The answer is that it all depends on where you live. In some countries it can be as little as 3000!
Originally, gold records were very special and were produced by record companies to reward their high selling artists.
The first ever-gold record was awarded to Glenn Miller in 1942 by RCA to celebrate selling over a million copies of Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Elvis Presley’s single “Don’t be cruel” also hit gold in 1956 with over a million sold and Harry Belafonte has the distinction of receiving the first gold record for the best selling album Calypso.
In 1958, The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) launched a standardised awards programme for the music industry.
They set the USA figures at 500,000 sales for Gold status, One million sales for Platinum, plus Multi platinum status (for every extra million sold) and Diamond awards in 1999 which applies to sales of albums or singles over 10 million. These figures only apply within the USA.
The first ever-gold record was awarded to Glenn Miller in 1942 by RCA to celebrate selling over a million copies of Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Elvis Presley’s single “Don’t be cruel” also hit gold in 1956 with over a million sold and Harry Belafonte has the distinction of receiving the first gold record for the best selling album Calypso.
In 1958, The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) launched a standardised awards programme for the music industry.
They set the USA figures at 500,000 sales for Gold status, One million sales for Platinum, plus Multi platinum status (for every extra million sold) and Diamond awards in 1999 which applies to sales of albums or singles over 10 million. These figures only apply within the USA.
In the UK, figures are based on retail sales, compiled by The Official Charts Company.
In Britain you will receive a Gold award for selling 400,000 singles in any format including digital downloads, or 100,000 album sales.
Platinum status is set at 300,000 sales and Multi platinum is calculated at every extra 300,000 units sold.
The UK chart also includes Silver status set at 200,000 singles or 60,000 albums.
In Britain you will receive a Gold award for selling 400,000 singles in any format including digital downloads, or 100,000 album sales.
Platinum status is set at 300,000 sales and Multi platinum is calculated at every extra 300,000 units sold.
The UK chart also includes Silver status set at 200,000 singles or 60,000 albums.
In Slovakia, Peru and Ecuador, you can expect a gold disc for selling just 3,000 albums whilst in Uruguay just 2000 record or digital sales.
Buy A Jewellers magnifying Loupe for £6.99So what are the best Worldwide sellers of all time?
Thriller by Michael Jackson tops the list with over 56 million copies sold worldwide.
Next comes the 1973 Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon at around 50 million.
Next comes the 1973 Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon at around 50 million.
In the UK, Adele is currently the UK's best selling artist and has been awarded for her album 21 and has just overtaken Dark Side of the Moon in the Album charts.
However, she still has a long way to go before she catches up with Queen!
The UK Top Ten Albums
1. Greatest Hits Queen Released 1981 5.900,000 sold
2. Sgt Peppers Lonely Heart’s Club Band Beatles 1967 5,100 000 sold
3. Gold Greatest Hits. Abba released 1992 just under 5 million sold
4. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory Oasis 1995 4,600, 000 sold
5. Thriller Michael Jackson released 1982, 4, 300,000 sold
6. Brothers in Arms Dire Straits 1985 4,154 000 sold
7. 21 Adele released in 2011 4,142,000 sold
8. Dark Side of the moon by Pink Floyd released 1973 4.116 000 sold
9. Bad Michael Jackson released 1987 3,960 000 sold
10. Greatest Hits 2 Queen released in 1991 3, 888,000 sold.
