In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) award 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 certification). Certification is not automatic; for an award to be made, the record label must first request certification. [2] 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.
A Gold record is a song or album that sells 500,000 units (records, tapes, and compact discs). The award was launched in 1958; [3] originally, the requirement for a Gold single was one million units sold and a Gold album represented $1 million in sales (at wholesale value, around a third of the list price). [4] In 1975, the additional requirement of 500,000 units sold was added for Gold albums. [4] Reflecting growth in record sales, the Platinum award was added in 1976, for albums that sold one million units and for singles selling two million units. [4] [5] The Multi-Platinum award was introduced in 1984, signifying multiple Platinum levels of albums and singles. [6] 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. [7] In 1992, RIAA began counting each disc in a multi-disc set as one unit toward certification. Reflecting additional growth in music sales, the Diamond award was instituted in 1999 for albums or singles selling ten million units. [3] 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.[ citation needed ] 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).[ citation needed ] This system has permitted, at times, 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. [8] Similarly, all four solo albums by the members of Kiss simultaneously shipped Platinum that same year but did not reach the top 20 of the Billboard 200 album chart. [9] 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. Sony was widely 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. [10] A similar discrepancy between shipments and sales was reported with The Lion King soundtrack. [11]
In the digital era, changes in the way music is consumed resulted in changes in the certification criteria. Actual album sales had dropped significantly, while digital download followed by streaming became increasingly dominant. On-demand audio and video streams started to be counted towards Digital Single units consumed in 2013. [12] [13] Track downloads and audio and video streams were then included in album certification in 2016 using formulas converting downloads and streams into the album units for certification purpose. [14]
Starting from February 1, 2016, each album unit may be one of the following: [14] [15]
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, the Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (running time of 121:39) and OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (running time of 134:56), 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 also counted as double even though their running times are under the minimum requirement. Rules may or may not apply depending on most recent staff within the Distributions position.
Since 2000, the RIAA also awards Los Premios de Oro y De Platino (Gold and Platinum Awards in Spanish) to Latin albums, which are defined by the RIAA as a type of product that features at least 51% of content in Spanish. [16]
Certification | Units required (as of December 20, 2013) | Units required (before December 20, 2013) |
---|---|---|
Disco de Oro | 30,000 | 50,000 |
Disco de Platino | 60,000 | 100,000 |
Disco de Multi-Platino | 120,000 | 200,000 |
Disco de Diamante | 600,000 | 1,000,000 |
Note: The number of sales required to qualify for Oro and Platino awards was higher prior to January 1, 2008. [17] The thresholds were 100,000 units (Oro) and 200,000 units (Platino). All Spanish-language albums certified prior to 2008 were updated to match the current certification at the time. [17] [19] "La Bomba" by Bolivian group Azul Azul is the only single to receive a Latin certification based on shipments before the creation of the Latin digital singles awards in 2013. [20] The Disco de Diamante award was introduced after the RIAA updated the thresholds for Latin certifications on December 20, 2013. The Disco de Diamante is awarded to Latin albums that have been certified 10× Platinum. [21] [22]
Standard singles are certified:
Note: The number of sales required to qualify for Gold and Platinum discs was higher prior to January 1, 1989. The thresholds were previously 1,000,000 units (Gold) and 2,000,000 units (Platinum). [23]
Digital singles are certified:
From 2004 through July 2006, the certification level was 100,000 downloads for Gold and 200,000 for Platinum. When the RIAA changed the certification standards to match retail distribution in August 2006, all Platinum and Multi-Platinum awards for a digital release were withdrawn. Gold certifications, however, were not, meaning a song that was downloaded over 100,000 times and certified so by the RIAA during that time frame retains its Gold status. [24]
Starting May 9, 2013, RIAA certifications for singles in the "digital" category include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads at a rate of 100 streams=1 certification "unit". [12] [25] On January 2, 2016, this rate was updated to 150 streams = 1 certification unit. [13]
Latin digital singles are certified:
The Latin Digital Single Awards began on December 20, 2013. As with the digital sales, 100 streams count as one download sale. [18]
Along with albums, digital albums, and singles there is another classification of music release called "Video Longform." This release format includes DVD and VHS releases, and certain live albums and compilation albums. The certification criteria are slightly different from other styles. [26] [27]
For Video Single certification, the title must contain no more than two songs and must have a running time of no more than 15 minutes. The certification criteria are: [27]
As of 2021 [update] , the titles certified the most Video Single awards are "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down and Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation", both winning 6× Platinum for 300,000 copies. [28] Since 2010, only 5 titles have been certified Video Single. The latest Gold was awarded to "R40" by Rush in 2017. [29]
The Video Box Set (or Multi-Box Music Video Set) award is a classification for video compilations that include three or more videos that are grouped and marketed together as a set. Like Video Longform, this includes DVD and VHS releases and the certification criteria are the same. Each individual video within set is counted as one toward certification. [27]
The best-selling video box set as certified by the RIAA is the Rolling Stones' Four Flicks DVD compilation from their Licks World Tour, with a 19× Multi-Platinum designation. This was likely achieved due to exclusive distribution rights owned by retailer Best Buy by their short-lived music production company, Redline Entertainment. [30] [31]
Master Ringtone (mastertone) awards were introduced in 2006. [32] Certification levels are identical to those of singles, 500,000 for Gold and 1,000,000 for Platinum and Multi-Platinum.
Many Master Ringtone certifications were awarded until 2009, but since then only ten certifications were awarded in 2010, three in 2012 and three in 2019, all three to AC/DC. [33]
Lists from RIAA site showing current status holders of RIAA Certifications:
This list show the artists with at least 10 platinum albums (excluding compilations)
Artist | # |
---|---|
Elvis Presley | 30 |
George Strait | 24 |
The Beatles | 19 |
The Rolling Stones | 18 |
Barbra Streisand | 17 |
Elton John | 16 |
Reba McEntire | 15 |
Alabama | 15 |
Luther Vandross | 15 |
AC/DC | 14 |
Rush | 14 |
Kenny Rogers | 14 |
KISS | 13 |
Rod Stewart | 13 |
Jay Z | 13 |
Bruce Springsteen | 13 |
Chicago | 13 |
U2 | 12 |
Alan Jackson | 12 |
Prince | 12 |
Mariah Carey | 12 |
Garth Brooks | 11 |
Aerosmith | 11 |
Bob Dylan | 11 |
Billy Joel | 11 |
James Taylor | 11 |
Willie Nelson | 11 |
Linda Ronstadt | 11 |
Kenny Chesney | 11 |
Madonna | 10 |
Neil Diamond | 10 |
Celine Dion | 10 |
John Mellencamp | 10 |
Metallica | 10 |
Van Halen | 10 |
Eminem | 10 |
Taylor Swift | 10 |
This table tracks artists with at least two Diamond certified albums.
This table tracks artists with some number of singles that have received at least 10 digital platinum certifications (excluding features).
This table tracks artists with some number of singles that have received at least 2 Diamond certifications.
Note: The RIAA provides the Detailed List of Artists with Most Singles Certified Units
See also: a comprehensive list of certified works with Diamond status at RIAA's website.
Year of release | Artist(s) | Title | Certification | Year of certification |
---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | Eagles | Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) | 38× Platinum | 2018 |
1982 | Michael Jackson | Thriller | 34× Platinum | 2021 |
1976 | Eagles | Hotel California | 26× Platinum | 2018 |
1980 | AC/DC | Back in Black | 25× Platinum | 2019 |
1971 | Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin IV | 24× Platinum | 2021 |
1968 | The Beatles | The Beatles | 24× Platinum | 2019 |
1985 | Billy Joel | Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II | 23× Platinum | 2011 |
1998 | Garth Brooks | Double Live | 23× Platinum | 2023 |
1979 | Pink Floyd | The Wall | 23× Platinum | 1999 |
1977 | Fleetwood Mac | Rumours | 21× Platinum | 2023 |
1994 | Hootie & the Blowfish | Cracked Rear View | 21× Platinum | 2018 |
1997 | Shania Twain | Come On Over | 20× Platinum | 2004 |
Year of release | Artist(s) | Title | Certification | Year of certification |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Post Malone & Swae Lee | "Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)" | 20× Platinum | 2023 |
2019 | Lil Nas X | "Old Town Road" (Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) | 17× Platinum | 2022 |
2018 | Drake | "God's Plan" | 16× Platinum | 2023 |
2014 | Ed Sheeran | "Thinking Out Loud" | 16× Platinum | 2023 |
2012 | Imagine Dragons | "Radioactive" | 16× Platinum | 2023 |
2016 | The Chainsmokers | "Closer" (Featuring Halsey) | 15× Platinum | 2022 |
Year of release | Artist(s) | Title | Certification | Year of certification |
---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Elton John | "Candle in the Wind 1997" | 11× Platinum | 1997 |
1956 | Elvis Presley | "Hound Dog" / "Don't Be Cruel" | 4× Platinum | 1999 |
1992 | Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | 4× Platinum | 1992 |
1992 | Los del Río | "Macarena" | 4× Platinum | 1996 |
1968 | The Beatles | "Hey Jude" | 4× Platinum | 1999 |
1993 | Tag Team | "Whoomp! (There It Is)" | 4× Platinum | 1999 |
1993 | Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | 3× Platinum | 1991 |
See also: a comprehensive list of certified works with Latin Diamond status at RIAA's website.
Year of release | Artist(s) | Title | Certification | Standard certification | Year of certification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | Selena | Dreaming of You | 59× Platinum (Latin) | 3× Platinum | 2017 |
1994 | Selena | Amor Prohibido | 36× Platinum (Latin) | 2× Platinum | 2017 |
2014 | Romeo Santos | Formula, Vol. 2 | 31× Platinum (Latin) | N/A | 2024 |
2017 | Ozuna | Odisea | 28× Platinum (Latin) | N/A | 2022 |
2020 | Bad Bunny | YHLQMDLG | 24× Platinum (Latin) | N/A | 2021 |
2019 | Luis Fonsi | Vida | 22× Platinum (Latin) | N/A | 2019 |
2004 | Juanes | Mi Sangre | 18× Platinum (Latin) | N/A | 2019 |
2002 | Juanes | Un Día Normal | 18× Platinum (Latin) | N/A | 2022 |
2002 | Selena | Ones | 18× Platinum (Latin) | Gold | 2017 |
1993 | Gloria Estefan | Mi Tierra | 16× Platinum (Latin) | Platinum | 2000 |
2006 | Maná | Amar es Combatir | 16× Platinum (Latin) | Gold | 2023 |
2011 | Romeo Santos | Formula, Vol. 1 | 15× Platinum (Latin) | N/A | 2022 |
Year of release | Artist(s) | Title | Certification | Year of certification |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Nio García, Casper Mágico, Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Darell & Nicky Jam | "Te Boté (Remix)" | 71× Platinum (Latin) 10× Diamante | 2023 |
2017 | J Balvin & Willy William | "Mi Gente" (Featuring Beyoncé) | 68× Platinum (Latin) | 2018 |
2013 | Romeo Santos | "Propuesta Indecente" | 65× Platinum (Latin) 2× Diamante | 2024 |
2017 | Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee | "Despacito" | 55× Platinum (Latin) 13× Platinum | 2017 |
2021 | Farruko | "Pepas" | 52× Platinum (Latin) | 2023 |
2017 | Becky G & Bad Bunny | "Mayores" | 46× Platinum (Latin) | 2021 |
2017 | Maluma | "Felices los 4" | 44× Platinum (Latin) | 2021 |
2018 | Daddy Yankee | "Dura" | 43× Platinum (Latin) | 2020 |
2019 | Sech & Darell | "Otro Trago" | 42× Platinum (Latin) Diamante | 2023 |
2019 | Daddy Yankee | "Con Calma" (Featuring Snow) | 41× Platinum (Latin) Diamante | 2020 |
2019 | Karol G & Nicki Minaj | "Tusa" | 41× Platinum (Latin) Diamante | 2021 |
2014 | Romeo Santos | "Eres Mía" | 39× Platinum (Latin) Diamante | 2022 |
2018 | Becky G & Natti Natasha | "Sin Pijama" | 38× Platinum (Latin) Diamante | 2021 |
2018 | DJ Luian, Mambo Kingz, Ozuna, Bad Bunny, Wisin & Almighty | "Solita" | 38× Platinum (Latin) | 2023 |
2022 | Karol G | "Provenza" | 36× Platinum (Latin) | 2023 |
2018 | Nicky Jam & J Balvin | "X" | 35× Platinum (Latin) | 2019 |
2011 | Romeo Santos | "Promise" (Featuring Usher) | 34× Platinum (Latin) Diamante | 2022 |
2014 | Romeo Santos | "Odio" (Featuring Drake) | 34× Platinum (Latin) Diamante | 2022 |
2005 | Shakira | "La Tortura" | 32× Platinum (Latin) 3× Diamante | 2018 |
2013 | Prince Royce | "Darte un Beso" | 31× Platinum (Latin) | 2021 |
Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory.
Whitney is the second studio album by American singer Whitney Houston, released on June 2, 1987, by Arista Records as the follow-up to her debut album. The album features five top 10 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, which also became international hits. The album's first four singles—"I Wanna Dance with Somebody ", "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"—all peaked at number one on the US Hot 100, making her the first female act to achieve four number-one hits from one album.
The Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI) or Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy. It was established in 1992, when major corporate labels left the previously existing Associazione dei Fonografici Italiani (AFI). During the following years, most of the remaining Italian record labels left AFI to join the new organisation. As of 2011, FIMI represents 2,500 companies operating in the music business.
Top Latin Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the American music market. Like all Billboard album charts, the chart is based on sales. Nielsen SoundScan compiles the sales data from merchants representing more than 90 percent of the U.S. music retail market. The sample includes sales at music stores, the music departments of electronics and department stores, direct-to-consumer transactions, and Internet sales of physical albums or digital downloads. A limited array of verifiable sales from concert venues is also tabulated. To rank on this chart, an album must have 51% or more of its content recorded in Spanish. Listings of Top Latin Albums are also shown on Telemundo's music page through a partnership between the two companies.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legally sold recorded music in the United States". RIAA is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Regional Mexican Albums is a genre-specific record chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. The chart was established in June 1985 and originally listed the top twenty-five best-selling albums of mariachi, tejano, norteño, and grupero, which are all subgenres of regional Mexican music. The genre is considered by musicologists as "the biggest-selling Latin music genre in the United States", and represented the fastest-growing Latin genre in the United States after tejano music entered the mainstream market during its 1990s golden age.
The Bundesverband Musikindustrie, or simply BVMI, represents the music industry in Germany. The association represents the interests of nearly 280 labels and music industry related enterprises, which comprise 90% of the music industry. It is a member of the London-based International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), consisting of music associations of 70 countries.
Tropical Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. Established in June 1985, the chart compiles information about the top-selling albums in genres like salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato, which are frequently considered tropical music. The chart features only full-length albums and, like all Billboard album charts, is based on sales. The information is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan from a sample representing more than 90% of the U.S. music retail market, including not only music stores and music departments at electronics and department stores but also direct-to-consumer transactions and Internet sales. A limited number of verifiable sales at concert venues is also tabulated. Innovations by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico was the first album to reach number-one in the chart on June 29, 1985. Up until May 21, 2005, reggaeton albums appeared on the chart. After the installation of the Latin Rhythm Albums chart, reggaeton titles could no longer appear on the Tropical Albums chart. By removing reggaeton albums from the Tropical Albums chart, it opened slots for re-entries and debuts. American bachata group Aventura claimed the top spot on the Tropical Albums chart, which marked the first time since the issue dated November 6, 2004 that a reggaeton album was not at the number-one spot. The current number-one album on the chart is The Last by Aventura.
The Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry is the trade organization that represents the interests of the music industry in Poland, and the Polish chapter of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Founded in 1991, it is authorised by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage to act as a copyright collective in the field of phonogram and videogram producers' rights. ZPAV publishes the Polish Music Charts and awards music recording sales certifications. It also issues the Fryderyk annual award for Polish music.
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The Dominican singer, songwriter and producer Juan Luis Guerra has released 14 studio albums, two live albums and forty-eight singles. He is one of the best selling Latin artist of all time with more 30 millions of records worldwide. He made his debut with his first studio album Soplando, released in 1984. He later released his second studio album in 1985, Mundanza y Acarreo which was his first national success and marked his first entry at the US Billboard Charts at number seventeen on Billboard Tropical Charts. In 1987, his third studio album Mientras Más Lo Pienso...Tú become his first work to gain international attention in countries such as Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Between this last two albums, it sold over two million copies worldwide.
The following is a list of events and new Spanish and Portuguese-language music that happened or are expected to happen in 2024 in Ibero-America. Ibero-America encompasses Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and the Latino population in Canada and the United States.
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