RIAA certification

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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] (Some other countries have similar schemes. See Music recording sales certification.) Certification is not automatic; for an award to be made, the record label must pay a fee to have the sales of the recording audited. The audit is conducted against unit shipments (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. Shipments that could potentially be returned to the label can not be counted.

Traditionally, an American RIAA-certified gold record was a single or album that sold 500,000 units (records, tapes, and/or CDs). A platinum record was one that sold 1,000,000 units. However, the RIAA has changed these terms several times over the last five decades, so the criteria for certification depends on different factors, particularly in recent years.

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 potential returns, not actual sales like Nielsen SoundScan).

Contents

[edit] List of certifications

Currently, the normal RIAA certifications for albums are:

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

The following certifications are given only to recordings of which over 50% of the content is in the Spanish language [1]:

  • 100,000 units: Oro album.
  • 200,000 units: Platino album.
  • of 400,000 units: Multi-Platino album.

Multi-disc albums are counted once for each disc within the album if it is over 100 minutes in length. For example, each copy of OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (running time of 134:56), Tupac Shakur's All Eyez On Me (132:18), and Shania Twain's Up! (145:44), all three double albums, were counted twice, meaning each album was certified diamond after only 5 million copies were shipped.

[edit] Records

Top selling artists [2]
(updated 5 June 2008)
Artist Units
(millions)
The Beatles 170
Garth Brooks 130
Elvis Presley 118.5
Led Zeppelin 111.5
Eagles 100
Billy Joel 75.5
Pink Floyd 74.5
Barbara Streisand 71
Elton John 69.5
George Strait 69.5
AC/DC 69
Aerosmith 66.5
The Rolling Stones 66
Bruce Springsteen 63.5
Madonna 63
Mariah Carey 63
Michael Jackson 60.5
Metallica 57
Van Halen 56.5
Whitney Houston 54
U2 52
Kenny Rogers 51.5
Celine Dion 50
Fleetwood Mac 48.5
Neil Diamond 48
Kenny G 48
Shania Twain 48
Alabama 46
Journey 46
Santana 43
Eric Clapton 42.5
Alan Jackson 42
Reba McEntire 40.5
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band 40
Prince 39.5
Guns N' Roses 39.5
Simon & Garfunkel 38.5
Chicago 38
Tupac Shakur 37.5
Rod Stewart 37
Bob Dylan 37
Backstreet Boys 37
Foreigner 36
Def Leppard 35
Willie Nelson 35
Bon Jovi 35
Phil Collins 33.5
R. Kelly 33
James Taylor 33
John Denver 32.5
Queen 32.5
Tim McGraw 32
The Doors 32
Britney Spears 32
Boston 31
Dave Matthews Band 31
Dixie Chicks 30.5
Linda Ronstadt 30
Pearl Jam 30
Ozzy Osbourne 29.0
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 28.5
Mannheim Steamroller 28
Lynyrd Skynyrd 28
Michael Bolton 28
'N Sync 28
John Mellencamp 27.5
Barry Manilow 27.5
Eminem 27
Boyz II Men 27
Brooks & Dunn 26.5
Enya 26
Janet Jackson 26
Bee Gees 26
Creedence Clearwater Revival 26
Jay-Z 26
Frank Sinatra 25.5
ZZ Top 25
Rush 25
Nirvana 25
Faith Hill 25
The Carpenters 24.5
Luther Vandross 24.5
Steve Miller Band 24.5
Creed 24
Vince Gill 24
Earth, Wind & Fire 23.5
The Cars 23.5
Mötley Crüe 23.5
Jimmy Buffett 23
Kenny Chesney 22.5
The Police 22.5
Sade 22.5
Toby Keith 22
Jimi Hendrix 22
REO Speedwagon 22
TLC 22
Green Day 22
Beastie Boys 22
Lionel Richie 22
Outkast 22
Doobie Brothers 22
Gold and Platinum albums [3]
(updated 14 May 2008)
Artist Gold Platinum Multi-Platinum
AC/DC 19 19 11[2]
Aerosmith 25 18 12[3]
Alabama 22 20 10[4]
Beach Boys, The 20 9 6[5]
Beatles, The 45 39 24[6]
Bee Gees, The 13 9 2[7]
Bon Jovi 13 11 7[8]
Brooks, Garth 17 17 16[9]
Buffett, Jimmy 17 9 3[10]
Carey, Mariah 13 13 11[11]
Cash, Johnny 18 10 5[12]
Chesney, Kenny 12 9 5[13]
Chicago 22 18 8[14]
Clapton, Eric 25 12 8[15]
Creedence Clearwater Revival 13 9 6[16]
Denver, John 21 14 7[17]
Diamond, Neil 39 20 11[18]
Dion, Celine 13 11 8[19]
Doors, The 18 14 5[20]
Dylan, Bob 36 16 5[21]
Eagles, The 13 13 11[22]
Earth, Wind & Fire 18 10 6[23]
Fleetwood Mac 14 9 8[24]
Franklin, Aretha 14 4 1[25]
Gill, Vince 13 11 6[26]
Grand Funk Railroad 12 6 2[27]
Grant, Amy 13 7 3[28]
Grateful Dead 18 6 4[29]
Heart 13 8 6[30]
Hendrix, Jimi 17 10 6[31]
Isley Brothers 15 10 3[32]
Jackson, Alan 16 14 8[33]
Jay-Z 13 13 8[34]
Jefferson Airplane/Starship 20 5 1[35]
Jethro Tull 15 3 1[36]
Joel, Billy 18 16 12[37]
John, Elton 37 26 12[38]
Journey 12 10 8[39]
Keith, Toby 14 11 6[40]
Kelly, R. 12 12 6[41]
Kenny G 15 11 8[42]
Kiss 24 10 2[43]
Led Zeppelin 19 18 14[44]
Lynyrd Skynyrd 19 13 7[45]
Madonna 17 14 12[46]
Manilow, Barry 24 13 6[47]
Mannheim Steamroller 18 8 4[48]
Mathis, Johnny 16 6 2[49]
Matthews, Dave 16 14 8[50]
McCartney, Paul 15 8 4[51]
McEntire, Reba 26 19 9[52]
Mellencamp, John 15 12 5[53]
Metallica 11 11 10[54]
Murray, Anne 15 6 2[55]
Nelson, Willie 24 17 8[56]
Osbourne, Ozzy 16 12 9[57]
Petty, Tom & The Heartbreakers 15 8 5[58]
Pink Floyd 18 15 12[59]
Presley, Elvis 97 55 27[60]
Prince 23 16 7[61]
Queen 18 11 6[62]
REO Speedwagon 12 8 4[63]
Rogers, Kenny 32 20 8[64]
Rolling Stones, The 42 27 11[65]
Ronstadt, Linda 17 13 7[66]
Rush 24 14 3[67]
Santana 22 11 7[68]
Seger, Bob and the Silver Bullet Band 13 11 7[69]
Shakur, Tupac 12 11 7[70][71]
Sinatra, Frank 33 10 3[72]
Springsteen, Bruce 20 17 10[73]
Stewart, Rod 26 18 10[74]
Strait, George 39 34 13[75]
Streisand, Barbra 50 30 13[76]
Taylor, James 20 14 5[77]
Temptations, The 19 6 1[78]
Travis, Randy 12 8 4[79]
U2 16 16 11[80]
Vandross, Luther 18 15 7[81]
Van Halen 14 13 12[82]
Who, The 18 12 5[83]
Williams, Hank, Jr. 23 8 1[84]
Young, Neil 18 7 3[85]

[edit] Diamond sales

Diamond (10+ Million) Certified[4]

[edit] Artists with the most Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum singles

Main article: RIAA single certification
 It has been suggested that RIAA single certification be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)
  1. Elvis Presley - (54G+27P+8MP)[86]
  2. Mariah Carey - (23G+10P+2MP)[87]
  3. The Beatles - (24G+6P+4MP)[88]
  4. Madonna - (25G+4P+1MP)[89]
  5. Janet Jackson - (21G+5P)[90]
  6. Whitney Houston - (19G+7P+1MP)[91]
  7. Elton John - (17G+6P+1MP)[92]
  8. The Temptations - (17G+6P)[93]
  9. Aretha Franklin - (15G)[94]
  10. Creedence Clearwater Revival - (10G+5P)[95]
  11. Barbra Streisand - (9G+5P)[96]
  12. Britney Spears - (8G+3P)[97]
  13. Christina Aguilera - (9G+2P)[98]
  14. George Michael - (8G+1P)[99]
  15. Billy Joel - (7G+2P)[100]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ RIAA certification criteria. Retrieved on September 19, 2006
  2. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by AC/DC
  3. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Aerosmith
  4. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Alabama
  5. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by The Beach Boys
  6. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by The Beatles
  7. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by The Bee Gees
  8. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Bon Jovi
  9. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Garth Brooks
  10. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Jimmy Buffett
  11. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Mariah Carey
  12. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Johnny Cash
  13. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Kenny Chesney
  14. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Chicago
  15. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Eric Clapton
  16. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Creedence Clearwater Revival
  17. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by John Denver
  18. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Neil Diamond
  19. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Celine Dion
  20. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by The Doors
  21. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Bob Dylan
  22. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by The Eagles
  23. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Earth, Wind & Fire
  24. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Fleetwood Mac
  25. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Aretha Franklin
  26. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Vince Gill
  27. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Grand Funk Railroad
  28. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Amy Grant
  29. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Grateful Dead
  30. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Heart
  31. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Jimi Hendrix
  32. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Isley Brothers
  33. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Alan Jackson
  34. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Jay-Z
  35. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Jefferson Airplane
  36. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Jethro Tull
  37. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Billy Joel
  38. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Elton John
  39. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Journey
  40. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Toby Keith
  41. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by R. Kelly
  42. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Kenny G
  43. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Kiss
  44. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Led Zeppelin
  45. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Lynyrd Skynyrd
  46. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Madonna
  47. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Barry Manilow
  48. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Mannheim Steamroller
  49. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Johnny Mathis
  50. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Dave Matthews
  51. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Paul McCartney
  52. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Reba McEntire
  53. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by John Mellencamp
  54. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Metallica
  55. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Anne Murray
  56. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Willie Nelson
  57. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Ozzy Osbourne
  58. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Tom Petty
  59. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Pink Floyd
  60. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Elvis Presley
  61. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Prince
  62. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Queen
  63. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by REO Speedwagon
  64. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Kenny Rogers
  65. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Rolling Stones
  66. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Linda Ronstadt
  67. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Rush
  68. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Santana
  69. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
  70. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Tupac Shakur
  71. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Makaveli
  72. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Frank Sinatra
  73. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Bruce Springsteen
  74. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Rod Stewart
  75. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by George Strait
  76. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Barbra Streisand
  77. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by James Taylor
  78. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by The Temptations
  79. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Randy Travis
  80. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by U2
  81. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Luther Vandross
  82. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Van Halen
  83. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by The Who
  84. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Hank Williams, Jr.
  85. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Neil Young
  86. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Elvis Presley
  87. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Mariah Carey
  88. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by The Beatles
  89. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Madonna
  90. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Janet Jackson
  91. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Whitney Houston
  92. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Elton John
  93. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by The Temptations
  94. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Aretha Franklin
  95. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Creedence Clearwater Revival
  96. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Barbra Streisand
  97. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Britney Spears
  98. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Christina Aguilera
  99. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by George Michael
  100. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for singles by Billy Joel

[edit] External links