Jump to content

RIAA certification

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 72.40.22.242 (talk) at 19:48, 11 January 2010 (→‎Artists with the most certifications of Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum singles: Halo is double platinum and Sweet Dreams is platinum.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets.[1] Other countries have similar awards (see music recording sales certification). Certification is not automatic; for an award to be made, the record label must request certification and pay a fee to have the sales of the recording audited. The audit is conducted against net shipments after returns (most often an artist's royalty statement is used), which includes albums sold directly to retailers and one-stops, direct to consumer sales (music clubs and mail order) and other outlets.

Presently, an American RIAA-certified gold record is a single or album that has sold 500,000 units (records, tapes or compact discs). Originally, the requirement for a gold single was one million units sold and a gold album represented $1 million in sales (at wholesale value). In 1975, the additional requirement of 500,000 units sold was added for gold albums. Reflecting growth in record sales, the platinum award was instituted in 1976 for albums selling one million units and singles selling two million units. The multi-platinum award was instituted in 1984, signifying multiple platinum levels of albums and singles. In 1989, the sales thresholds for singles were reduced to 500,000 for gold and 1,000,000 for platinum, reflecting a decrease in sales of singles. In 1992, RIAA began counting each disc in a multi-disc set as one unit toward certification. Because of these changes in criteria, the sales level associated with a particular award depends on when the award was made.

Nielsen SoundScan figures are not used in RIAA certification; the RIAA system predates Nielsen SoundScan and includes sales outlets Nielsen misses. Prior to Nielsen SoundScan, RIAA certification was the only audited and verifiable system for tracking music sales in the U.S.; it is still the only system capable of tracking 100% of sales (albeit as shipments less returns, not actual sales like Nielsen SoundScan). This system has allowed, at times, for record labels to promote an album as gold or platinum simply based on large shipments. For instance, in 1978 the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack shipped platinum but was a sales bust, with two million returns.[2] Similarly, all four solo albums by the members of Kiss simultaneously shipped platinum that same year but none of them even managed to crack the top 20 of the Billboard 200 album chart. The following year, the RIAA began requiring 120 days from the release date before recordings were eligible for certification, although that requirement has been reduced over the years and currently stands at 30 days. More recently, Sony was roundly criticized in 1995 for hyping Michael Jackson's double album HIStory as five times platinum, based on shipments of 2.5 million and using the RIAA's recently adopted practice of counting each disc toward certification, while SoundScan was reporting only 1.3 million copies sold.[3] A similar discrepancy between shipments and sales was reported with The Lion King soundtrack.[4]

List of certifications

Albums

Currently, the RIAA certification criteria for albums are:

  • 500,000 units: Gold album.
  • 1,000,000 units: Platinum album
  • 2,000,000 or more units: Multi-Platinum album
  • 10,000,000 units: Diamond album

Multi-disc

Multi-disc albums are counted once for each disc within the album if it is over 100 minutes in length or is from the vinyl era. For example, each copy of OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (running time of 134:56), and Shania Twain's Up! (145:44), both double albums, were counted twice, meaning each album was certified diamond after 5 million copies were shipped. Pink Floyd's The Wall and The Beatles' White Album, both vinyl-era, are counted double even though their running times are under the minimum.

Spanish

The following certifications are given only to recordings of which over 50% of the content is in the Spanish language:[5]

  • 50,000 units: Oro album.
  • 100,000 units: Platino album.
  • 200,000 units: Multi-Platino album.

Singles

It is estimated that there have been about 2,550 combined single certifications.

Standard singles are certified:

Note: Before January 1, 1989, gold was achieved at 1,000,000 copies, and platinum at 2,000,000[1].

Digital

Recently, digital singles have begun to be certified due to the increase of the digital market and decrease of the physical commercial singles market. Although digital downloads have been around since 2003, they weren't considered to be significant until 2005, when they were first counted towards the Hot 100. Because of this, it is important to distinguish between singles that came out before and after the change (as singles after the change sold in higher quantities at a faster rate, while the older singles took longer to reach levels of certification). After the change, the certification standards were brought up to the same standard as retail distribution. Since then, digital distribution has become a prime selling method for singles - overhead can be considerable when distributing a CD with only a few tracks on it, and the roughly $1/track standard for digital distribution, combined with the ease of use in sellers like iTunes, has caused enormous growth.

Digital singles are certified:

Records

Lists from RIAA site showing current status holders of RIAA Certifications:

Artists with the most certifications of Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum albums

Albums that have been certified Gold might receive additional certifications for achieving Platinum and Multi-Platinum levels.

Artist # Gold # Platinum # Multi-Platinum Total source
AC/DC 20 20 12 52 [6]
Aerosmith 25 18 12 55 [6]
Alabama 22 20 10 52 [6]
The Beach Boys 20 9 6 35 [6]
The Beatles 45 39 24 108 [6]
Garth Brooks 16 16 15 47 [6]
Jimmy Buffett 17 9 3 29 [6]
Johnny Cash 18 10 5 33 [6]
Chicago 22 18 8 48 [6]
Eric Clapton 25 12 8 45 [6]
John Denver 20 13 7 40 [6]
Neil Diamond 40 21 11 72 [6]
The Doors 19 14 5 38 [6]
Bob Dylan 36 16 5 57 [6]
Grateful Dead 19 6 4 29 [6]
Jimi Hendrix 17 10 6 33 [6]
Isley Brothers 15 10 3 28 [6]
Alan Jackson 17 14 8 39 [6]
Jefferson Airplane/Starship 20 5 1 26 [6]
Jethro Tull 15 3 1 19 [6]
Billy Joel 18 17 12 47 [6]
Elton John 38 26 12 76 [6]
Toby Keith 16 12 5 33 [6]
Kenny G 15 11 8 34 [6]
Kiss 24 10 2 36 [6]
Led Zeppelin 19 18 14 51 [6]
Lynyrd Skynyrd 19 13 7 39 [6]
Madonna 18 17 12 47 [6]
Barry Manilow 24 13 6 43 [6]
Mannheim Steamroller 18 8 4 30 [6]
Johnny Mathis 16 6 2 24 [6]
Dave Matthews Band 15 13 7 35 [6]
Paul McCartney 15 7 4 26 [6]
Reba McEntire 26 19 9 54 [6]
John Mellencamp 15 12 5 32 [6]
Anne Murray 15 6 2 23 [6]
Willie Nelson 22 16 7 45 [6]
Ozzy Osbourne 15 12 9 36 [6]
Tom Petty 16 8 5 29 [6]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 15 8 5 28 [6]
Pink Floyd 18 15 12 45 [6]
Elvis Presley 82 45 24 151 [6]
Prince 23 16 7 46 [6]
Queen 18 11 6 35 [6]
Kenny Rogers 31 19 8 58 [6]
Rolling Stones 42 28 11 81 [6]
Linda Ronstadt 17 13 7 37 [6]
Rush 24 14 3 41 [6]
Santana 20 10 7 37 [6]
Frank Sinatra 34 10 4 48 [6]
Bruce Springsteen 21 17 10 48 [6]
Rod Stewart 26 18 10 54 [6]
George Strait 38 33 13 84 [6]
Barbra Streisand 50 30 13 93 [6]
James Taylor 20 14 5 39 [6]
The Temptations 19 6 1 26 [6]
U2 16 16 11 43 [6]
Luther Vandross 19 15 7 41 [6]
The Who 18 12 5 35 [6]
Hank Williams, Jr. 23 8 1 32 [6]
Neil Young 18 7 3 28 [6]

Artists with the most certifications of Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum singles

Singles that have been certified Gold might receive additional certifications for achieving Platinum and Multi-Platinum levels. For example, Barbra Streisand has had 8 singles certified Gold, 5 of which went on to achieve Platinum certification as well.

This list includes the RIAA formats 'Single' and 'Video Single'. This list includes singles of the RIAA types 'standard' and 'digital'.

This table tracks artists with some number of singles that have received at least ten total certifications.

Artist # Gold # Platinum # Multi-Platinum Total source
Elvis Presley 54 27 8 89 [7]
Mariah Carey 23 10 2 35 [8]
The Beatles 24 6 4 34 [9]
Madonna 26 6 2 34 [10]
Whitney Houston 19 7 2 28 [11]
Janet Jackson 21 5 - 26 [12]
Michael Jackson 16 9 - 25 [13]
Elton John 18 6 1 25 [14]
The Temptations 17 6 - 23 [15]
Taylor Swift 11 8 4 23 [16]
Beyoncé 13 6 4 23 [17]
Rihanna 9 9 4 22 [18]
Aretha Franklin 18 - - 18 [19]
Creedence Clearwater Revival 10 5 - 15 [20]
Prince 12 2 - 14 [21]
Barbra Streisand 8 5 - 13 [22]
TLC 9 4 - 13 [23]
Britney Spears 7 4 - 11 [24]
Destiny's Child 7 3 - 10 [25]
The Carpenters 10 - - 10 [26]
Christina Aguilera 7 2 - 9 [27]
Shakira 5 3 1 9 [28]
Linkin Park 2 4 2 7 [29]

Diamond sales

Diamond (10+ Million) Certified[30]

Artist Album Release date Certified sales
Michael Jackson Thriller December 1, 1982 29 million
Eagles Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) February 17, 1976 29 million
Pink Floyd The Wall November 28, 1979 23 million
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV November 8, 1971 23 million
AC/DC Back in Black July 21, 1980 22 million
Garth Brooks Double Live November 17, 1998 21 million
Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II June 28, 1985 21 million
Shania Twain Come on Over November 4, 1997 20 million
The Beatles The Beatles November 25, 1968 19 million
Fleetwood Mac Rumours February 4, 1977 19 million
Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction July 21, 1987 18 million
Boston Boston August 25, 1976 17 million
Whitney Houston The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album November 17, 1982 17 million
Garth Brooks No Fences August 27, 1990 16 million
Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View July 5, 1994 16 million
Elton John Elton John's Greatest Hits November 4, 1974 16 million
Eagles Hotel California November 8, 1976 16 million
Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill June 13, 1995 16 million
Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti March 3, 1975 16 million
The Beatles 1967–1970 April 2, 1973 16 million
Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon April 17, 1973 15 million
Journey Greatest Hits November 11, 1988 15 million
Metallica Metallica August 2, 1991 15 million
The Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack) November 1, 1977 15 million
Santana Supernatural June 15, 1999 15 million
The Beatles The Beatles 1962 - 1966 April 2, 1973 15 million
Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. June 1, 1984 15 million
Britney Spears ...Baby One More Time January 12, 1999 14 million
Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys August 21, 1997 14 million
Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell January 30, 1977 14 million
Garth Brooks Ropin' The Wind September 2, 1991 14 million
Simon & Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits June 20, 1972 14 million
Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band Live 1975 - '85 November 7, 1986 13 million
Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974-1978 November 15, 1978 13 million
Backstreet Boys Millennium May 18, 1999 13 million
Prince and The Revolution Purple Rain June 25, 1984 13 million
Pearl Jam Ten August 20, 1991 13 million
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston February 21, 1985 13 million
Kenny G Breathless October 20, 1992 12 million
(multiple artists) Forrest Gump June 17, 1994 12 million
The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks December 15, 1971 12 million
Def Leppard Hysteria August 3, 1987 12 million
Boyz II Men II August 23, 1994 12 million
Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits October 18, 1980 12 million
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II October 22, 1969 12 million
Phil Collins No Jacket Required April 15, 1985 12 million
Jewel Pieces of You February 13, 1995 12 million
Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet August 18, 1986 12 million
Shania Twain The Woman In Me February 7, 1995 12 million
Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces January 23, 1998 12 million
The Beatles Abbey Road October 1, 1969 12 million
Matchbox Twenty Yourself or Someone Like You September 16, 1996 12 million
TLC CrazySexyCool November 15, 1994 11 million
Aerosmith Aerosmith's Greatest Hits October 19, 1980 11 million
Shania Twain Up! November 19, 2002 11 million
Kid Rock Devil Without a Cause August 4, 1998 11 million
(multiple artists) Dirty Dancing August 4, 1987 11 million
Eagles Eagles Greatest Hits Volume II October 22, 1982 11 million
Celine Dion Falling Into You March 2, 1996 11 million
Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy March 28, 1973 11 million
(multiple artists) Titanic November 7, 1997 11 million
OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below September 23, 2003 11 million
The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band June 2, 1967 11 million
'N Sync No Strings Attached March 21, 2000 11 million
James Taylor James Taylor's Greatest Hits October 29, 1976 11 million
Creed Human Clay September 28, 1999 11 million
Dixie Chicks Fly August 31, 1999 10 million
Garth Brooks Garth Brooks April 12, 1989 10 million
Patsy Cline Greatest Hits February 14, 1973 10 million
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Greatest Hits November 16, 1993 10 million
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory October 24, 2000 10 million
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin October 8, 1990 10 million
Bob Marley and The Wailers Legend Jul 24, 1984 10 million
Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love November 5, 1997 10 million
George Michael Faith October 30, 1987 10 million
ZZ Top Eliminator March 23, 1983 10 million
The Beatles 1 November 13, 2000 10 million
Van Halen 1984 January 4, 1984 10 million
The Doobie Brothers Best of the Doobies October 29, 1976 10 million
Lionel Richie Can't Slow Down October 14, 1983 10 million
Norah Jones Come Away with Me February 26, 2002 10 million
Usher Confessions March 23, 2004 10 million
Mariah Carey Daydream October 3, 1995 10 million
Green Day Dookie February 1, 1994 10 million
The Notorious B.I.G Life After Death March 25, 1997 10 million
Madonna Like a Virgin November 12, 1984 10 million
Eric Clapton Unplugged August 25, 1992 10 million
No Doubt Tragic Kingdom October 6, 1995 10 million
Billy Joel The Stranger January 9, 1977 10 million
(multiple artists) The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack April 27, 1994 10 million
U2 The Joshua Tree March 9, 1987 10 million
Madonna The Immaculate Collection November 13, 1990 10 million
Garth Brooks The Hits December 1, 1994 10 million
The Doors The Best of The Doors May 19, 1985 10 million
Carole King Tapestry January 30, 1971 10 million
Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life September 28, 1976 10 million
Garth Brooks Sevens November 1, 1997 10 million
Def Leppard Pyromania January 20, 1983 10 million
MC Hammer Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em February 12, 1990 10 million
Britney Spears Oops!... I Did It Again May 16, 2000 10 million
Nirvana Nevermind September 24, 1991 10 million
'N Sync *NSYNC March 24, 1998 10 million
Mariah Carey Music Box August 31, 1993 10 million
Van Halen Van Halen February 10, 1978 10 million

See also

References

  1. ^ RIAA certification criteria. Retrieved on September 19, 2006
  2. ^ Hollie, Pamela. "Record Industry: Big Changes" The New York Times January 12, 1980: 27
  3. ^ Farber, Jim. "Don't Buy into Jax' Pyramid Scheme: Platinum-Status Symbol on 'History' Marking Over 5-million Albums Sold Proves to Be as Worthless as Fool's Gold" New York Daily News September 11, 1995
  4. ^ Philips, Chuck. "Sold, Shipped, What's the Diff? About 2 million albums, in the case of 'The Lion King,' pointing up the disparity between industry's sales tally and SoundScan's" Los Angeles Times January 15, 1995: 67
  5. ^ "Country Takes The Crop (February 14, 2008)". RIAA. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi "Gold & Platinum: Artist Tallies". Recording Industry Association of America.[when?]
  7. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Elvis Presley
  8. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Mariah Carey
  9. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by The Beatles
  10. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Madonna
  11. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Whitney Houston
  12. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Janet Jackson
  13. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Michael Jackson
  14. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Elton John
  15. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by The Temptations
  16. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Taylor Swift
  17. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Beyoncé
  18. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by # Rihanna
  19. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Aretha Franklin
  20. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Creedence Clearwater Revival
  21. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Prince
  22. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Barbra Streisand
  23. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by TLC
  24. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Britney Spears
  25. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Destiny's Child
  26. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by The Carpenters
  27. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Christina Aguilera
  28. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Shakira
  29. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Linkin Park
  30. ^ RIAA - Gold & Platinum - Diamond Certifications
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RIAA_certification&oldid=337238598"