Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type (such as: album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (See also: List of music recording certifications).
Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories, which are named after precious materials.
The number of sales or shipments required for these awards depends upon the population of the territory in which the recording is released. Typically, they are awarded only to international releases and are awarded individually for each country in which the album is sold. Different sales levels, some perhaps 10 times lower than others, may exist for different music media (for example: videos versus albums, singles, or downloads).
Read more about Music Recording Sales Certification: History, Certification Thresholds, Manufacture of Awards
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—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
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