Rihanna’s “Work,” featuring Drake, spends a ninth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated April 30), pushing her past the Beatles for the second-most total weeks spent at the summit. “Work” narrowly fends off Desiigner’s “Panda,” which surges 5-2 on the Hot 100 and tops the Streaming Songs chart.
“Work,” released on Westbury Road/Roc Nation, drops to No. 2 on the Streaming Songs chart after eight weeks at No. 1, with 26 million U.S. streams, down 4 percent, in the week ending April 14, according to Nielsen Music. It falls 3-6 on Radio Songs (97 million in all-format airplay audience, down 13 percent), after reaching No. 2 on the list, and descends 12-13 on Digital Songs (52,000 downloads sold, down 18 percent), which it led for two weeks. Still, “Work” tops Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for an 11th (nonconsecutive) week.
As reported when the song reached the top, “Work” is Rihanna’s 14th Hot 100 No. 1, placing her in a solo share of the third-most all-time, ahead of Michael Jackson (13). The Beatles lead with 20 No. 1s, followed by Mariah Carey (18). “Work” is the record-breaking ninth Hot 100 No. 1 in a row by non-U.S.-born acts (with Rihanna from Barbados and Drake, from Canada), while this week marks the record-extending 41st straight week that non-Americans have led the Hot 100.
As for more Beatles, Carey and Rihanna: Rihanna has now spent 60 total weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 with her 14 leaders, passing the Beatles for the second-most weeks at No. 1 all time. Here is an updated look at the acts that have logged the most time atop the Hot 100 since the chart’s 1958 inception:
79 weeks, Mariah Carey
60 weeks, Rihanna
59 weeks, The Beatles
50 weeks, Boyz II Men
47 weeks, Usher