VarietySpeak for sales
certifications issued by the
RIAA, proclaiming that a recorded
album or
CD went
gold (500,000 copies),
platinum (1,000,000 copies), multi-platinum (2 million), or
diamond (10 million) for sales in the United States. The RIAA uses an independent sales
audit, and uses the
net figure, after returns and promotional copies are calculated. They
charge the record companies for these certifications. Certs entitle the record companies "to purchase official RIAA award plaques bearing the trademarked RIAA hologram seal from licensed plaque manufacturers."
(www.riaa.com)
"The November 2000 certs have Barenaked Ladies 'Born On a Pirate Ship' from 1996 finally going gold."