“Modernizing our Album Award to include music streaming is the next logical step in the continued evolution of Gold & Platinum Awards” said RIAA chairman and CEO Cary Sherman.
Before you run to your local streaming music site to try to boost your favorite artist. Keep in mind that it is not a 1 to 1 count. An album is streamed won’t count the same as a physical purchase. RIAA formula for including streaming numbers is as follows; 1,500 on-demand audio or video song streams will equal 10 track sales or 1 album sale. 150 on-demand streams will count as one download. What this means is that some folks just got a huge ego boost. There are now a few albums that have instantly gain platinum status.
- The likes of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly > Certified Platinum
- Hozier’s self-titled album > Certified Platinum
- The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness > Certified Platinum
- Michael Jackson’s Thriller is now 32-time Platinum Certified