> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hypebot.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Decade Of Meteoric Sales Of Mostly Mediocre Music - URL: https://www.hypebot.com/a-decade-of-meteoric-sales-of-mostly-mediocre-music/ - Published: 2010-02-18T02:50:00.000Z - Updated: 2010-02-18T02:50:00.000Z - Description: (UPDATED) The recorded music industry may feel like its in a death spiral, but that didn't stop The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) from releasing a celebratory tally of. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2010/02/a-decade-of-meteoric-sales-of-mostly-mediocre-music.ht - Author: Bruce Houghton - Tags: Uncategorized, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:03 (UPDATED) The recorded music industry may feel like its in a death spiral, but that didn't stop The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) from releasing a celebratory tally of the decade's highest Gold and Platinum award achievemecelnts. **TOP ARTIST TALLIES** *Each level of multi-Platinum counts as its own unit and contributes to the tally.* *Only music released, as well as certifications granted, during 2000 – 2009 are included*. *Most total certifications (includes cumulative album, digital song, master ringtone, and music video certifications):* - [![image from www.recmod.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e2012877b10092970c-150wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e2012877b10092970c-popup?ref=hypebot.com) Group: The Eagles – 48 (Warner) - Male solo artist: Michael Jackson – 44 (Sony/Epic) - Female solo artist: Beyonce – 64 (Sony/Columbia) **Most album certifications:** - Group: Nickelback – 25 (Roadrunner) - Male solo artist: George Strait – 29 (UMG/MCA Nashville) - Female solo artist: Britney Spears – 23 (Sony/Jive) **Most digital song certifications:** - Group: Linkin Park – 13 (Warner) - Male solo artist: Kanye West – 19 (UMG/Def Jam) - Female solo artist: Taylor Swift – 25 (Big Machine) **Most master ringtone certifications:** - Male solo artist: T.I. – 15 (WMG/Atlantic/Grand Hustle) - Female solo artist: Beyonce – 19 (Sony/Columbia) **HIGHEST CERTIFIED RELEASES** *\*Format is: (record label/year released)* **Highest certified album:** - Group: \*NSYNC’s No Strings Attached (Sony/Jive, 2000), – 11x Platinum & OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – 11x Platinum (LaFace/Jive, 2003) - Male solo artist: Usher’s Confessions – 10x Platinum (LaFace/Jive, 2004) - Female solo artist: Shania Twain’s Up! – 11x Platinum (UMG/Mercury Nashville, 2002) **Highest certified digital song:** - Group: Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” – 3x multi-Platinum (EMI/Capitol, 2008) and The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” – 3x multi-Platinum (Sony/Epic, 2006) - Male solo artist: Flo Rida’s “Low” – 5x multi-Platinum (Warner/Atlantic, 2008) - Female solo artist: Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” – 4x multi-Platinum (UMG/Interscope, 2008) and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” – 4x multi-Platinum (Big Machine, 2008) **Highest certified master ringtone:** - Group: D4L’s “Laffy Taffy” – 3x multi-Platinum (Atlantic, 2006), Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel” – 3x multi-Platinum (Universal Records, 2006), and Shop Boyz’ “Party Like a Rockstar” –3x multi-Platinum (Universal, 2007) - Male solo artist: Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” – 5x multi-Platinum (Universal/Cash Money, 2008) - Female solo artist: Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” – 3x multi-Platinum (Sony/Columbia, 2006) **NOTABLE DECADE DATES** **January 3, 2000** LeAnn Rimes’ self-titled 1999 Curb album becomes the decade’s first Platinum album **May 10, 2001** \*NSYNC’s 2000 Jive album No Strings Attached is certified the first decade’s Diamond album of the decade **July 29, 2003** The decade’s top certified artist – Beyonce – receives her very first Gold album award for Dangerously in Love (Columbia, 2003). The album is currently 4x multi-Platinum **September 23, 200**4 The decade’s highest certified album by a female solo artist – Shania Twain’s Up! – reaches 11x multi-Platinum **October 22, 2004** Digital Single award introduced. 45 titles were included in the initial group of certifications, encompassing tracks from each major recording company and representing nearly every genre in music **October 7, 2005** Interscope artist Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” becomes first digital single to sell one million units **January 7, 2005** Warner band Linkin Park earns a Diamond award for Hybrid Theory (2000) **February 15, 2005** Norah Jones’ debut Blue Note album Come Away with Me turns Diamond three years after its release **April 15, 2005** The Beatles earn their 5th Diamond award for 1 (Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol, 2000) **November 1, 2006** Capitol Nashville country artist Garth Brooks takes Double Live (2008) 21x multi-Platinum. Garth Brooks is currently the best-selling solo artist in history having certified more than 128 million units to date **June 2006** Master Ringtone award introduced. The Black Eyed Peas, Chamillionaire, D4L, T-Pain earn the RIAA’s first multi-Platinum ringtone certifications **January 10, 2007** Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” goes double-Platinum to become the RIAA’s first multi-Platinum digital download **July 27, 2007** The best selling ringtone by a female solo artist, Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable,” certifies 3x multi-Platinum 2008 RIAA celebrates 50th Anniversary of Gold Record **November 7, 2008** The decade’s highest certified album by a male solo artist – Usher’s Confessions – reaches 10x multi-Platinum **May 8, 2009** Flo Rida’s “Low” goes 5x multi-Platinum; is the highest certified digital download in history **August 21, 2009** Michael Jackson’s legendary album Thriller climbs to 29x multi-Platinum to tie the Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) as the highest certified album in RIAA Gold & Platinum history **October 12, 2009** The decade’s top recipient of digital download certifications – Taylor Swift – takes her best selling song “Love Story” 4x multi-Platinum **December 15, 2009** Lil Wayne’s ringtone “Lollipop” becomes the highest certified ringtone ever at 5x multi-Platinum