The legendary singer’s catalog rose 879% in streams.
Little Richard reaches multiple Billboard charts dated May 23 following his May 9 death at age 87.
The R&B/rock legend’s catalog earned 7.1 million on-demand U.S. streams in the tracking week running May 8-14, a leap of 879%, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.
Additionally, downloads of his music jumped 2,271% to 14,000 sales, and his album catalog moved 4,000 in album sales, up 3,885%.
“Tutti Frutti,” Little Richard’s signature hit, concurrently bows at No. 23 on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Rock Songs chart, where older songs are allowed to enter if in the top half of chart points and with a meaningful reason for their entry. The song, Little Richard’s first appearance on Hot Rock Songs, earned 1.2 million streams and 2,000 downloads.
Two versions of “Tutti Frutti” reach Rock Digital Song Sales: the aforementioned original (No. 16) and a re-recorded edition from an album of redone Little Richard songs released in 1983 (No. 18, 1,000 downloads). Additionally, his “Good Golly Miss Molly” debuts on Rock Digital Song Sales at No. 11 (and at No. 12 on R&B Digital Song Sales) with 2,000 downloads.
On Top Rock Albums, his The Very Best of… “Little Richard” enters at No. 39 with 5,000 equivalent album units earned.
Little Richard, born Richard Penniman, died May 9 of complications from bone cancer.