Gold & Platinum - RIAA (2024)

FAQs

What is RIAA Gold and platinum? ›

Originally conceived to honor artists and track sound recording sales, Gold & Platinum Awards have come to stand as a benchmark of success for any artist—whether they've just released their first song or Greatest Hits album. Check out our interactive timeline to learn about the program's storied history.

These awards, given by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), represent huge sales—500,000 units for gold, 1 million for platinum, 2 million or more for multiplatinum, and 10 million for diamond.

Learn more. The Recording Industry Association of America® advocates for recorded music and the people and companies that create it in the United States.

Garth Brooks is the artist with the most diamond albums.

The platinum certification was introduced in 1976 for the sale of one million units for albums and two million for singles, with the gold certification redefined to mean sales of 500,000 units for albums and one million for singles.

The Golden Beatles

More than 50 years later, the band is the most-awarded band in Gold & Platinum Program history.

Chart: Taylor Swift Retains Crown of World's No. 1 Recording Artist | Statista.

He even scored “the highest-certified single in RIAA history” with the 17x Platinum “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)” [feat. Swae Lee], netting the biggest single of his generation.

The Beatles rank No1 with more than 600 million albums sold worldwide, with 177 million being sold in the US. They also have 6 Diamond certified (10 million copies) albums. Taylor Swift has sold 200 million globally and 37 million in the US. She has 2 Diamond certified albums.

Are RIAA Awards worth anything? ›

This is what makes RIAA awards so collectible. Not only are they beautiful, shiny pieces of art that pay tribute to our favorite artists' achievements, they also stand a chance, at least, of appreciating in value.

Drake Trumps Eminem as Highest-Certified Singles Artist in RIAA History.

Drake. Drake's "God's Plan" was certified diamond in 2019. The rapper received a second diamond certification in 2020 as a featured artist on Travis Scott's "Sicko Mode," and a third in 2021 as a featured artist on Future's "Life Is Good." He added two more to his total in 2022 for "Hotline Bling" and "One Dance."

Which is more valuable gold or platinum? Because platinum rings are heavier, rarer, and more pure than gold, they are more valuable. Even though pure gold may be more expensive per ounce, because platinum is denser, more of it is used when making a ring.

The RIAA recognizes the following Digital Single Award tiers: Gold – 500,000 Units. Platinum – 1,000,000 Units. Multi-Platinum – 2,000,000 Units (increments of 1,000,000 thereafter) Diamond – 10,000,000 Units (increments of 1,000,000 thereafter)

That said, scientifically speaking, platinum is more durable than gold. Its high density as a precious metal and chemical composition make it less likely to break than gold, so it will last longer!

If you think your single or album has sold more than 500,000 copies (gold) or 1,000,000 copies (platinum) in the US, or streamed the equivalent*, please let us know. We'll verify your numbers & work with the RIAA to get you certified.