Music recording certification
In December 1937, Regal Zonophone presented a silver disc to George Formby. This award recognized the sale of 100,000 copies of his single The Window Cleaner. Record companies used these early awards to publicize their sales achievements directly to artists. RCA Victor followed this trend by presenting the first literal gold record on the 10th of February 1942. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra received this honor for selling 1.2 million copies of Chattanooga Choo Choo. Industry-wide standardization arrived later when the Recording Industry Association of America introduced its program in 1958. That initial RIAA requirement demanded one million dollars in retail sales from U.S.-based companies only.
The platinum certification emerged in 1976 as a response to soaring album sales figures. The Eagles compilation Their Greatest Hits (1971, 1975) became the first album to earn this status on the 24th of February 1976. Johnnie Taylor's Disco Lady was the first single to receive the same distinction on the 22nd of April 1976. Before that year, no album had ever been certified platinum. The thresholds shifted again in 1999 with the introduction of diamond certifications for ten million units sold. Van Cliburn's 1958 recording of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto eventually earned a platinum citation two decades after its release. Sales requirements for singles dropped in the late 1980s to match those of albums.
Certification standards expanded beyond physical media to include digital downloads and streaming services. The RIAA began certifying ringtone downloads in June 2006. On-demand audio streams from Spotify and Apple Music entered the calculation in the United States starting in 2013. Germany and the United Kingdom adopted similar rules in 2014. YouTube and VEVO streams count toward certification using a formula where 100 streams equal one download. Denmark and Spain maintain separate awards for digital downloads and streaming despite these changes. Since February 2016, the RIAA includes on-demand video streams alongside audio tracks.
Unit requirements differ significantly across national borders and territories. In the United States, an album needs 500,000 copies to reach gold status. The same threshold applies to singles within that country. Canada sets its gold standard at 40,000 units for both albums and singles. France requires 50,000 copies for an album to achieve gold recognition. The United Kingdom demands 60,000 sales for an album to qualify as silver. Platinum thresholds vary even more widely with the UK requiring 300,000 album sales compared to 1 million in the US. Music videos have their own distinct tiers ranging from 5,000 units in Canada to 75,000 in France.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry founded itself in 1933 to coordinate global standards. It began granting the Platinum Europe Award in 1996 for one million album sales within Europe and the Middle East. IMPALA launched its own awards program in April 2000 to support independent music companies. This organization recognizes success before sales reach the one-million mark required by major bodies. Their Diamond award level sits at 200,000 units while Double Platinum reaches 800,000. Raphael received a Uranium disc from Hispavox and SGAE in the early 1980s for his career sales. Luis Fonsi obtained a Plutonium disc from Universal Music Group in 2017 for Despacito.
Modern plaques often contain CDs under glass rather than traditional vinyl records. Early versions used vacuum metallized vinyl records that were tinted for visual effect. Some manufacturers utilized trimmed metal masters or stampers originally designed for pressing vinyl copies. The grooves on these records might not match the actual recording being awarded. Individual plaque-makers produced their work using available materials and graphic arts techniques. Costs ranged between US$135 and $275 depending on size and design elaborateness. Record labels typically ordered and purchased these awards after issuing the original recordings.
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Common questions
When did Regal Zonophone present the first silver disc to George Formby?
Regal Zonophone presented a silver disc to George Formby in December 1937. This award recognized the sale of 100,000 copies of his single The Window Cleaner.
What date was the first gold record awarded by RCA Victor to Glenn Miller and His Orchestra?
RCA Victor presented the first literal gold record on the 10th of February 1942. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra received this honor for selling 1.2 million copies of Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Which album became the first to earn platinum certification from the RIAA in 1976?
The Eagles compilation Their Greatest Hits (1971, 1975) became the first album to earn platinum status on the 24th of February 1976. Johnnie Taylor's Disco Lady was the first single to receive the same distinction on the 22nd of April 1976.
How many units are required for an album to reach gold status in the United States compared to Canada?
In the United States, an album needs 500,000 copies to reach gold status while Canada sets its gold standard at 40,000 units for both albums and singles.
When did the RIAA begin certifying ringtone downloads and when were audio streams included in calculations?
The RIAA began certifying ringtone downloads in June 2006. On-demand audio streams from Spotify and Apple Music entered the calculation in the United States starting in 2013.