MUMBAI: Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Chairman and CEO Cary Sherman presented Capitol Records superstar Katy Perry with three Diamond Awards for her hit songs Roar ,Dark Horse, and Firework, representing 10 million or more sales and streams of each individual song in the United States. With these milestone certifications, Katy recently made Gold and Platinum history as the first artist to earn three RIAA Diamond Song Awards. 

Steve Barnett, Chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group, joined Mr. Sherman and Bradford Cobb from Direct Management Group in presenting the prestigious awards to Katy.

Only 14 songs have earned coveted Diamond status to date.  During the course of Katy’s career, a total of 22 of her songs have achieved RIAA certification, and three studio albums have also been certified Platinum or multiplatinum. 

Katy Perry’s new album, Witness (Capitol Records), was number one on the Billboard 200, marking her third album to debut atop the chart.  It marked the biggest week for an album by a female artist in 2017.  It also claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Current Albums and Current Pop Albums charts. Globally, Witness topped the iTunes Albums chart in 46 countries. Current singles off the album Swish Swish and Chained To The Rhythm are RIAA certified Gold and Platinum, respectively.

Katy is also the only female artist to have four videos surpass a billion views each. Her videos for Firework and Last Friday Night have over one billion views, while Roar and Dark Horse have surpassed the two billion mark.

Almost 60 years since its inception, the RIAA’s iconic Gold and Platinum brand is the industry’s premier award for recognizing artistic achievement in the music marketplace.  Officially launched in 1958, the program expanded in 1999 to include a Diamond Award honouring 10 million or more certifications of an album or song.

All RIAA certifications are calculated by Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade organization that supports and promotes the creative and financial vitality of the major music companies. Its members comprise the most vibrant record industry in the world, investing in great artists to help them reach their potential and connect to their fans. Nearly 85 percent of all legitimate recorded music produced and sold in the United States is created, manufactured or distributed by RIAA members.

In support of this mission, the RIAA works to protect the intellectual property and First Amendment rights of artists and music labels; conduct consumer, industry and technical research; and monitor and review state and federal laws, regulations and policies. RIAA also certifies Gold, Platinum, Multi Platinum, Diamond and Los Premios De Oro y Platino, sales and streaming awards.

(Source:IANS)