In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets.[1] (Some other countries have similar schemes. See Gold album.) Certification is not automatic; for an award to be made, the record label must pay a fee to have the sales of the recording audited. The audit is conducted against unit shipments (most often an artists' royalty statement is used), which includes albums sold directly to retailers and one-stops, direct to consumer sales (music clubs & mail order) and other outlets. Shipments that could potentially be returned to the label can not be counted.
Contrary to popular belief, Nielsen SoundScan figures are not used in RIAA certification; the RIAA system predates Nielsen SoundScan and includes sales outlets Nielsen misses. Prior to Nielsen SoundScan, RIAA certification was the only audited and verifiable system for tracking music sales in the U.S.; it is still the only system capable of tracking 100% of sales (albeit as shipments less potential returns, not actual sales like Nielsen SoundScan).
Currently, the normal RIAA certifications for albums and are:
RIAA Certification of 500,000 units: Gold album.
RIAA Certification of 1,000,000 units: Platinum album.
RIAA Certification of 2,000,000 units: Multi-Platinum album.
RIAA Certification of 10,000,000 units: Diamond album.
The following certifications are given only to recordings of which over 50% of the content is in the Spanish language[1]:
RIAA Certification of 100,000 units: Oro album.
RIAA Certification of 200,000 units: Platino album.
RIAA Certification of 400,000 units: Multi-Platino album.
Multi-disc albums are counted once for each disc within the album, if the album is 100 minutes or more in total length [2]. For example, each copy of OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (total time 134:56) and Shania Twain's Up! (145:44), both double albums, was counted twice, meaning each album was certified diamond after only 5 million copies were shipped; however, each copy of Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics (which its total time is only 78:55) and Pink Floyd's The Wall (which is 81:20 and was released as one cassette and one 8-track cartridge) will only count once despite its being a double album.
List of artists with most gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums:
These artists, listed alphabetically, have the most gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums. It should be noted that not all record companies request certification, and those that do not are not certified.
Each Platinum or Multi-platinum single has already been certified Gold.
Elvis Presley (24G+28P, tops for Platinum, for a total of 52 Gold awards. Presley went Multi-platinum with 7 of them, the most for any artist, or group.)
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