In the world of music, earning a gold record is considered a mark of success and recognition for artists. But how many sales are needed to win this prestigious trophy? In this article, we reveal the mysteries surrounding gold record certification, especially the thresholds, quotas and milestones that must be reached to receive this honor.
Music market certifications
Before looking at the precise sales figures in detail, it is important to understand the different types of certifications that exist and what they mean. In addition to the gold record, there are also:
- Platinum record: generally awarded after the gold record, when the artist passes a new sales milestone.
- Silver record: a less common award than the gold record, which comes before it in terms of sales.
- Diamond record: considered one of the highest distinctions for an album, it is reached when a certain total number of sales has been achieved.
- Triple platinum record: obtained after earning platinum certification three times.
- Double diamond record: an even rarer award, which comes after the diamond record.
- Uranium record: an exceptional certification, awarded to a very limited number of artists who have achieved astronomical sales.
The threshold for a gold record: a matter of country and musical genre
In most countries, certifications are awarded according to the number of albums or singles sold. However, this threshold varies from one country to another and according to the type of music. For example, in France, the threshold for a gold record is generally set at 50,000 copies sold for an album, but it can be higher for certain musical genres such as jazz or classical music.
The United States and the first gold record
The first gold record was awarded in the United States in February 1942 to Glenn Miller for his album “Chattanooga Choo Choo”. Today, in that country, the threshold for a gold record is around 500,000 sales for an album and 1 million for a single. Rap currently dominates international sales, with many artists regularly reaching these impressive figures.
Thresholds in Belgium and Canada
In Belgium, the threshold for a gold record is set at 10,000 copies sold for an album and 20,000 for a single. In Canada, the threshold is set at 40,000 sales for an album and 80,000 for a single.
The decline in album sales and the rise of streaming
Since the 2000s, album sales have been steadily declining, particularly because of the emergence of illegal downloading and streaming. Faced with this situation, certification bodies have had to adapt and incorporate new technologies into their evaluation criteria. Since 2016, streams have also been taken into account to determine whether an artist reaches the threshold required to obtain a gold record or another certification.
Nielsen and certification calculations
In the United States, Nielsen is responsible for counting album sales, legal downloads and streaming plays to determine whether an artist has reached the required threshold for certification. A similar system is used in other countries, sometimes with variations in the figures and quotas to be reached.
Success stories: Jul and his diamond record
To illustrate the importance of certifications and their impact on an artist’s career, take the example of French rapper Jul. In 2017, he sold 640,000 copies of his fifth album, “My World”, earning him diamond certification. This distinction not only strengthened his reputation in the music industry, but also confirmed his status as a true sales phenomenon.
In conclusion: a race for certifications that is always evolving
Obtaining a gold record or another certification is a major goal for artists and their teams, because it helps them gain visibility and receive legitimate recognition for their work. However, the sales thresholds to reach vary according to countries, musical genres and market developments, making this quest even more complex and exciting for artists and their fans.