Rihanna Set To Perform At The Grammys, Approaching No. 1 With ‘Anti’ Album
The lineup of star talent set to perform at this year’s Grammy Awards just got a bit more feisty with the addition of Rihanna. The singer just released her latest album Anti to mixed reviews, but there is no question that Riri will draw the attention of millions when the yearly awards ceremony airs on February 15.
Although Rihanna’s latest album has been considered a bit of a flop since it’s release, the low album sales numbers are being attributed to the singer’s generosity in giving away the album free for the first week. The move obviously hurt her sales numbers the first week, but it hasn’t affected the droves of fans buying her album now.
“Anti, which is Rihanna’s eighth studio album, arrived on the chart dated Feb. 13 at No. 27, after being available for only a fraction of the charting week. The album wasreleased through Tidal’s streaming service on the evening of Jan. 27. (It was not released commercially until Jan. 28 through Tidal, and then through all digital retailers on Jan. 29. A physical CD release for the album is scheduled for Feb. 5.)”
Billboard notes that Anti is on it’s way to the No. 1 spot at this point, and her first single off the release, “Work,” which features rapper Drake, is sitting steady at the No. 8 spot. If Anti is to reach No. 1, it would make the second time the top spot is held by Rihanna. Her previous effort from 2012 Unapologetic took the top of the charts with 238, 000 albums sold in the first week released.
Forecasters in the industry are looking to statistics for their strong prediction that Rihanna’s Anti will hit top spot. It is believed that the release could earn up to 175,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. over the week ending February 4. This could be the boost Rihanna needs to get to No. 1, as predicted. Billboard shares how the top spot is determined on an ongoing basis for albums and hot hits.
“The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The top 10 of the new Feb. 20, 2016-dated Billboard 200 chart is scheduled to be revealed on Billboard’s websites on Sunday, Feb. 7.”
The Hollywood Reporter shares details about the star power that will be taking the stage for the big event, in addition to Rihanna.
“Yesterday, it was announced that on Feb. 15, Justin Bieber will perform his Grammy-nominated hit ‘Where Are U Now’ with Diplo and Skrillex; Chris Stapleton will team up with Grammy winners Gary Clark Jr. and Bonnie Raitt to pay homage to the late B.B. King; Pitbull, Robin Thicke and Travis Barker will perform together; and the Hollywood Vampires (Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry) will make their TV debut. Previously announced performers include Adele, James Bay, Andra Day, Ellie Goulding, the Broadway cast of Hamilton, Sam Hunt, Tori Kelly, Lady Gaga (performing a David Bowie tribute), Kendrick Lamar, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood and The Weeknd.”
Rihanna is sure to be a fan favorite during the Awards show, which is pretty much the Academy Awards for the music industry. The beauty is a force to be reckoned with musically and has managed to keep focused despite a terrifying situation in her personal life involving a stalker. Inquisitr recently reported facts about a stalker who had been causing the singer distress for some time.
“Police were called to the Umbrella singer’s home on April 30 after the man posted a selfie outside her Los Angeles mansion. ‘Outside yo house,’ he wrote. However, by the time police arrived the man was gone. The alleged stalker also made a death threat to the singer online, writing ‘Should of killed @rihanna a minute back I would be good right now.'”
Watch Rihanna’s single, “Work.”
[Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for The Clara Lionel Foundation]
