In the music world, earning a gold record is an important milestone for artists and helps them stand out. But then, how many streams are needed to reach this prestigious award ? In this article, we will explore the changing landscape of the music industry, the different methods used to count streaming plays, and how they are taken into account when gold records are awarded.
The evolution of the music market and the impact of streaming
With the rise of streaming platforms, the music market has undergone major changes in recent years. Physical album sales have declined in favor of online listening. Platforms such as Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music have become the main sources of revenue for artists and labels. As a result, the way streams are counted for gold, platinum and diamond record certifications has also evolved.
The method for converting streams into album sales
To reflect these new listening habits, the organizations responsible for awarding record certifications in each country have introduced systems that convert streaming plays into album-equivalent sales. These methods vary from one country to another, but overall they make it possible to count online listening alongside physical and digital sales in order to determine which works have reached the threshold required for a gold record.
The case of France: SNEP and its rules
In France, the Syndicat National de l’Édition Phonographique (SNEP) is responsible for issuing record certifications. Since 2016, SNEP has also taken streaming plays into account in its calculations. For an album to be certified as a gold record, it must reach 50,000 album-equivalent sales, combining physical sales, downloads and streams.
To convert streaming plays into album-equivalent sales, SNEP applies a conversion coefficient according to the platform used:
- Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music and other paid services : 1,500 streams = 10 album sales
- YouTube and other free services : 5,000 streams = 10 album sales
The situation in the United States: the RIAA and its conversion method
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awards record certifications. As in France, the RIAA now takes streaming plays into account to determine whether an album is eligible for a gold record. In the United States, the threshold for this certification is 500,000 album-equivalent sales.
The method for converting streams into album sales in the United States is slightly different:
- Paid services : 1,250 streams = 1 album sale
- Free services : 3,750 streams = 1 album sale
So how many streams does it take to reach gold-record status?
Based on these conversion methods, it is possible to determine how many streams are needed for an album to be certified gold depending on the country:
In France
- On paid services : 7,500,000 streams (50,000 album-equivalent sales * 150)
- On free services : 25,000,000 streams (50,000 album-equivalent sales * 500)
In the United States
- On paid services : 625,000,000 streams (500,000 album-equivalent sales * 1,250)
- On free services : 1,875,000,000 streams (500,000 album-equivalent sales * 3,750)
However, it is important to note that these figures are estimates based on current conversion methods and may vary depending on the specific rules in each country. In addition, reaching the required streaming threshold does not automatically guarantee a gold record, because other criteria may be taken into account by the responsible organizations.