Paul McCartney Misses Out On One Of The Biggest Awards Of His Career
Just a few days ago, Rihanna earned quite a few new honors from the RIAA, the organization that certifies songs and albums gold, platinum, and beyond. Included in her latest collection of wins was one of her most unlikely collaborations with a rock legend. While the Barbadian pop star celebrated the just-awarded plaques, the musicians who helped her reach the milestone don’t share in the wealth.
Included in Rihanna’s many new RIAA honors is her single “FourFiveSeconds,” which was released nearly a decade ago in 2015. The tune advances from four-times platinum to five-times, as it’s now shifted five million equivalent units in the U.S.
Oddly, Rihanna is the only musician credited on “FourFiveSeconds,” at least according to the RIAA. The song is a collaboration between RiRi and both Ye—previously known as Kanye West—and Paul McCartney. The three turned the laidback tune into a smash, but for some reason, she’s the only one who earns this honor.
Both Rihanna and Ye have plenty of hits that have advanced beyond five-times platinum status, but the same can’t be said for McCartney. He misses out on earning the biggest certification of his career this week as “FourFiveSeconds” moves up again and collects a new plaque.
Shockingly, despite his incredible success, McCartney has never seen any of his hits rise above platinum. He has thus far earned two platinum smashes—and both are with Michael Jackson. “The Girl is Mine” and “Say Say Say” have both officially moved one million equivalent units, according to the RIAA.
McCartney has also scored plenty of gold singles, which means all those tunes have shifted 500,000 copies, between sales and streaming equivalents. Nine songs connected to the former Beatle—including work he produced with his then-wife Linda McCartney and as the frontman for Wings—have all hit gold status, but not moved past it.
Source: Hugh McIntyre/forbes.com
