RIAA Announces New Gold and Platinum Certifications: Beach Boys, Gotye and More

One of the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA's) most certified bands of all time, The Beach Boys, earned May's highest album certification, according to the RIAA's newest monthly Gold & Platinum Program tally. "Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys" (Capitol, 2003) certified 3x multi-Platinum just in time for the beach band's 50th anniversary and first tour in more than two decades!

Rascal Flatts welcomed a timely Gold for their acclaimed April album release "Changed," selling more than 500,000 copies by May. Undoubtedly one of America's most contagious country bands, Rascal Flatts now have eight RIAA Gold (or higher) album certifications spanning their accomplished 12-year career.

Australian solo singer Gotye earned his Midas touch in May, receiving his very first Gold album award for "Making Mirrors" which was released in January on Universal Republic.

Meanwhile, Lionel Richie's March album release "Tuskegee" (Mercury Nashville) continues to climb the G&P ladder, rising to Platinum recognition in May (Richie's career sixth!).

More than four million digital purchases of "Super Bass" earned Nicki Minaj the month's top song certification: a 4x multi-Platinum award. No small feat, the Universal Republic track is Nicki's highest certified song yet. The platinum-coiffed artist also received a new matching Platinum song award to mark more than one million downloads of her latest single "Starships."

Huge kudos to pop duo Karmin, formed by married couple Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan: the Epic team sold more than 500,000 copies of their song "Brokenhearted" in just three months, to take home their very first RIAA Gold award in May.

Jason Aldean saddled up to two digital single awards in May. The Broken Bow artist earned a 3x multi-Platinum award for "Dirt Road Anthem" and a 2x multi-Platinum certification for "Don't You Wanna Stay" featuring Kelly Clarkson.

"What Makes You Beautiful" has earned Columbia Records rockers One Direction their first double-Platinum plaque. Released in February, the heartthrob hit is paving the way for the group's currently Gold album debut, "Up All Night," to soon hit Platinum.

Florence and the Machine and J.Cole doubled up in May, earning their second 2x multi-Platinum awards for their red-hot respective singles "Shake It Out" (Universal Republic) and "Can't Get Enough" (Roc Nation/Columbia).

First-time Platinum download certifications were awarded to English popstress Ellie Goulding and Texas rock band Blue October for their respective songs "Lights" (Interscope/Geffen/A&M) and "Into the Ocean" (Universal Republic).

In May the RIAA awarded a total of six albums, 25 digital single certifications and six video longforms. All certifications are calculated by Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman. Complete lists of all album, single, mastertone and video awards can also be accessed at www.riaa.com.

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