Rihanna’s upcoming studio material, “Rated R,” arrives in stores on November 23, but a handful of fans can listen to the tracks included on it one full week before the official release, thanks to a new partnership between Nokia and Def Jam, the singer’s record label. Nokia will host a listening event, where Rihanna will perform songs from the upcoming album, and then stream it live, it has been announced.

“International superstar Rihanna will showcase new material from her highly-anticipated forthcoming album Rated R exclusively to a Nokia audience via a globally streamed live performance on November 16th, 2009. This ground-breaking event in partnership with Nokia will preview tracks from ‘Rated R’ – set for a November 23nd release worldwide – performed live from a secret London location,” Nokia says in the official announcement.

Fans eager to take part in the event, and to literally become among the first to hear what “Rated R” has in store for them – aside from the already released “Russian Roulette” and “Wait Your Turn (The Wait Is Ova)” – should go here and then follow the instructions. There are more surprises in store for them than just securing a “seat” at the listening event (not that it wouldn’t be enough), such as the possibility of ordering a special-issue of the album that will be available only through Nokia.

“Rihanna fans can:
- Sign up to watch the live stream
- Invite their friends to watch the performance simultaneously with them through Facebook and Twitter
- Download a web widget counting down to the live performance.
- Download an exclusive Rihanna mobile application from Nokia’s Ovi Store.
- Download the album with an exclusive track either to their PC or over the air to mobile from Nokia Music Store or Comes With Music,” Nokia further says.

As also noted above, Rihanna’s new album arrives on November 23. With the Nokia partnership, this one singer has just made sure she kills competition, as other stars (such as Adam Lambert and Shakira) also have albums coming out in the same period, music insiders believe.