MUMBAI: Universal Music Group global superstar Rihanna makes chart history with her brand new album ‘Anti’ (released 28 January, 2016), as she achieves her second consecutive #1 album with 166,000 first week sales. ‘Anti’s’ lead single ‘Work’ featuring Drake, which hit #1 on iTunes in 91 countries less than 36 hours after its release, and was the highest selling digital single of last week, now dominates every urban, rhythmic, and pop radio station in the U.S.

‘Anti’ takes over the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart remarkably, after Rihanna gifted her Navy fans with more than one million complimentary downloads (whose redemption codes have now been fully depleted), in conjunction with popular worldwide entertainment platform Tidal and Samsung. ‘Anti’ also debuted #1 on the Canadian consumption chart.

‘Work’ has become Rihanna’s 27th Top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100, tying her with Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Elton John for the fifth-most Top 10s in Hot 100 history. But – Rihanna has attained those 27 Hot 100 Top 10s faster than any of those others (at 10 years and eight months since “Pon de Replay” in summer 2005). Further, only one act in history has reached the 27 Top 10s summit faster than Rihanna: The Beatles. ‘Work’ marks the first time in her career and the first time in memory at Rhythm and Urban radio, she closed out both panels upon impact.

“The release of ‘Anti’ was so innovative and completely true to who Rihanna is as an artist. To release a second number one album in this way was a ground breaking challenge and Rihanna has truly earned the accolades she has received for it. Rihanna is an artist and business woman like no other. We are so proud of her.”– Jay Brown

“It continues to be an honour to work with Rihanna, now and throughout her record-breaking career of worldwide smash hits and chart-topping albums,” said Steve Bartels, CEO of Def Jam Recordings, Rihanna’s promotion, sales and distribution partner for ‘Anti’. “She’s added to her legendary resume a second consecutive #1 album, and she's done it on her own terms. Her individuality, her spirit, her drive, and her singular talent have been an inspiration to me. I salute her, and our partners at Roc Nation.”

At 27, Rihanna is the “Best Selling Digital Artist of All Time… with more than 100 million [RIAA] Gold & Platinum song certifications.” She owns both her recording masters and music, and when she turns 28 on 20 February, she will officially own her music publishing rights as well.

‘Anti’, Rihanna’s eighth studio album, is the long-awaited follow-up to her RIAA platinum, Grammy Award-winning ‘Unapologetic’ (November 2012), her first album to debut at #1 ‘Soundscan’. ‘Unapologetic’, which charted on the Billboard 200 for consecutive weeks, spun off a slate of major hits, including the RIAA 5x-platinum ‘Diamonds’, 6x-platinum ‘Stay’ (featuring Mikky Ekko), and double-platinum ‘Pour It Up’, plus the RIAA gold ‘Loveeeeeee Song’, ‘Right Now’ (featuring David Guetta), and ‘What Now.’

The songstress will be taking the stage for a performance at the 58th Grammy Awards, fresh off the release of her much-awaited album. She’ll be joining the likes of other Universal Music superstars namely Adele, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and James Bay among others.

Rihanna is also about to kick off ‘The Anti World Tour ’in North America on 26 February, 2016.