RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) operates an awards program based on the certified number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets.
[2] The audit is conducted against net shipments after returns (most often an artist's royalty statement is used), which includes albums sold directly to retailers and one-stops, direct-to-consumer sales (music clubs and mail order) and other outlets.
The association is popularly known for its traditional gold and platinum certification of albums and songs in the United States and also participates in collective recording rights management.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America's official website, "All certification audits are conducted, for a fee, by Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman, LLP (GR&F) for the RIAA.
Reflecting additional growth in music sales, the Diamond award was instituted in 1999 for albums or singles selling ten million units.
[citation needed] This system has permitted, at times, record labels to promote an album as Gold or Platinum simply based on large shipments.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack shipped Platinum but was a sales bust, with two million returns.
Upon criticism on why the RIAA won't adopt SoundScan as its source, Hilary Rosen, president of the recording association, defended their system: "We think the certification process represents an accurate sales picture and we’re comfortable with the numbers we release."
Pink Floyd's The Wall and the Beatles' White Album, both vinyl-era, are also counted as double even though their running times are under the minimum requirement.
[22][23] Standard singles are certified: Note: The number of sales required to qualify for Gold and Platinum discs was higher prior to January 1, 1989.
When the RIAA changed the certification standards to match retail distribution in August 2006, all Platinum and Multi-Platinum awards for a digital release were withdrawn.
The certification criteria are:[28] As of 2021[update], the titles certified the most Video Single awards are "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down and Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation", both winning 6× Platinum for 300,000 copies.
[28] The best-selling video box set as certified by the RIAA is the Rolling Stones' Four Flicks DVD compilation from their Licks World Tour, with a 19× Multi-Platinum designation.
This was likely achieved due to exclusive distribution rights owned by retailer Best Buy by their short-lived music production company, Redline Entertainment.
