In the music industry, achieving a “Gold” or “Platinum” certification is a major milestone. These awards recognize the success of an artist’s song or album based on sales and streams in the United States. But how exactly do these certifications work, and what does it take to earn one?
Who Handles Gold and Platinum Certifications?
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is responsible for awarding Gold and Platinum certifications in the U.S. The RIAA tracks the number of sales and streams for albums and singles, verifying when they meet the criteria for these prestigious awards.
What Do Gold and Platinum Mean?
Gold and Platinum certifications are based on the number of units sold or streamed. Here’s how they break down:
- Gold: 500,000 units
- Platinum: 1,000,000 units
- Multi-Platinum: 2,000,000 or more units
- Diamond: 10,000,000 units
These units include a combination of physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming.
How Do Streams Count Toward Certifications?
In the streaming era, physical and digital sales aren’t the only way to measure success. The RIAA now includes on-demand audio and video streams in their calculations.
For singles, 150 streams are equivalent to one sale. This means that if a song racks up 150 million streams, it qualifies for Platinum certification. For albums, the formula is more complex. The RIAA combines physical sales, digital sales, and streams to calculate total units. For example, 1,500 on-demand audio or video streams equal one album unit.
How Long Does It Take to Earn Gold or Platinum?
The time it takes to reach Gold or Platinum status varies. Some songs hit Gold within a few months, while others may take years. Factors like the artist’s popularity, promotional efforts, and whether the song or album goes viral can speed up the process.
Consider Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road”—it became the fastest song in history to go Diamond, earning 10 million units in under two years due to its viral success and massive streaming numbers.
Rapper Kid Cudi’s “Day N Nite” has recently gone Platinum after 16 years of being out.
What Are Some Famous Gold and Platinum Albums?
Many iconic albums have earned Gold or Platinum status. Here are a few standouts:
- Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”: The best-selling album of all time, with 33x Platinum status.
- Eminem’s “The Marshall Mathers LP”: A Diamond-certified album with over 10 million units sold.
- Taylor Swift’s “1989”: Achieved multi-Platinum status with its blend of pop hits and massive streaming numbers.
Why Do These Certifications Matter?
Achieving Gold or Platinum certification is a significant career milestone. It demonstrates that an artist’s music has reached a wide audience and achieved commercial success. These awards also boost an artist’s credibility, making them more attractive to labels, sponsors, and fans.
Conclusion
Earning a Gold or Platinum certification requires a combination of sales, streams, and promotional efforts. As the music industry evolves with the rise of streaming, artists today have more ways than ever to achieve these coveted awards. Whether through viral hits or steady sales, going Gold or Platinum remains a powerful symbol of success in the music business.
