slideshow and let us know: Who is the most overrated top-selling "digital" artist?

+18

Add a comment above

BloodMist 2012/01/06 18:48:29

Lady Gaga

+14
They're all pretty terrible, but Lady Gaga has to be the most overrated, as she is constantly labeled as original for some unfathomable reason.Weird Al made the point nicely.

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More polls by SodaHead Slideshows

The Inc... to jade 2012/01/07 03:49:04

http://images.sodahead.com/pr...

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jade to The Inc... 2012/01/07 05:15:59

haha

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Ego Death 2012/01/06 20:36:02

Lil Wayne

+4
Most of the above.

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hannah 2012/01/06 20:14:13

Lil Wayne

+3
him in all his Polo Ralph Lauren glory. XDDD

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Nika 2012/01/06 20:07:50

The Black Eyed Peas

+6
I could never stand the black eyed peas or fergie. They're incredibly annoying. I would rather listen to Taylor Swift all day and her songs are nearly all identical.

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The Inc... to Nika 2012/01/07 03:48:59

+1
http://images.sodahead.com/pr...

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RawrRiot 2012/01/06 20:06:09

Lil Wayne

+4
I just don't see the appeal with his music at all.

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RubyAndraiyaWhittle 2012/01/06 19:59:06
OneLastWord 2012/01/06 19:57:11

Lil Wayne

+2
Lot's of overated people here.

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WhoMe 2012/01/06 19:47:29

Lil Wayne

+3

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Elz 2012/01/06 19:45:02

Beyonce

+3
hands down.

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TorchwoodTrinity 2012/01/06 19:43:47 (edited)

Rihanna

+3
Lady Gag Me, Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne

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Medulla Oblongata 2012/01/06 19:41:46 (edited)

The Black Eyed Peas

+3
I quit being a fan since their Super Bowl halftime performance.

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The Inc... to Medulla... 2012/01/07 03:47:39

http://images.sodahead.com/pr...

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DENISSE 2012/01/06 19:37:51

Lil Wayne

+2
I personally like all of these artist so....

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Layce 2012/01/06 19:28:32

Taylor Swift

+1
and lady gaga and the black eyed peas

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Sully 2012/01/06 19:25:34

Rihanna

+2
She's a star to all the 12 yr olds who buy and listen to her crappy, sex filled music. No wonder Chris Brown slapped her around. She looked like a complete douchebag in her Barbados vids where she simulated sex with a teddy bear. What a hosebag.

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Medulla... to Sully 2012/01/06 19:42:51

+3
I'm a fan and I'm not 12.

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Sully to Medulla... 2012/01/06 19:50:01

Okay, then you must be dyslexic and unable to understand or read her lyrics that are probably written by gangsta ho's.

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Medulla... to Sully 2012/01/06 19:54:35 (edited)

+2
I'm not dyslexic and I can understand her lyrics. Just because I'm a fan doesn't mean there's something wrong with me, because there isn't.

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Sully to Medulla... 2012/01/06 20:15:54

+4
Forgive me if I've offended you as it has nothing to do with you at all. After her first CD, which seems like eons ago. She came here to Quebec and refused to go out onstage(a covered stage) because of a drizzle while thousands were waiting in the rain(uncovered). Since then, I have no interest in her or her music when I actually liked a couple songs off the first CD. Her image now is that of a trashy diva who's only interest is sex. Kind of like Mariah Carey, who ruined her image with her antics and choice of music.

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Ego Death to Sully 2012/01/10 06:24:40

That seems quite ironic now.

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Sully to Ego Death 2012/01/28 14:27:21

Ironic? Are you serious? Go look it up, Then write something intelligent on someone elses comments.

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Mia to Sully 2012/01/06 22:04:23

+2
I'm 12 and I absolutely hate rihanna. So do all my 12-year old friends.

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bye im out sodahead 2012/01/06 19:24:06

Rihanna

+1
she is number 1 shes hot hot hot

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Koshka 2012/01/06 19:20:10

Beyonce

+3
Actually, all of them. Except Eminem. He has actual talent to back his popularity.

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kyle 2012/01/06 19:08:08

Lil Wayne

+5
i dont care for lil wayne or his music

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Oli 2012/01/06 19:06:46

Eminem

+1
i've never enjoyed his music

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Loop to Oli 2012/01/06 21:48:33

+1
but black eyed peas is fine? :L

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Oli to Loop 2012/01/07 10:13:20

their music used to be pretty good.

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Loop to Oli 2012/01/07 11:15:45

+1
fair enough, but what's with eminem bein worse than lil wayne? In what world?

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Oli to Loop 2012/01/07 13:09:35
Loop to Oli 2012/01/07 18:07:30

lol no problem with me, dude. But eminem is amazing in that his lyrics actually mean something (rare for a rapper especially), he can be funny without just sounding like a dick, and most importantly, he clearly has passion in his voice when he raps, and when he sings occasionally. That's coming from a metal lover, and a guy who usually is positively allergic to any kind of hip-hop.

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PaL 2012/01/06 19:01:02

Rihanna

+1
Nothing original in Rihanna's act at all, even though Lady Gaga does rip off madonna to no end (and who hasn't) she is at least musically talented and writes/co-writes her own stuff.

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BloodMist 2012/01/06 18:48:29

Lady Gaga

+14
They're all pretty terrible, but Lady Gaga has to be the most overrated, as she is constantly labeled as original for some unfathomable reason.Weird Al made the point nicely.

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melody_K to BloodMist 2012/01/06 19:02:50

+3
That was an awesome video!!!

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BloodMist to melody_K 2012/01/08 19:07:54

+2
Weird Al at his usual, that is to say flawless.

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Koshka to BloodMist 2012/01/06 19:21:45 (edited)

+2
I love that video and song, and he really did make a great point about Gaga and her fakeness. Only reason she is considered original/cutting edge is because of her absurd outfits and videos, not because her actual music is original. Her songs are actually very generic pop-techno. Nothing special at all.

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Aspect ... to Koshka 2012/01/07 04:21:46 (edited)

+2
Actually, I think you'd be surprised how much of her stuff isn't pop-techno at all; she has several pure rock tunes, see Speechless, Honest Eyes, or No Floods for an example or two. Although I disagree about nothing special; she's the only major name out there who has that classic vibe to her; she's not bubble-gummy or label-controlled like most of the others; she's serious about her work. And Weird Al really likes Lady Gaga, but I digress.

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BloodMist to Aspect ... 2012/01/08 19:05:11

Hehehe...she sounds like Madonna..so...she kinda does.I admit she can sing decently...like Madonna.

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