News

Of Monsters And Men, Swedish House Mafia & Will.i.am Earn First Multi-Platinums,
While Gary Allan & Mac Miller Receive Premiere Platinums…And Kacey Musgraves, Olly Murs, Passion Pit, Matt Redman & Sick Puppies Get First Golds

Washington—Ten musical acts earned first Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) digital award certifications in March, according to the RIAA’s newest monthly Gold & Platinum Program tally.

Three bands or artists received their first double-Platinum single awards: Republic Records pop-folk group Of Monsters And Men, Astralwerks DJ trio Swedish House Mafia and Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am for their respective songs “Little Talks,” “Don’t You Worry Child” and “Scream & Shout.”

The RIAA also awarded two first Platinum song awards marking more than one million downloads sold.  The plaques went to MCA Nashville crooner Gary Allan for “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)” and Rostrom Records rapper Mac Miller for “Donald Trump.”

Five talented acts welcomed their first Gold song certifications in March: country vocalist Kacey Musgraves for “Merry Go’ Round” (Mercury Nashville), English solo singer Olly Murs for “Troublemaker” (Columbia Records), Boston band Passion Pit’s “Take A Walk” (Columbia Records), contemporary Christian artist Matt Redman’s “10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)” (Sparrow/SixStepsRecords) and Australian metal band Sick Puppies’ “You’re Going Down” (Virgin Records).

March brought Sunshine State country duo Florida Georgia Line two RIAA Gold awards: one for their debut album “Here’s To The Good Times” (Republic Nashville, 2012) and another for popular song “Get Your Shine On.”

Golden congratulations to Jack White of band The White Stripes for earning his first solo Gold album award for “Blunderbuss” (Third Man/Columbia Records, 2012).

After a seven year recording hiatus, Justin Timberlake received his fifth Platinum digital single award for “Suit & Tie.”  Look for more popular songs to come from Justin’s new RCA Records album “The 20/20 Experience.”

Big Machine star Taylor Swift also secured a new Platinum for “Begin Again” (her twenty-first Platinum!), while Swift’s “22” was certified Gold (her thirtieth Gold song!).

Three established country performers earned monumental Gold song certifications in March: Carrie Underwood received her sixteenth for “Two Black Cadillacs,” Tim McGraw took home his fourteenth for “One of Those Nights” and Blake Shelton earned his twelfth for “Sure Be Cool If You Did.”

In March seven albums and 48 digital singles were awarded.  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.