News
January 5, 2023 | Gold & Platinum
Welcome the #RIAAClassOf 2022
41 Singles from 39 Artists Scored First-Time Gold & Platinum Certifications
Washington, DC (January 5, 2023) – “Firsts” always hold a special significance, and for 39 stars on the rise, the Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA) today introduces those whose first certifications were earned in 2022*. 41 singles from the #RIAAClassOf 2022 earned coveted Gold & Platinum awards, celebrating major consumption thresholds as fans keep them on repeat and found #LabelsAtWork overtime.
Meet the #RIAAClassOf 2022 here and follow the conversation with your favorites online with #RIAAClassOf.
“Whenever a Gold, Platinum or Diamond certification is earned, it represents massive engagement from an artist’s fans, and a remarkable achievement by the artist, their creative teams, and their record label. And when it is your very first RIAA award, it’s even more special. We are so encouraged by the success of this #RIAAClassOf 2022 and are honored to help celebrate their immense talents,” says RIAA COO Michele Ballantyne.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- GAYLE scored the highest certification for a first-time certified artist this year with her 3X Platinum single “abcdefu” on Atlantic Records
- Bailey Zimmerman produced two of the seven Platinum singles with “Fall In Love” and “Rock and A Hard Place” on Warner Music Nashville/Elektra Records
- 33 new titles by first-time certified artists were certified Gold for surpassing 500,000 units (sales + streaming equivalents)
- 16 Pop, 10 R&B/Hip-Hop, 8 Country, 4 Alternative, 1 Americana/Folk, 1 Christian/Gospel and 1 Dance/Electronic singles from the #RIAAClassOf 2022 were added to the prestigious Gold & Platinum program
Since inception in 1958, the Gold & Platinum program has celebrated artists whose songs and albums have produced significant U.S. consumption milestones. These coveted awards are a testament to the artists, their creative and label teams as well as the fans whose playlists are on repeat. See the full list of historical certifications here.
*For the purposes of this analysis, RIAA reviewed singles and albums released in 2021-2022 and certified in 2022. Only first-time Gold & Platinum awardees were included.
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