recognizes 10 million units sold in the United States for both albums and singles.
Records • 500,000 units: Gold album • 1,000,000 units: Platinum album • 2,000,000+ (in increments of 1,000,000 thereafter) units: Multi-Platinum album • 10,000,000 units: Diamond album Starting from February 1, 2016, each album unit may be one of the following: • Each permanent digital album or physical album sale; • 10 tracks from the album downloaded; • 1,500 on-demand audio or video streams of songs from the album.
Multi-disc A multi-disc set is defined as a package containing two or more CDs, or their equivalent in tape or album format. To qualify for certification, the set must comply with minimum running time requirements: a two-disc product requires a minimum duration of 90 minutes, while a three-disc or more product requires a minimum duration of 100 minutes. If the requirements are met, each individual package or unit within the set counts as one unit toward the overall certification total. 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. Multi-disc albums from the vinyl era are also eligible for certification.
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.
Latin 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.
Note: The number of sales required to qualify for Oro and Platino awards was higher prior to January 1, 2008. 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. "
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. 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.
Singles Standard singles are certified: • Gold when it ships 500,000 copies • Platinum when it ships 1,000,000 copies • Multi-Platinum when it ships at least 2,000,000 copies 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). Digital singles are certified: • Gold means 500,000 certification units • Platinum means 1,000,000 certification units • Multi-Platinum means 2,000,000+ certification units 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. 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". On February 1, 2016, this rate was updated to 150 streams = 1 certification unit. Latin digital singles are certified: • Disco de Oro (Gold) means 30,000 certification units • Disco de Platino (Platinum) means 60,000 certification units • Disco de Multi-Platino (Multi-Platinum) means 120,000+ certification units The Latin Digital Single Awards began on December 20, 2013. As with the digital sales, 100 streams count as one download sale. Since 2010, only 5 titles have been certified Video Single. The latest Gold was awarded to "R40" by
Rush in 2017.
Video Box Set 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. • Gold: 50,000 copies • Platinum: 100,000 copies • Multi-Platinum: 200,000 copies 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.
Master Ringtone Master Ringtone (
mastertone) awards were introduced in 2006. Certification levels are identical to those of singles, 500,000 for Gold and 1,000,000 for Platinum and 2,000,000+ 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. ==Records==