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Fun. & Blake Shelton Earn First Platinum Album Certifications…While Imagine Dragons, Lana Del Rey, Frank Ocean, Phillip Phillips & Kendrick Lamar Receive First Gold Albums…Ed Sheeran & will.i.am Secure First Digital Song Awards

WASHINGTON – Six musical acts earned their first Gold or Platinum album certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in January, according to the organization’s monthly certifications tally.

The RIAA awarded premiere Platinum album awards, denoting more than one million records sold in the United States, to two enormous musical talents: country megastar Blake Shelton for “Red River Blue” (Warner Bros., 2011) and newly awarded Grammy Best New Artist winners Fun. for “Some Nights” (Fueled By Ramen).

Four fresh musicians earned their entry into the Gold & Platinum club for selling more than 500,000 copies of their first albums: Las Vegas rock band Imagine Dragons for “Night Visions” (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope), NYC starlet Lana Del Rey for “Born to Die” (Polydor/Interscope), R&B singer and recent double Grammy award winner Frank Ocean for “Channel Orange” (Def Jam) and American Idol winner Phillip Phillips for “The World From The Side Of The Moon” (19/Interscope).

Two bands received 6x multi-Platinum certifications last month, the highest RIAA honors awarded in January. California punk rock band Green Day for their album “American Idiot” (Reprise, 2004) and Tennessee country crew Lady Antebellum for their miss-you ballad “Need You Now” (Capitol Records Nashville, 2009).

Country superstar Taylor Swift earned two multi-Platinum certifications. Her latest album “Red” rose to 4x multi-Platinum, while single from the album “I Knew You Were Trouble” reached triple-Platinum.

In January, two artists earned their first Gold AND Platinum awards for their popular digital songs: English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran for his debut “The A-Team” (Elektra) and industry veteran and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am for “Scream & Shout” (Interscope/Geffen/A&M).

Other first time Platinum recipients for digital singles include Avicii for “Levels” (Interscope/Geffen/A&M), Grouplove for “Tongue Tied” (Canvasback/Atlantic) and Lifehouse for “Broken” (Geffen).

First time Gold digital single honorees included Future for “Turn On The Lights” (Epic), Juicy J for “Bandz A Make Her Dance” (Kemosabe Records/Columbia), Kendrick Lamar for “Swimming Pools (Drank)” (Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope), Laura Story’s “Blessings” (Fair Trade Services) and Bridgit Mendler’s “Ready Or Not”(Hollywood Records).

In January 14 albums and 63 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.