The RIAA Will Now Factor Streaming Into Gold and Platinum Album Certifications

A game-changer.

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Complex Original

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The RIAA announced a major game-changer today that will have an immediate impact on the industry. In a statement from CEO and Chairman Cary Sherman, the RIAA revealed they will now factor audio and video streams into gold and platinum album certifications. Basically, this means that streams will now be counted for the first time when determining if an album is gold or platinum status. Because of the change, 17 projects reached a new milestone today, including Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly and Big Sean's Dark Sky Paradise both hitting platinum status.

"We know that music listening – for both for albums and songs – is skyrocketing, yet that trend has not been reflected in our album certifications," Sherman said in a statement. "Modernizing our Album Award to include music streaming is the next logical step in the continued evolution of Gold & Platinum Awards, and doing so enables RIAA to fully reward the success of artists’ albums today." The breakdown is that 1,500 audio or video song streams equals 10 track sales, which then equals one album sale. With the streaming revolution in full swing, this is sure to have a major and immediate impact on the game. Check out all 17 albums that hit a new milestone today below. 

Alt-J An Awesome Wave (Atlantic Records) - Gold 
Big Sean Dark Sky Paradise (Def Jam Recordings) - Platinum 
Brett Eldredge Bring You Back (Atlantic Nashville) - Gold
Coldplay Ghost Stories (Atlantic/Parlophone) - Platinum
Elle King Love Stuff (RCA) - Gold
Fifth Harmony Reflection (Epic) - Gold
Halsey Badlands (Astralwerks) - Gold
Hozier Hozier (Columbia) - Platinum
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly (Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope) - Platinum
Michael Jackson Thriller (Epic/Legacy) - 32X Multi-Platinum
Miranda Lambert Platinum (RCA Nashville) - Platinum
Romeo Santos Fórmula Vol. 2 (Sony Latin) - 11X Diamante/RIAA Latin G&P Program
Sam Hunt Montevallo (MCA Nashville) - 2X Multi-Platinum
Shawn Mendes Handwritten (Island Records) - Platinum
The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness (XO/Republic Records) - 2X Multi-Platinum
Vance Joy Dream Your life Away (Atlantic Records) - Gold
Wale Ambition (Atlantic Urban) - Gold

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