History: Rihanna Will Receive First Ever Icon Award at American Music Awards

Photo Credit: YouTube
Photo Credit: YouTube

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Rihanna continues to have an amazing career as the singer was just nominated for four American Music Awards. And she’s even in the running to snatch up the award for Artist of the Year. But now it’s being reported that she will walk away with the biggest award yet, and she will make history for it too.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Rihanna will receive the first ever Icon Award at the 2013 American Music Awards. She is the first artist to ever nab the honor and the award show’s producer Larry Klein says she absolutely deserves it. He tells the publication:

“The first-ever Icon Award was created to honor an artist whose body of work has made a profound influence over pop music on a global level. “Rihanna’s iconic and innovative sound has enabled her to become one of the most influential and bestselling artists of all time.”

 

While some of Rihanna’s critics feel other stars in music who have been around longer are more deserving of the honor, the American Music Awards folks point to the fact that Rihanna is the best-selling digital artist of all time as proof that she is an icon in on her own right, and snatching up the honor first makes sense in today’s current music industry.

Congrats to Rihanna.

In related news, Rihanna just dropped a new video for her single “What Now.” Check it out below:

28 comments

  1. Well I guess they didn’t base it off talent. If they are only looking at the number of commercial hits and album sales, I guess this makes sense.

  2. How is someone an icon and they have only been in the game for 8 years? They didn’t think Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston deserved this award first? The AMAs are one big joke now. Smh.

  3. I’m so sick of people always talking about what they don’t think others DESERVE. First J Hud with her star now Rihanna. Who are we to dictate what someone deserves or not. It’s called Grace and there are plenty of people out here who should be grateful we don’t always get what we deserve. Congrats to her!

  4. Rihanna is doing her thing, but she has a lot more to accomplish before she can be called an Icon. But I’m sure they wanted to give her this to cause controversy and make people watch their dry awards show.

  5. First J-Hud and now this. This is definitely the week for undeserved accolades. Back in the day you had to put in the work before you got the praise. Now you can just get an award for controversy and become famous with a sex tape. Oh well. I won’t be watching anyway.

  6. Rihanna deserves this award. Hate and criticize al you want, but you can’t name another artist like her can you? That’s what an icon is. And for you Bey fans, I can also admit even though I’m Navy that Bey is an icon too. Just keep it real and admit the truth.

    1. Rihanna does not deserve this award it’s sad that today icon is based off on
      Record sales and not actual talent. This is like a slap in the face to artist like Alicia keys stevie wonder, or Prince. You think it would be hard to create another rihanna ? Lol all you have to do is great a pretty girl with a nice body and a half decent voice there you go ! ITs not like she writes or plays her own music. She isn’t even a good performer she has lasted this long because the media has a way of shoving stuff down consumers throats. She also has the power of jay z behind her a-s we’ll. Artist like prince or janet are hard to duplicate because they could perform their assess off. Janet can still move better than folks half get age.

      1. Do you know how crazy you sound? Do you know how many pretty, so so singers have come and gone already? Yet Rihanna is still here and getting awards like these! What does Alicia Keys even have to do with anything? She’s had an amazing career too and that isn’t being discredited by Rihanna. For you to bring that up just proves you have a jealous/bitter nature about yourself. Only jealous people compare themselves to others! Rihanna has had a lot of success. She has that it factor and it goes beyond her looks because if that was it she would have been gone by now and you know it. And your whole Jay Z theory is stupid as well. Do you not realize he manages other artists who are not as successful as Rihanna? He has nothing to do with this. Stop being jealous and speaking lies because your fave isn’t where you want them to be career wise.

  7. Whatever. She can get as many awards as they give her, won’t change the fact that she has no talent and she’s an internet bully who suffers from low self esteem. But this is the times we live in…people who aren’t all that special become huge stars. It doesn’t mean we have to buy into the hype. #shrugs

  8. Hate all you want . the Icon award if for artist who has an impact on pop culture . If rihanna doesn’t who does? This award is not for whocan scream the loudest like they’re at a funeral in BAMA . its for impact. lots of these artist who you all love cannot even sell out McDonald’s even if happy mean was on discount.

    1. Don’t come for Bey or any other artist who can actually SING. Some of you Rihanna stans really believe talent is not important just because Rihanna has none. Praise your overrated fave and go on about your merry way before I drag her and you on this lovely Friday morning. Got it?

    2. This is what gets on my nerves. People do not have to be Rihanna fans or Beyonce fans. But for goodness sakes please stop putting down one to praise the other. That’s so ignorant and the truth is we should be happy both of these black women are doing so well! It’s not like there’s a plethora of black women doing this well in music, but Bey and Rih are! So just stop it already! They are both on top and they can be on top at the same damn time like these white singers are all the time!

      1. Very well said lady! That’s black folks’, especially black women’s problem, always wanting to tear each other down instead of congratulating and wishing each other well. Regardless of whether you hate Rihanna or not, she’s doing the damn thing and she does have success whether she’s been in the business 8 or 18 years, who gives a damn. One can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. I know a young lady who’s only been an attorney for 8 years and she’s a partner at her law firm now, so did she not deserve that either since she’s only been an attorney for 8-9 yrs?! Please! Who said there was a standard number of years you had to be doing something before you get rewarded. I’m sure some of these people on here have gotten promotions, awards, etc and somebody with a hating ass spirit said the same thing about many of you. Black women need to learn how to uplift one another and stop always tearing each other down. What God has for you it is for you in the time He decides, no one else!!!!!!!

  9. I believe Rihanna deserves it. She really does. She’s not like other artists who are being told what to sing how to sing what to wear what to do. She’s her own person and a role model of that. So for the nay sayers it really doesn’t matter because she has more fans and people who love her than the people who sit around and judge. Plus her bank account put all the nay sayers to shame so with that being said that damn navy though! Go rih-rih!

  10. Even tho I don’t like the chick, she does make good songs and she has been on a roherll since 2009. Congrats to her

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