As of Monday (Feb 1), the RIAA will now count streaming sales as part of its singles and albums certification process – specifically 1,500 streams counting as the equivalent of ten track sales or one album sale. With the news, comes a list of artists that are proud for the recognition. However, one team that’s not too happy is Top Dawg Entertainment’s owner Anthony Tiffith who calls the new RIAA certification rules “BS.”
Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly was released by Top Dawg Entertainment in conjunction with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Because of the new ruling, it was one of the albums now certified platinum but save the quick applause.
“we don’t stand behind this @RIAA bs,” Top Dawg writes on Twitter today (February 1). “ole skool rules apply, 1 million albums sold is platinum.until we reach that #, save all the congrats.”
Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO of RIAA, says that the change in its system is the result of the way music is currently consumed.
“The Gold & Platinum Program has adapted to recognize the benchmarks of success in an evolving music marketplace,” Sherman says in a press release that was released today (February 1). “We know that music listening – for both for albums and songs – is skyrocketing, yet that trend has not been reflected in our album certifications. Modernizing our Album Award to include music streaming is the next logical step in the continued evolution of Gold & Platinum Awards, and doing so enables RIAA to fully reward the success of artists’ albums today.”
Nonetheless, Top Dawg says that he does not embrace the new standard.
“no cheat codes 2 platinum… #TDE,” he writes on Twitter.
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