ChronoFive
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Setting the scene
After years of singles and fashion ventures, Rihanna had not released a full studio album since 2012's Unapologetic, and fans watched for signs of a comeback amid label changes and her Fenty empire taking shape.
What happened
Her eighth album, ANTI, arrived on January 28, 2016, first through a Tidal surprise rollout that let subscribers download it hours before wide retail release, with lead single "Work" following days later.
Why it still matters
The Tidal-first drop turned a pop album launch into a streaming-platform experiment and set the tone for how major artists would time exclusives in the years after. Memorable detail: the cover art featured a real childhood photo of Rihanna with a painted red heart sticker over her mouth.
Background
Tidal exclusivity made its drop a streaming-era experiment.