Find out how many sales or plays you need to get a gold or platinum record and how these awards are calculated today.
Introduction: The Most Iconic Recognition in Music.
Getting a gold or platinum disc has been, for decades, one of the major goals of any music artist. In the digital age, where physical sales have been overtaken by streaming, the rules have changed. Today, thanks to the digital distribution of musicindependent artists can also achieve these certifications.
In this article, we explain what these awards mean, how many units you need and how they are currently measured with the new digital metrics.
What is a Gold or Platinum Record?
H2: Official Certifications of Sales and Reproductions
The gold, platinum and diamond discs are certifications awarded by official organisations in different countries (such as the RIAA in the US or Promusicae in Spain) to recognise the commercial success of a single or album.
H3: Common Certification Scale (Example USA - RIAA)
- Gold Disc: 500,000 units
- Platinum Disc: 1,000,000 units
- Diamond Disc: 10,000,000 units
How Units Are Calculated Today
H2: The Equivalence between Streaming and Sales
Given that the majority of music consumption nowadays occurs via streaming, organisations have created standard equivalences:
- 150 streams = 1 sale (subscription-based on-demand streaming, like Spotify Premium)
- 10 songs downloaded = 1 album sold
- 1,500 streams of a full album = 1 album unit
These figures may vary slightly depending on the country and the certifying organisation.
Actual Calculation Example
A single on Spotify that gets 75 million reproductions would be roughly equivalent to:
- 75,000,000 ÷ 150 = 500,000 units = Gold Disc
If the same track reaches 150 million streams:
- 150,000,000 ÷ 150 = 1,000,000 units = Platinum Disc
How do I apply for certification?
- In the US, this is done through the RIAA.
- In Spain, it is managed by Promusicae.
- In Latin America, there are organisations such as AMPROFON (Mexico), CAPIF (Argentina) o APDAYC (Peru).
Generally, record labels or digital distributors manage the validation and application process.
Can an Independent Artist Get a Gold Record?
Yes, thanks to streaming platforms and a good digital distribution strategy, every artist has the real possibility to reach the necessary numbers. Cases such as viral artists on TikTok or indie hits on Spotify prove this.
Conclusion: Recognition More Achievable than Ever Before
Today, more than ever, with the help of an digital music distributoremerging artists can compete for the same accolades as the big stars. Gold and platinum records are no longer exclusive to the majors.
Ready to take your music to the top? Distribute with us and start racking up the plays that will get you closer to your first gold record.
