RIAA Reveals Year-End Stats

Only three albums released in 2008 were certified multi-platinum in the same year, according to the RIAA’s year-end tally. The year’s top certifications—all double platinum—went to rapper Lil Wayne (Tha Carter, Vol. 3), Brit rockers Coldplay (Viva La Vida), and metal masters AC/DC (Black Ice).

Lil Wayne’s June release reached double-Platinum prestige within only one month. AC/DC’s first commercial outing in eight years debuted in late October and hit the 2x Platinum mark in November. Meanwhile, Coldplay’s album came out in June and reached Platinum by August.

Twenty-one albums released last year received Platinum certification in 2008, with Sugarland and Toby Keith being the only Country crooners in the group. Helping the Mercury Nashville duo move a million units was its third release Love on the Inside. For Keith it was That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy, released in October on Show Dog Nashville and certified Platinum in December. That pushed his career total to more than 23 million albums sold since his 1993 debut.

As for December RIAA certifications, Faith Hill’s Joy to the World was certified Gold, and Miranda Lambert earned a Gold Single and Gold Mastertone for “Gunpowder & Lead.”