Top Dawg Entertainment’s owner Anthony Tiffith calls the new RIAA certification rules “BS.” The association announced today (February 1) that official audio and video streams will now be used as part of the tally to determine how many sales an album has totaled.
Because of this reconfiguration, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise are now certified platinum. Lamar’s project was released by Top Dawg Entertainment in conjunction with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
“we don’t stand behind this @RIAA bs,” Top Dawg writes on Twitter today (February 1). “ole skool rules apply, 1 million albums sold is platinum.until we reach that #, save all the congrats.”
Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO of RIAA, says that the change in its system is the result of the way music is currently consumed.
“The Gold & Platinum Program has adapted to recognize the benchmarks of success in an evolving music marketplace,” Sherman says in a press release that was released today (February 1). “We know that music listening – for both for albums and songs – is skyrocketing, yet that trend has not been reflected in our album certifications. 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.”
Nonetheless, Top Dawg says that he does not embrace the new standard.
“no cheat codes 2 platinum… #TDE,” he writes on Twitter.
The tweets from Top Dawg Entertainment’s owner Anthony Tiffith where he calls the new RIAA certification rules “BS” are as follows:
RealTalk!!
I gots to agree with Anthony on this one (i’m not calling this fool by is alias).
I’m with you that ya don’t get that much money on streaming so the digital sells are the ones that really counts.
I agree they should only count album sales
Yes I agree This is almost as bad as samsung buying 1 million records and making rihanna go platinum….gurl you gotta “WORK WORK WORK” for that! U too HOV….u gotta WORK for the Tidal I mean TITLE!
A sale is a sale! You young broke crabs just don’t get it do you? smh! If somebody or some company buy 1 copy or a million it is still a sale. Put the weed down for a little while, clear your mind and think about it.
Hmmmm are you guys dumb? The reason why they changing the rules because the way CONSUMERS consume music is different. It’s a plus that artist get recognition for HOW consumers listen to their music. People don’t just buy albums anymore that’s why the rate of going Gold and Platinum are wayyyyyyy down. Top dude is dumb for comment.
you missed his point entirely, but ok
They should have a separate category for the streaming. Streaming should be celebrated as an accomplishment too. But it’s completely different
I agree with you, Effen Mob. I think streaming should have its own category.
Since at least a huge portion of streams are not paid for, I think streams should not be looked at the same way as a sale should.
Thank you for reading the article. I hope all is well.
It’s about evolving with the times… People always want to stay stuck in the 90s.
Fuck the 90’s have to do with this? smh. Based off that comment I can tell you’re a young hating ass crab. smh
Sounds like the CEO don’t want to pay extra in royalties IJS
If your Album sales 10;000 copy but you got 500,000 views for the album on YouTube u just went gold stupid this is a win win for the artist the one’s complaining is the ones who don’t know shit bout how the music industry this pays the artist more for the work they really put in…
No it doesn’t… SMH! Royalties for stream are a tiny fraction of what artists gets from actual physical sales. This is why Taylor Swift took her album down from Spotify and many more artists are suing streaming companies. I really hate when people speak on what they don’t know like if they are experts
They really don’t get paid alot off streams
That’s not a formula for gold. It would take way more views on u tube, and other digital entity’s.
Eminem said it best: “People don’t buy shit no more they just dub it. That’s why I’m still broke and got the No. 1 club hit” lol
The shift in the industry away from sales to the streaming model have to be taken into consideration. It’s not the same as it was even 5 years ago, let alone 25. The propensity to go platinum just based on sales of 1 million units just isn’t there like it used to be.
This makes sense only if artist/labels receive sales from music streams. If not, I agree with TDE. So you could essentially hire a team of interns to just click and stream your music until it reaches gold/platinum status. There has to be a better way of certifying music.
That’s like saying you can hire ppl to buy your album
how though when i can just go onto soundcloud or spotify and listen to the same song over and over without spending a dime
Sales got so pathetic the riaa felt the need to do this lol check my name I don’t got a problem going diamond moving physical units, I don’t ever wanna hear u amateurs how u a trap star or a hustler ya’ll go straight wood lol
Good, for YOU.
I definitely think if the people buy a million then should be platinum not if u can get corporate sponsors to buy them and make u instantly plat.. As a rapper or a label it’s all money and it is a business but from a standpoint of a fan it’s bogus in my opinion..
Move with the times or get left behind.
RIAA is moving with time in the wrong way. Streamings are not sales. If I buy the album and listen to it 10,000, should that be added to their numbers?
Now even the RIAA certification process
could be potentially scammed using corporate sponsers. I dont know the algorithm they use for streaming music vs records sold, but just because streaming service has 100,000 subscribers with access to an album, not all of them are listening to it. What about if they only listen to song or two, would that count? This was an irrational move, next thing you know RIAA will start incorporating pirated downloads downloads as well.
1500 streams for 1 song = 1 album sold according to RIAA.
What about the next 900 million view fad song about to come out.It’s about to destroy Michael Jackson and the Beatles…I’m not joking and ringtones will go diamond also….nwo
Lol hella funny kid . Donald Trump wife voice sounds like the Terminator .
This is dumb…it’s just gonna water down classics and older artists. Now somebody like Rebecca Black can go plat just cuz they’re an internet fad and got a billion streams over various outlets. This shits on all past record sales numbers…wait til some internet fucktard is right up there with Thriller as far as album sales. This is probably just a way to combat exclusives like Tidal does, now artists will be persuaded to make their material available across multiple streaming platforms since more streams = more sales numbers
That’s a str8 G real deal Boss !! Only a milli sold not no streams and BS !! Real talk #respect
New certification rules are BS, how can you say someone streaming your music is equivalent to someone spending their hard earned cash on a download or cd? If the RIAA wanted to make some changes they should add bronze for 100,000 units sold and silver for 250,000. Units sold. Not to mention the royalty rate for streaming isn’t what it should be.
do they even realize more than half of views stream etc are fake bots or people in developing counties getting paid pennies an hour to click things haha what a disgrace