Most cumulative weeks on the UK Official Singles Chart in a calendar year

The ubiquitous Rihanna (Barbados, b. Robyn Rihanna Fenty) amassed an unprecedented 224 cumulative weeks on the UK singles chart in 2011 - an incredible 61 weeks more than her nearest challenger, Adele, who notched up 163 weeks. In a female-dominated category, both Rihanna and Adele surpassed the previous best tally of 150 weeks, set by Lady Gaga in 2009. Rihanna’s formidable total included the cumulative weeks of 17 top 75 singles, 11 of which featured Rihanna as a solo or lead artist. “Only Girl (In the World)” (33 weeks), “S&M” (31 weeks), “Who’s that Chick” (David Guetta feat. Rihanna, 26 weeks) and “What’s My Name?” (feat. Drake, 22 weeks) were her longest-running chart singles of 2011.

Rihanna’s 224 weeks were accumulated as follows:

Rihanna solo or as lead artist (11 tracks): “Unfaithful” (2 weeks), “Only Girl (In the World)” (33 weeks), “What’s My Name?” (Rihanna feat. Drake, 22 weeks), “S&M” (31 weeks), “California King Bed” (16 weeks), “Man Down” (7 weeks), “Cheers (Drink to That)” (11 weeks), “We Found Love” (Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris, 12 weeks), “Where Have You Been” (1 week), “Talk That Talk” (Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, 2 weeks), “You da One” (5 weeks) – total 142 weeks.

Rihanna as featured artist (6 tracks): “Love the Way You Lie” (Eminem feat. Rihanna, 18 weeks), “Who’s that Chick” (David Guetta feat. Rihanna, 26 weeks), “All of the Lights” (Kanye West feat. Drake & Rihanna, 18 weeks), “Fly” (Nicki Minaj feat. Rihanna, 12 weeks), “Princess of China” (Coldplay feat. Rihanna, 2 weeks), “Take Care” (Drake feat. Rihanna, 6 weeks) – total 82 weeks.

In 2008, Rihanna set a female record for the most cumulative weeks on the UK singles chart in a calendar year with 129 weeks, which now stands as the sixth best total for a calendar year. Ahead of her are: Rihanna (224 weeks, 2011), Adele (163 weeks, 2011), Lady Gaga (150 weeks, 2009), Bruno Mars (149 weeks, 2011) and Oasis (134 weeks, 1996). Note: Oasis’ total was set before the onset of the digital era (2007+). Now that tracks are readily available to download and can chart without a physical release, it’s much easier to chart with multiple singles at the same time and therefore amass more chart weeks in a shorter space of time.