Rihanna “Don’t Stop the Music” released

Don’t Stop the Music Rihanna

Writer(s): Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tawanna Dabney (Frankie Storm), Michael Jackson (see lyrics here) Released: September 7, 2007 First Charted: December 8, 2007 Peak: 3 BB, 3 RR, 27 A40, 74 RB, 4 UK, 2 CN, 14 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 6.0 US, 1.80 UK, 10.21 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 841.06 video, 1542.13 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Singer Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born in 1988 in Barbados. Between her music and other business ventures, she became the first female musician to achieve billionaire status. Her music career began in 2005 when she released her first album, Music of the Sun. She released a total of eight albums from 2005 to 2016; all achieved platinum status and reached the top 10 on the Billboard album chart. Her most successful album was 2007’s Good Girl Gone Bad, which was certified in the U.S. for sales of seven million. The album’s most successful song was “Umbrella,” which was her fifth top-10 hit and second song to reach #1. The album also produced the top-ten, multi-platinum hits “Hate That I Love You” and “Don’t Stop the Music.” The dance-pop song was written by the Norwegian production duo of Stargate (Tor E. Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen) with Twanna Dabney (known as Frankie Storm). Michael Jackson received a songwriting credit as well because the song sampled his 1983 hit “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” WK Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango sued Rihanna and Jackson, asserting that the hook came from his 1972 song “Soul Makossa.” WK Pitchfork’s Tom Breihan called the song “an amazing bit of euroclub insanity combined with synth and bass.” WK Billboard said, “we defy you to get the hook…out of your mind.” WK Slant magazine’s Sal Cinquemani said the song had “a bouncy feel similar to Rihanna’s 2006 single ‘SOS’.” WK Fraser McAlpine of the BBC’s chart blog compares the melody of the verses to Aaliyah’s “Try Again” and the chorus to Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita.” WK The song was nominated for a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. Resources: WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 1/26/2026.