Music recording sales certification 308242 223947200 2008-07-06T17:22:58Z Robert K S 168790 {{redirect|Golden record|the two golden phonograph records placed on the Voyager spacecrafts|Voyager Golden Record}} {{redirect|Gold disc|gold masters|master recording}} {{redirect|Diamond Disc|Edison Diamond Disc phonograph records|Edison Records}} {{redirect|Diamond award|the award presented at the [[World Music Award]]s|Chopard Diamond award}} [[Image:GoldeneLP.jpg|thumb|A gold record for [[The Beatles]]' "[[Hey Jude]]"]] '''Music recording sales certification''' is a system of certifying that a [[music]] [[Sound recording|recording]] has sold a certain number of copies. Almost all countries follow variations of the [[RIAA certification]] categories, which are named after the precious materials '''[[gold]]''', '''[[platinum]]''' and '''[[diamond]]''' ('''[[silver]]''' is also used in some countries). The number of sales required for these awards varies depending on the population of the territory in which the album is released. Normally they are awarded only to albums released at least nationally and are awarded individually for each country in which the album is sold. Additionally, different sales levels may exist for different music media, such as [[album]]s, [[single (music)|single]]s, or [[music video|video]]s. Originally applied to [[Vinyl record|LP records]], certification is now most commonly awarded for [[compact disc]] sales. Certification is usually awarded cumulatively, and it is possible for a single album to be certified silver, gold, and platinum in turn. An album that becomes platinum twice over is said to be "double platinum". Artists can also become multi-platinum sellers if they have at least two albums both going single platinum—therefore meaning that they do not have an individual album selling these amounts. ==History== The original Gold Record awards were presented to artists by their own record companies to publicize the achievement of 1,000,000 sales. The first of these was awarded by [[Radio Corporation of America|RCA]] to [[Glenn Miller]] in February 1942, celebrating 1,200,000 sales of "[[Chattanooga Choo Choo]]." Another example of a company award is the gold record awarded to [[Elvis Presley]] in 1956 for 1,000,000 sales of the single "Hound Dog". This has led to controversy over how to determine the placings for the biggest selling artists of all time, and claims that some gold albums should be disregarded or even retroactively withdrawn although they were legitimately awarded at the time.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} ===RIAA certification=== {{main|RIAA certification}} Several different thresholds have been in use at different times and places for both album and single awards. Some of these were based on units sold and others on the value of retail sales. The first official designation of a "gold record" by the RIAA was established for [[single (music)|singles]] in 1958, and the RIAA also [[trademark]]ed the term "gold record" in the United States. On [[March 14]], [[1958]] the RIAA certified [[Perry Como]]'s hit single "Catch a Falling Star" as its first-ever gold record. Later that year, the [[Elvis Presley]] hit "[[Hard Headed Woman]]" became the first [[rock and roll]] single to earn the RIAA designation. In 1976, RIAA introduced the platinum certification with [[Linda Ronstadt]]'s [[Hasten Down the Wind]] being one of the first albums to be certified platinum. The RIAA, prior to the 1980s when precious metals and diamonds became more expensive, used gold, platinum, and diamonds to cover the artists' album. Like many [[record industry]] awards and rankings, the measurement is usually based on wholesale shipments to all types of retail outlets, not actual retail sales or financial transactions. This means that an early award or ranking for a new release reflects a distributor's expectations for the album and their [[market power]]. ===IFPI certification=== The International Federation of Phonogram and Videogram Producers ([[IFPI]]) awards the ''[http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/platinum/platinum_intro.html IFPI Platinum Europe Award]'' for album sales over one million within Europe. Multi-platinum Europe Awards are presented for sales in subsequent multiples of a million. The award, which was inaugurated in 1996, is not restricted to European group artists. Time is not a factor for an album to reach platinum. ==List of international sales certification thresholds== {{main|List of music recording sales certifications}} ==See also== *[[RIAA certification]] *[[Lists of best-selling albums]] *[[List of best-selling singles]] *[[Recording Industry Association of America]] *[[Release (music)]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/directory/national_groups.html List of national recording industry associations] * [http://www.angelfire.com/music/diamondawards U.S./Canada Diamond Award Albums] * [http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/certification-award-levels.pdf Certification of Awards] [[Category:Music awards]] [[Category:Music industry]] [[cs:Zlatá deska]] [[de:Goldene Schallplatte]] [[es:Certificación de ventas discográficas]] [[eo:Ora disko]] [[fa:گواهی‌نامه فروش موسیقی ضبط‌شده]] [[fr:Disque d'or]] [[ko:음반 판매량 인증]] [[it:Certificazione delle vendite di dischi musicali]] [[he:אלבום זהב]] [[ka:მუსიკალური ჩანაწერის გაყიდვების სერტიფიკაცია]] [[hu:Aranylemez]] [[nl:Goud (muziek)]] [[ja:ゴールドディスク]] [[no:Salgstrofeer i musikkbransjen]] [[pl:Złota płyta]] [[pt:Certificações por vendas de gravação musical]] [[ru:Золотой диск]] [[fi:Kultalevy]]