What is Gold Platinum Certification?
The Canadian Recording Industry Association’s Gold Platinum Awards Program was launched in 1975 to celebrate milestone sales of music in Canada. With over 14,000 albums, singles, digital downloads, ringtones, and music videos certified over the past 35 years, the program provides a unique historical timeline of popular music in Canada.
Over the years, the certification sales criteria for Gold and Platinum records have reacted to market conditions, and are indicative of overall trends in the music industry. For example, in 2008, CRIA added the Digital Downloads category at 20,000 sales for a Gold certification. In 2010, this was adjusted to 40,000 sales for a Gold certification in response to the emerging digital market. In 2008, CRIA adjusted the sales criteria for a Gold album from 50,000 to 40,000 in response to market changes.
January 2012
SIX TIMES PLATINUM DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
480,000 | MAROON 5 "MOVES LIKE JAGGER" | UNIVERSAL MUSIC |
QUINTUPLE PLATINUM DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
400,000 | MAROON 5 "MOVES LIKE JAGGER" | UNIVERSAL MUSIC |
QUADRUPLE PLATINUM DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
320000 | CEE LO GREEN "FORGET YOU AKA F**K YOU" | WARNER MUSIC CANADA LTD |
MAROON 5 "MOVES LIKE JAGGER" | UNIVERSAL MUSIC |
DOUBLE PLATINUM DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
160,000 | CHRISTINA PERRI "JAR OF HEARTS" | WARNER MUSIC CANADA LTD |
PLATINUM ALBUM(S)
80000 | THE BLACK KEYS "EL CAMINO" | WARNER MUSIC CANADA LTD |
CITY & COLOUR "LITTLE HELL" | UNIVERSAL MUSIC |
GOLD DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
40000 | VICTORIA DUFFIELD "SHUT UP AND DANCE" | WARNER MUSIC CANADA LTD |
ZAC BROWN BAND "COLDER WEATHER" | WARNER MUSIC CANADA LTD |
THE BLACK KEYS "LONELY BOY" | WARNER MUSIC CANADA LTD |
Who Can Become Certified?
Albums , singles, music videos, ringtones, and digital downloads are certified after an application is made by the artist’s record label. Proof of sales is required, and subject to audit. To ensure the continuing reliability of the data submitted by the record companies for review, field reviews by Grant Thornton are completed regularly.
How Do I Become Certified?
To be eligible for certification, an artist or their label must submit an application. There is a $75 fee for certification. To receive a copy of our certification Program Guide, please email
goldplat@musiccanada.com.
The awards themselves are designed by our exclusive suppliers, and contain official “Certified Canadian Gold” ingots and album art. All orders must be received by the Music Canada office before confirmation of certification and order is given to the supplier.