New Faces Shine on RIAA 2011 Wrap-up
The RIAA’s 2011 wrap-up report is full of Nashville certifications, including numerous first-time honorees.
2011 American Idol winner Scotty McCreery’s Clear As Day debut earned his first Gold album plaque, and Gold awards for singles “Clear As Day” and “I Love You This Big.”
The Band Perry took home its first Platinum album award for its self-titled debut, and earned triple-Platinum honors for digital downloads of “If I Die Young.”
First-time Platinum download plaques were awarded to Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl,” Hot Chelle Rae’s “Tonight Tonight,” Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” and Thompson Square’s “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.”
Jason Aldean scored his first double-Platinum album award for My Kinda Party.
Gold awards for 2011 album releases included Luke Bryan’s Tailgates & Tanlines, Eric Church’s Chief, Miranda Lambert’s Four The Record, Brad Paisley’s This Is Country Music, Blake Shelton’s Red River Blue, Tony Bennett’s Duets, and Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger.
Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night shipped more than one million copies in 2011, earning Platinum certification. The band’s “Need You Now” single also secured a 5x multi-Platinum plaque.
On the catalog front, Taylor Swift’s self-titled 2006 debut went 5x platinum. In addition, 2x Platinum certifications were awarded to Carrie Underwood’s Play On (2009), and Kings of Leon’s Only by the Night (2008).
Overall, more download honors were presented in 2011 than ever before in RIAA Gold and Platinum program history, and 25 percent more than in 2010. In total, 411 digital songs were certified in 2011, vs. 313 in 2010. In particular, multi-Platinum download certifications nearly doubled in volume year-over-year: 112 multi-Platinum digital singles were certified in 2011 vs. 66 in 2010.
Adele earned 2011’s highest G&P album. Her sophomore release 21 took the top annual album prize at 5x multi-Platinum.
Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne earned double-Platinum awards for their respective 2011 releases Born This Way and Tha Carter IV. Gaga’s 2011 song certifications represent more than 19 million paid downloads, and Lil Wayne’s tally ten million.
