RIAA: 2014 Year End Report

[areyoureadytojump]

January 2014 RIAA Album Certs

Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox 2xp
One Direction, Take Me Home 2xp
One Direction, Up All Night 2xp
Imagine Dragons, Night Visions 2xp

One Direction, Midnight Memories 1xp
Kanye West, Yeezus 1xp
Miranda Lambert, Four The Record 1xp
Of Monsters And Men, My Head Is An Animal 1xp
Lana Del Rey, Born To Die 1xp

One Republic, Native Gold
Soundtrack, Frozen Gold
One Direction, Midnight Memories Gold

[areyoureadytojump]

Beyonce RIAA

Dangerously In Love 4xp (probably 5xp)
B-Day 3xp
I Am Sasha Fierce 2xp (should be 3xp)
4 1xp
Beyonce 1xp

Total: 11xp

One Direction RIAA

Up All Night 2xp
Take Me Home 2xp
Midnight Memories 1xp

Total: 5xp

Bruno Mars RIAA

Doo-Wops & Hooligans 2xp
Unorthodox Jukebox 2xp

Total: 4xp

One Republic RIAA

Dreaming Out Loud Gold (should be 1xp)
Waking Up Gold
Native Gold

Total: 1.5xp

Kanye West RIAA

The College Dropout 2xp (should be 3xp)
Late Registration 3xp
Graduation 2xp
808s & Heartbreak 1xp
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 1xp
Watch The Throne 1xp
Yeezus 1xp

Total: 11xp

Miranda Lambert RIAA

Kerosene 1xp
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 1xp
Revolution 1xp
Four The record 1xp

Total: 4xp

[areyoureadytojump]

February 2014 RIAA Album Certs

Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 8xp

Beyonce, Beyonce, 1xp
Nickelback, Here And Now 1xp
Blake Shelton,Blake Shelton 1xp
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories 1xp
Miley Cyrus, Bangerz 1xp
Lorde, Pure Heroine 1xp
Frozen Sdtk. 1xp

Lupe Fiasco, Lasers Gold
Now 48 Gold
Darius Rucker, True Believers Gold
Beyonce, Beyonce Gold
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories Gold
Miley Cyrus, Bangerz Gold

[Wave.]

Lasers is Finally Gold???

[areyoureadytojump]

^The last SS figure I had was from the 8/20/11 BB200:


169 FIASCO*LUPE LASERS 3,??? -7% 3??? 451,000

[areyoureadytojump]

RIAA's Top Selling Artists:

www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists

1. BEATLES, THE 177
2. PRESLEY, ELVIS 134.5
3. BROOKS, GARTH 128
4. LED ZEPPELIN 111.5
5. EAGLES 100
6. JOEL, BILLY 81.5
7. JACKSON, MICHAEL 75.5
8. PINK FLOYD 74.5
9. JOHN, ELTON 73
10. AC/DC 71.5

10. STREISAND, BARBRA 71.5
12. STRAIT, GEORGE 68.5
13. ROLLING STONES, THE 66.5
13. AEROSMITH 66.5
15. SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 64.5
15. MADONNA 64.5
17. CAREY, MARIAH 63.5
18. METALLICA 62
19. HOUSTON, WHITNEY 57
20. VAN HALEN 56.5

All the artists above have under-certified albums.

[areyoureadytojump]

www.riaa.com/news_room.php?content_selector=riaa-news-gold-and-platinum

RIAA Announces 12 First-Time Digital Award Recipients
April 08, 2014

Capital Cities, Lupe Fiasco, John Legend & Pharrell Williams Earn First Multi-Platinums

2 Chainz, American Authors, Cassadee Pope, Sage The Gemini & Cole Swindell Get Premiere Platinums

August Alsina, Britt Nicole and Jon Pardi Receive First Gold Certifications

Hector Acosta, Cosculluela, Tierra Cali & Tito El Bambino Earn Latin Awards

Washington—Twelve musical acts earned their first Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Digital Single Awards – now counting song sales and on-demand streams – in March, according to the RIAA’s newest monthly Gold & Platinum Program count.

Four acts received their first double-Platinum digital song awards: Capitol Records band Capital Cities for “Safe and Sound,” Atlantic rapper Lupe Fiasco for “The Show Goes On,” Columbia solo singer John Legend for “All Of Me” and Columbia artist Pharrell Williams for “Happy.” On the heels of reaching his double-Platinum milestone mid-month, Pharrell ended March by securing triple-Platinum for “Happy.”

The RIAA awarded five first Platinum single certifications to Def Jam rapper 2 Chainz for “We Own It (Fast & Furious),” Island Records NYC band American Authors for “Best Day Of My Life,” Republic Nashville singer-songwriter and season three The Voice winner Cassadee Pope for “Wasting All These Tears,” Empire/Republic Records lyricist Sage The Gemini for “Gas Pedal” and Warner Music Nashville songster Cole Swindell for “Chillin’ It.”

Three talented solo artists welcomed their first Gold song certifications in March: New Orleans hip-hop artist August Alsina for “I Luv This S**t” (Def Jam/NoonTime), talented Christian musician Britt Nicole for “Gold” (Sparrow) and California-bred country crooner Jon Pardi for “Up All Night” (Capitol Records Nashville).

As spring arrived in March, Sunshine State country duo Florida Georgia Line earned two RIAA Platinum song awards for popular tracks “Round Here” and “Stay” plus a Gold song award for “This Is How We Roll” (Republic Nashville).

Meanwhile Warner Bros. Records R&B artist Jason Derulo achieved his fifth Platinum Digital Single Award for “The Other Side” and Kanye West gained his career 11th for “Monster” (Roc Nation/ Island Def Jam).

Additionally, Demi Lovato took home a Gold award for her new single “Neon Lights” and a Platinum for her song “Here We Go Again” (Hollywood Records, 2009).

In the album arena, P!nk earned March’s top award: a double-Platinum for her latest record “The Truth About Love” (RCA Records, 2012). P!nk has netted an impressive seven Platinum (or higher) albums spanning the last 14 years!

The highly successful WOW Christian and gospel music enterprise secured two new Gold albums in March: “WOW Hits 2014” (Sparrow Joint Venture) and “WOW Gospel 2011” (RCA Inspiration).

RIAA awarded six new Latin certifications in March.

Oro awards, marking more than 30,000 albums sold, were earned by Venemusic artist Hector Acosta for “Obligame” (2010) and “Mitad y Mitad” (2008), Siente Music singer-songwriter Cosculluela or “El Principe” (2009) and Venemusic band Tierra Cali for “The Ultimate Collection” (2009).

Also earning high marks, Tito El Bambino’s digital song “Por Que Les Mientes” (Siente Music, 2012) certified Oro and Platino for crossing the 60,000 sold threshold!

In March, seven albums and 47 digital singles were awarded. All certifications are calculated by Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman. Complete lists of all album, single, mastertone and video awards can also be accessed at www.riaa.com. Be sure to follow @riaa on Twitter and “Like” the group’s G&P Facebook page (facebook.com/GoldandPlatinum) to get the latest certification news, artists’ award photos and much more!

[areyoureadytojump]

Only 3 standard albums were certified with the RIAA in March:

Pink, The Truth About Love 2xp

Wow Hits 2014 Gold
Wow Gospel 2014 Gold

[areyoureadytojump]

Pink RIAA

Can't Take Me Home 2xp
M!zzundaztood 5xp
Try This 1xp
I'm Not Dead 1xp
Funhouse 2xp
Greatest Hits So Far 1xp
Truth About Love 2xp *new*

Total: 14xp

[areyoureadytojump]

There were 6 album certifications with the RIAA in April

April 2014 Album Certs:

Frozen Sdtk. 3xp

Frozen Sdtk. 2xp

Seether, Disclaimer II 1xp
Foster The People, Torches 1xp
Wow Hits 2010 1xp

Ramones, Ramones, Gold

[areyoureadytojump]

There were 9 album certifications with the RIAA in May:

Bob Marley & The Wailers, Legend 15xp
Bob Marley & The Wailers, Legend 14xp
Bob Marley & The Wailers, Legend 13xp
Bob Marley & The Wailers, Legend 12xp
Bob Marley & The Wailers, Legend 11xp

Otis Redding, Very Best Of 2xp

Luke Bryan, Crash My Party 2xp

Brantley Gilbert, Halfway to Heaven 1xp

John Legend, Love Is Our Future Gold

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

Legend is getting a reissue this month, highly doubt it moves another million copies this year though.

[areyoureadytojump]

^It's already sold approx. 93,000 copies this year.

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

Only 900k more to go lol

[ListenToItTwice]

Jun 9, 2014 16:30:25 GMT -5 YourFaveIsAFlop said:

Only 900k more to go lol

Haha but it will get there... Eventually (not in 2014 ). Its sales are incredible.

[areyoureadytojump]

There were 18 albums certifications with the RIAA in June 2014:

Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced 5xP

2Pac, Until The End Of Time 4xP

Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 2xP

Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 1xP
Larry The Cable Guy, The Right To Bare Arms 1xP
Trey Songz, Ready 1xP

Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 Gold
Toby Keith, American Ride Gold

The individual albums in Garth Brook's box set "Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades Of Influences" were certified individually:

Garth Brooks, Ultimate Hits 7xP

Garth Brooks, Ultimate Hits 6xP

Garth Brooks, Blue Eyed Soul 1xP
Garth Brooks, Classic Rock 1xP
Garth Brooks, Country Hits 1xP
Garth Brooks, Melting Pot 1xP

Garth Brooks, Blue Eyed Soul Gold
Garth Brooks, Classic Rock Gold
Garth Brooks, Country Hits Gold
Garth Brooks, Melting Pot Gold

[onebuffalo]

So how many CDs has Garth Brooks sold now? Thanks!

[areyoureadytojump]

www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists

Top Selling Album Artists

Artist Certified Units in Millions

1. BEATLES, THE 177
2. PRESLEY, ELVIS 134.5
3. BROOKS, GARTH 134
4. LED ZEPPELIN 111.5
5. EAGLES 100
6. JOEL, BILLY 81.5
7. JACKSON, MICHAEL 75.5
8. PINK FLOYD 74.5
9. JOHN, ELTON 73
10. AC/DC 71.5
10. STREISAND, BARBRA 71.5

12. STRAIT, GEORGE 68.5
13. AEROSMITH 66.5
13. ROLLING STONES, THE 66.5
15. MADONNA 64.5
15. SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 64.5
17. CAREY, MARIAH 63.5
18. METALLICA 62
19. HOUSTON, WHITNEY 57
20. VAN HALEN 56.5

All the artists above have under-certified albums. (Except Garth since most his album are out of print.)

[onebuffalo]

Thanks!

[areyoureadytojump]

The June awards are listed in this handy pdf file:

76.74.24.142/36E1554C-0081-B65E-A5B7-02C9C1D91F31.pdf

[kingofpain]

Wait, why isn't Rihanna or Flo Rida in the top 20?

[areyoureadytojump]

Jul 8, 2014 15:17:48 GMT -5 kingofpain said:

Wait, why isn't Rihanna or Flo Rida in the top 20?

Those are *album* shipments.

www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-artists-digital-singles

Top Artists (Digital Singles)

Artist Certified Units in Millions

PERRY, KATY 72
RIHANNA 52
SWIFT, TAYLOR 51
LIL WAYNE 32
WEST, KANYE 31.5
EMINEM 31
FLO RIDA 29.5
LADY GAGA 28.5
MARS, BRUNO 28
BIEBER, JUSTIN 25

DRAKE 24
UNDERWOOD, CARRIE 22.5
ADELE 22
BLACK EYED PEAS, THE 22
ALDEAN, JASON 21.5
BEYONCE 19
LMFAO 18
MINAJ, NICKI 18
BRYAN, LUKE 15.5
MAROON 5 15

[areyoureadytojump]

Just when I think that labels aren't interested in certifying in albums anymore...

There were 17 albums certifications in July

76.74.24.142/E0689863-C22F-F57E-4C9C-771764142CB6.pdf

2 Pac, All Eyez On Me 10xP (2 cds)

2 Pac, Better Dayz 3xP

Beyonce, Beyonce 2xP
Florida Georgia Line, Here's To The Good Times 2xP

The Beatles, Introducing The Beatles 1xP
R. Carlos Nakai, Canyon Trilogy 1xP

The Beatles, Introducing The Beatles Gold
Miranda Lambert, Platinum Gold
Paramore, All We Know Is Falling Gold
Jason Mraz, Love Is A Four Letter Word Gold
Avenged Sevenfold, Hail To The King Gold
Coldplay, Ghost Stories Gold
Eric Church, The Outsiders Gold
Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park Gold
George Strait, Love Is Everything Gold
Now 49 Gold
Now 50 Gold

[areyoureadytojump]

6 albums were certified with the RIAA in August:

76.74.24.142/C0BA6DD1-CBDD-ADFF-640D-FF2E63E89351.pdf

The Eagles, Hell Freezes Over 9xP

Nickel Creek, Nickel Creek 1xP

ImogeanHeap, Speak For Yourself Gold
The Avett Brothers, I and I Love You Gold
Pahrrell, G I R L Gold
Ed Sheeran, x Gold

[ctmoonstoneheart]

here are All of Taylor's new single certifications as a solo Artist


8/21/2014 LOVE STORY SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
7.0 14 11/11/2008
8/21/2014 WE ARE NEVER EVER GETTING BACK
TOGETHER
SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
5.0 14 8/13/2012
8/21/2014 MEAN SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
3.0 14 10/25/2010
8/21/2014 MINE SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
3.0 14 8/16/2010
8/21/2014 FIFTEEN SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
2.0 14 11/8/2008
8/22/2014 BACK TO DECEMBER SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
2.0 14 10/12/2010
8/22/2014 PICTURE TO BURN SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
2.0 14 10/24/2006
8/22/2014 OUR SONG SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
4.0 14 10/24/2006
8/25/2014 YOU BELONG WITH ME SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
6.0 14 11/4/2008
8/25/2014 YOU BELONG WITH ME SWIFT, TAYLOR BIG MACHINE
RECORDS, INC.
5.0 14 11/4/2008
8/26/2014 SAFE & SOUND SWIFT, TAYLOR UNIVERSAL
REPUBLIC
2.0 14

[areyoureadytojump]

September RIAA album certifications

Deli Lovato, Demi Gold
Michael Jackson, Xscape Gold
Guardians of the Galaxy Sdtk. Gold
Newsbosys, God's Not Dead Gold

All the September certifications:

76.74.24.142/B1AABFD6-A444-6C2D-E68D-08B447BD3C50.pdf

[areyoureadytojump]

October RIAA album certifications

Fleetwood Mac, Rumours 20xP

Jason Aldean, Night Train 2xP

Drake, Nothing Was The Same 1xP

Barbra Streisand, Partners Gold
Arctic Monkeys, AM Gold
Ariana Grande, Yours Truly Gold
Drake, Nothing Was The Same Gold
Shinedown, Amaryllis Gold
Christina Perri, Lovestrong Gold
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Very Best Of Gold

All the October certifications are here:

riaa.com/media/CFAE325B-5EC3-2FE8-1FFB-EA3E9C7ABE42.pdf

[areyoureadytojump]

No changes to RIAA album certification requirements:

Confirmed by the RIAA:

Chart News ‏@chartnews on Twitter:

@riaa But the album (Ariana Grande) sold 407,000. Is there some new rule?

Liz Kennedy ‏@lizskennedy on Twitter:

@chartnews @riaa. No change! 1M sold indeed. G&P awards aren't SoundScan sales.

[areyoureadytojump]

November RIAA standard album certifications:

Sam Smith, In The Lonely Hour 1xP
Elton John, #1's Rocket Man 1xP
Kem, Album II 1xP

Jason Aldean, New Boots, Old Dirt Gold
Barbra Streisand, Partners Gold
Sam Smith, In The Lonely Hour Gold
Ray LaMontagne, Trouble Gold
Deadmaus 4x4=12, Gold
Ellie Goulding, Halcyon Gold
Keith Urban, Fuse Gold
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City Gold

[areyoureadytojump]

Will comment later...

www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2014/12/22/why-the-definition-of-a-platinum-record-needs-to-change-in-2015/

Why The Definition Of A Platinum Album Needs To Change In 2015

When Taylor Swift released new album 1989 this fall, the most remarkable fact wasn’t its first-week sales of 1.3 million–the first platinum debut for any artist since the last time she did it with Red–but that it was the only platinum album, period, by a solo act to that point in 2014.

As much as the episode illustrates Swift’s tremendous success, it also underscores the need to change the definition of platinum. The Recording Industry Association of America is the arbiter of that distinction, currently setting the threshold at 1 million copies shipped and/or sold.

There is, however, no provision for streaming in the current system. Nearly two years ago, industry insiders were already noting that streaming had surpassed digital downloads and physical music sales in terms of overall listener adoption.

Though precise market share numbers are virtually impossible to calculate, the gap has only become more pronounced of late. Nielsen’s midyear report revealed that digital downloads had dropped by 13% while streaming surged 42%.

The music world is in the midst of a fundamental change, and it’s time for the RIAA to recognize that by incorporating streams into its platinum album formula.

A spokesperson for the organization says there’s “nothing to announce” at the moment, but there are reasons to believe 2015 will be the year for a shift. This past year saw Billboard change its chart methodology to incorporate streaming.

The RIAA also tweaked its digital singles certifications–an on-demand stream from a service like Spotify now counts toward gold and platinum tallies at a rate of 100 streams for each digital download.

Making the same move for platinum albums raises some trickier questions. Does the 1-to-100 ratio still work? And how do you account for massively popular singles?

In other words, if a hit single clocks 100 streams for every 100 for the rest of an album, should that count as two units or one? Billboard‘s solution was to count every 1500 streams as a whole album, regardless of repeats.

The RIAA will have to find its own solution, but even a methodology that incorporates streaming in an imperfect manner is better than one that doesn’t at all. In theory, it could also open the door to counting worldwide data, since it’s easier to calculate that via streams than by spotty international sales figures.

A platinum album is music’s holy grail–it means that people are gobbling up an artist’s work at an incredible rate–and its definition needs to reflect the new ways audiences around the world are consuming music.

If the RIAA doesn’t make the change soon, it risks rendering platinum certification irrelevant. Because at the rate things are going, even Taylor Swift might not be able to notch a platinum album two years from now under the current definition.