Adele and Gaga outsold her worldwide, and in the states without all the #1s. Both have had more success than Rihanna in every country this year. So, no.
I can't at Bey stans claiming that 2007 was Bey year. Everyone and their mother knows that during 2007 Rihanna was the IT girl. And yes, Umbrella is more than enough to proove that. During this year you weren't gonna hear To the left, to left jamming from every car but Umbrella. I am sure that the sales of umbrellas skyrocketed too Just give credit when it's due, damn it.
To add something on the subject, 2011 was Adele's.
Still not the case. It's Adele, Katy, Rihanna, only then Gaga, then Britney. You can try pushing her to #2, but you know it's not the case.
I'm really interested to know why Katy and Rihanna have been bigger than Gaga this year? Did either of them manage a multi-platinum selling album in Japan? A 6-week debut at #1? Critical acclaim? #1 on Forbes Celebrity 100?
Just give credit when it's due, damn it.