Today (Feb. 1), the Recording Industry Association of America announced a new methodology for their Gold and Platinum program which will incorporate on-demand audio and video streams.
1500 single streams, 10 single sales and one album sale all equal the sale of a single unit, according to the new rules set by the RIAA. Big Sean, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, Shawn Mendes, and The Weeknd (whose Beauty Behind The Madness was awarded double-platinum) join the winner's circle.
"For almost six decades, whether it's vinyl, CDs, downloads or now streams, the Gold & Platinum program has adapted to recognize the benchmarks of success in an evolving music marketplace", said RIAA Chairman/CEO CARY SHERMAN.
Even if the new Gold, Platinum and Diamond charts reflect your own music taste a bit more, no longer will the rare, record-breaking commercial achievements of artists like Adele- who sold 15 million copies of her November album 25 in just one month - be easy to isolate.
Unlike Jay Z, TDE boss Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith will not be employing any "cheat codes" to get his artists to platinum status after RIAA revealed it was changing the way it certifies albums and singles.
Reflecting streaming's breakneck growth, RIAA on Monday updated its formula for singles certification with 150 plays now counting as the sale of one single, tougher than the original 100.
The RIAA has been bestowing albums with gold and platinum labels since 1958. The move also piled several more platinum certifications onto Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and Romeo Santos's "Fórmula Vol. 2," iconic records that had already gone platinum the old-fashioned way.
Music dominates the conversation on popular social media platforms, with artists being the most followed people across these channels, and Gold & Platinum recognition is often among the most celebrated news in an artist's social media feed.
And another congratulations goes out to the RIAA itself: welcome to the year 2016.
United States warship passes contested island in South China Sea
During an appearance in Washington at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Thursday, the commander of the U.S. Vietnam and Taiwan also claim Triton Island , though the Navy operation appeared to be aimed at China.
