The Recording Industry Association of America, better known as RIAA, has released a list of the decade’s highest Gold and Platinum overall achievements. Mitch Bainwol, Chairman and CEO, spoke about these achievements.
“We’ve seen a decade of major music milestones and extraordinary artist achievements as part of our historic Gold and Platinum program,” Bainwol noted. “The names, songs and albums on our list are the decade’s best and are etched in our music DNA.”
Bainawol also spoke on the significance of changes in the music industry, most notably ringtone and digital sales.
“As the way fans access and enjoy music continues to evolve, so has and will the G&P program in recognizing the highest commercial and artistic success. As a community, we’ve endured our share of challenges, but the new decade brings reasons for hope and optimism. The appetite for music is stronger than ever and the breadth of innovation is amazing. In this ever-evolving landscape, we’re grateful that the RIAA’s Gold and Platinum program continues to be the music industry’s recognized brand for success.”
RIAA released the list below, showcasing the achievements, which includes many notable appearances from Rap and R&B stars. Beyonce led the way in most total certifications with 64, beating Michael Jackson and The Eagles. Kanye West was second to Taylor Swift in the digital sales category. T.I. and Beyonce had the most master ringtone certifications. D4L, Beyonce and Lil Wayne had the highest certified master ringtones.
Most total certifications (includes cumulative album, digital song, master ringtone, and music video certifications):
Group: The Eagles – 48 (Warner)
Male solo artist: Michael Jackson – 44 (Sony/Epic)
Female solo artist: Beyonce – 64 (Sony/Columbia)
Most album certifications:
Group: Nickelback – 25 (Roadrunner)
Male solo artist: George Strait – 29 (UMG/MCA Nashville)
Female solo artist: Britney Spears – 23 (Sony/Jive)
Most digital song certifications:
Group: Linkin Park – 13 (Warner)
Male solo artist: Kanye West – 19 (UMG/Def Jam)
Female solo artist: Taylor Swift – 25 (Big Machine)
Most master ringtone certifications:
Male solo artist: T.I. – 15 (WMG/Atlantic/Grand Hustle)
Female solo artist: Beyonce – 19 (Sony/Columbia)
HIGHEST CERTIFIED RELEASES
*Format is: (record label/year released)
Highest certified album:
Group: *NSYNC’s No Strings Attached (Sony/Jive, 2000), – 11x Platinum
OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – 11x Platinum (LaFace/Jive, 2003)
Male solo artist: Usher’s Confessions – 10x Platinum (LaFace/Jive, 2004)
Female solo artist: Shania Twain’s Up! – 11x Platinum (UMG/Mercury Nashville, 2002)
Highest certified digital song:
Group: Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” – 3x multi-Platinum (EMI/Capitol, 2008) and The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” – 3x multi-Platinum (Sony/Epic, 2006)
Male solo artist: Flo Rida’s “Low” – 5x multi-Platinum (Warner/Atlantic, 2008)
Female solo artist: Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” – 4x multi-Platinum (UMG/Interscope, 2008) and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” – 4x multi-Platinum (Big Machine, 2008)
Highest certified master ringtone:
Group: D4L’s “Laffy Taffy” – 3x multi-Platinum (Atlantic, 2006), Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel” – 3x multi-Platinum (Universal Records, 2006), and Shop Boyz’ “Party Like a Rockstar” –3x multi-Platinum (Universal, 2007)
Male solo artist: Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” – 5x multi-Platinum (Universal/Cash Money, 2008)
Female solo artist: Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” – 3x multi-Platinum (Sony/Columbia, 2006)
Your looking at the best of the best here.
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Umm.. Where is Eminem? Are You Kidding Me?!
I was wondering that too, didn’t they give Eminem a Diamond for MMLP….and didn’t Eminem Show sell 20 million?
These are for irrelevant stats like ring tone downloads. The other ones are for total certifications, kinda impossible for em to win that when he only has 5 albums…
If it was overall album sales of course em would be mentioned. He sold the most albums of anyone the past decade
LOL!!! Where the fuck is EMINEM and 50 CENT?! FUCKING HATERS!
How are they haters? because they didnt mention him? Learn the meanings of words you choose before you use them.
maybe jigga can stop with the silly numbers dont lie line…he is no where to be found…such a con artist.
you cant be that naturally stupid
seriously, are you retarded?
look at the forbes list buddy
LOL… definitely stupid. Who needs RIAA when Forbes is more important?!
Numbers don’t equivicate skills. Simple as that.
so irrelevant to me
Relevant enough for you to read and even comment on.
wasnt ridin dirty the number 1 ringtone sale ever or somehting?
lol at that diamondcity fool ha
These are the stats, the numbers as they say, there is no hating in numbers, the ones with the highest are on here the ones without are not, no Eminem is not on here, so no he did not sell as much as you thought, period.
just straight statistics here not opinions
Eminem is not on there because everybody bought his CD that’s respect muthafuker.
only lil wayne would brag about selling the most ringtones anyway still these artists can make money through the internet so we’re going from a silverback CD’s to formats you can’t even see but these artists are still selling millions! WOW!!!
yeah and being the highest selling artist of the last decade does amount to something you dumb muhfcka!!!….riaa can shove their statistics up their as could you!
i dont even listen to eminem but for everyone trumped by his absence tonight, i dont think eminem is a ringtone artist. this isnt your top 5 artist today people
Hey Eminem did win one category but they didn’t put it in the article for some reason….
– Highest Certified Gimmick : Angry white guy.
runner up Gimmick : Fakest Gangsta Image – 50 Cent
No Joke! Kehehe!
Lol ur favourite rapper won the ringtone award lmao
eminem>rap
And a female Pop star got a ringtone award for a song called ‘Lollipop’. Oh wait a minute, that was Lil Wayne, a rapper winning a ringtone award. Should be ashamed of himself. At least Eminem and 50 still rap. And Em do it ten times better than Wayne could ever dream of.
EMINEM SOLD A LOT OF RECORDS MOST THE RIAA NUMBERS GO BY THE YEAR HE WENT MULTI PLATINUM EVERY TIME HE DROPPED HE JUST GOT BEAT OUT BY POP STARS IN THOES YEARS BUT HE STILL THE HIGHEST SELLING RAPPER OF THE DECADE FOLLOWED BY NELLY LEARN FACTS
decade of bullshit!
sorry…why the fuck is this on a “hip hop site” its all pop!? Did I miss somethin!!?
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