Saturday, March 6, 2010

RIAA Tallies The Decade's Top Gold & Platinum Award Winners

WASHINGTON -- Late last month the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) released a tally of the decade's highest Gold and Platinum award achievements.

Included in the RIAA’s 2000-2009 tally (below) are the artists who received the most G&P certifications, the best selling music releases, and a timeline of notable decade dates.

“We’ve seen a decade of major music milestones and extraordinary artist achievements as part of our historic Gold and Platinum program,” said Mitch Bainwol, Chairman and CEO, RIAA. “The names, songs and albums on our list are the decade’s best and are etched in our music DNA.”

“As the way fans access and enjoy music continues to evolve, so has and will the G&P program in recognizing the highest commercial and artistic success,” added Bainwol. “As a community, we’ve endured our share of challenges, but the new decade brings reasons for hope and optimism. The appetite for music is stronger than ever and the breadth of innovation is amazing. In this ever-evolving landscape, we’re grateful that the RIAA’s Gold and Platinum program continues to be the music industry’s recognized brand for success.”

While the RIAA’s Gold and Platinum program was officially launched in 1958, the past decade included a number of significant milestones:

On May 10, 2001 Sony/Jive boy band *NSYNC’s No Strings Attached (2000) became the first album of the decade to earn an RIAA Diamond award marking more than ten million in U.S. sales. The decade of Diamond albums that followed -- from Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory to Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me and more -- represent some of the best and most influential recordings in G&P history.

In 2004 the RIAA formally expanded its G&P program to include a Digital Sales award in endorsement of the significant sales of emerging digital music formats. Two years later, in 2006, the RIAA launched the Master Ringtone Sales Award to recognize the growing popularity of enjoying music through cellular phones.

Come 2008 the RIAA heralded the 50th anniversary of its historic Gold Record, marking 50 years to the day Elvis was awarded his first Gold award for “Hard Headed Woman,” one of the King’s 53 Gold single certifications from the RIAA.

Several of the decade’s best awards were presented in 2009, including the best-selling digital download of all time -- at 5x multi-Platinum -- to Warner/Atlantic rapper Flo Rida for his hit “Low” as well as the highest certified ringtone ever to Universal/Cash Money artist Lil Wayne for his hot phone tone “Lollipop,” also at 5x multi-Platinum.

The following are the decade’s highest Gold and Platinum award achievements:

TOP ARTIST TALLIES

*Each level of multi-Platinum counts as its own unit and contributes to the tally
*Only music released, as well as certifications granted, during 2000 - 2009 are included

Most total certifications (includes cumulative album, digital song, master ringtone, and music video certifications):

Group: The Eagles – 47 (Warner)

Male solo artist: Michael Jackson – 49 (Sony/Epic)

Female solo artist: Beyonce – 64 (Sony/Columbia)


Most album certifications:

Group: Nickelback – 25 (Roadrunner)

Male solo artist: George Strait – 29 (UMG/MCA Nashville)

Female solo artist: Britney Spears – 23 (Sony/Jive)


Most digital song certifications:

Group: Linkin Park – 13 (Warner)

Male solo artist: Kanye West – 19 (UMG/Def Jam)

Female solo artist: Taylor Swift – 25 (Big Machine)


Most master ringtone certifications:

Male solo artist: T.I. – 15 (WMG/Atlantic/Grand Hustle)

Female solo artist: Beyonce – 19 (Sony/Columbia)


HIGHEST CERTIFIED RELEASES
*Format is: (record label/year released)
Highest certified album:

Group: *NSYNC’s No Strings Attached (Sony/Jive, 2000), – 11x Platinum & OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – 11x Platinum (LaFace/Jive, 2003)

Male solo artist: Usher’s Confessions – 10x Platinum (LaFace/Jive, 2004)

Female solo artist: Shania Twain’s Up! – 11x Platinum (UMG/Mercury Nashville, 2002)


Highest certified digital song:

Group: Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” – 3x multi-Platinum (EMI/Capitol, 2008) and The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” – 3x multi-Platinum (Sony/Epic, 2006)

Male solo artist: Flo Rida’s “Low” – 5x multi-Platinum (Warner/Atlantic, 2008)

Female solo artist: Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” – 4x multi-Platinum (UMG/Interscope, 2008) and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” – 4x multi-Platinum (Big Machine, 2008)

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