RCA Records

Lore & Background

RCA Records' involvement with SZA's career is documented through the release and promotion of "Saturn," which preceded the SOS Deluxe: Lana album by nearly 10 months. The song was surprise-released on February 23, 2024, by Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. Following its release, RCA Records coordinated the radio rollout for "Saturn," which impacted rhythmic and urban radio on March 5, 2024, and pop radio on March 12. The label's distribution network helped "Saturn" achieve commercial success, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming SZA's tenth top-10 on that chart. The song also reached top-10 positions in countries including New Zealand (5), Canada (8), the Philippines (8), and the UK, and earned multi-platinum certifications in the US (four-times platinum by the RIAA), Canada (three-times platinum by Music Canada), and New Zealand (three-times platinum by Recorded Music NZ).

In Their Own Story

On February 22, 2024, RCA Records and Top Dawg Entertainment surprise-released "Saturn" across streaming and download platforms, packaged as a five-track bundle. The release followed SZA's public debut of the song two weeks earlier during a Mastercard commercial break at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024. The label then pushed the single to US radio, impacting rhythmic and urban stations on March 5 and pop stations on March 12. The song opened with first-week figures of 25 million US streams, 2,000 downloads, and 960,000 radio impressions, debuting at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Worldwide, "Saturn" accrued 43.3 million streams and 2,000 downloads in its first week, debuting at number five on the Billboard Global 200. The label's efforts contributed to the song winning Best R&B Song at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards and being nominated for Best R&B Performance.

Reader's Guide

RCA Records functions as the distribution and marketing partner for SZA's releases, working alongside Top Dawg Entertainment to bring her music to streaming platforms, radio, and retail. The label handles the logistics of surprise releases, as demonstrated with "Saturn" on February 22, 2024, and coordinates radio promotion across multiple formats including rhythmic, urban, and pop radio. RCA Records also manages the commercial performance tracking, with "Saturn" achieving a peak of number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The label's international distribution network helped the song reach top-10 positions in countries including New Zealand (5), Canada (8), the Philippines (8), Malaysia (6), Indonesia (6), Singapore (5), and the UK. RCA Records also oversees certification processes, with "Saturn" earning four-times platinum certification from the RIAA in the US, three-times platinum from Recorded Music NZ and Music Canada, platinum from the British Phonographic Industry in the UK, and gold from IFPI Danmark in Denmark.

Did You Know?

• RCA Records and Top Dawg Entertainment surprise-released "Saturn" on February 23, 2024, as a five-track bundle including a sped up version, instrumental, vocals-only version, and the audio from SZA's Mastercard Grammy pe
• "Saturn" was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, but the ceremony has not yet occurred as of the knowledge cutoff.
• The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming SZA's tenth top-10 on the chart, and reached number one on the Hot R&B Songs chart.
• RCA Records sent "Saturn" to US rhythmic and urban radio on March 5, 2024, and to pop radio on March 12, 2024.
• "Saturn" was certified four-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and three-times platinum by both Recorded Music NZ and Music Canada.