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ChristopherWlach-SecondPaper 3 - 05 Apr 2008 - Main.ChristopherWlach
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| | | I. Introduction: The Gold and Platinum Records Program | |
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< | In 1958 the Recording Industry Association of America (the “RIAA”), the trade group for the U.S. recording industry, instituted the Gold and Platinum Records Program (the “Program”). The Program issues awards to records with high domestic sales. Provided the record meets certain qualifying criteria, a record with 500,000 sales is awarded “Gold” status. Other awards are available for records with higher sales: “Platinum” (more than one million sales), “Multi-Platinum” (one million to ten million sales), and “Diamond” (more than ten million sales). * Although the term “Golden Record” had been used in popular music before the Program, the Program standardized the meaning of the term as a sales award. | >
> | In 1958 the Recording Industry Association of America (the “RIAA”), the trade group for the U.S. recording industry, instituted the Gold and Platinum Records Program (the “Program”). The Program issues awards to records with high domestic sales. Provided the record meets certain qualifying criteria, a record with 500,000 sales is awarded “Gold” status. Other awards are available for records with higher sales: “Platinum” (more than one million sales), “Multi-Platinum” (one million to ten million sales), and “Diamond” (more than ten million sales). * Although the term “Golden Record” had been used in popular music before the Program, the Program standardized the meaning of the term as a sales award. | | | II. The Program Promotes a Model of the Musically Successful Record as a Monetarily Successful Record. | | | III. The Current Criteria for Gold Status Ensures That Gold Status Is Limited to Records That Fit This Model. | |
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< | The RIAA regulates Gold status in various ways. For one, it sets up strict criteria for Gold certification. Although the award is open to members and non-members of the RIAA, only U.S. firms or corporations “engaged in the legitimate production and sale of sound recordings” may request certification. Before awarding a record Gold status, the RIAA also performs an independent audit to ensure that the record has met the minimum domestic sales requirements. For a full-length album to be certified, the album’s sales must also reach a minimum dollar volume. Through these regulations, the RIAA ensures that Gold status is available only to records that are monetarily successful. | >
> | The RIAA has established strict criteria for Gold certification. Although the award is open to members and non-members of the RIAA, only U.S. firms or corporations “engaged in the legitimate production and sale of sound recordings” may request certification. Before awarding a record Gold status, the RIAA also performs an independent audit to ensure that the record has met the minimum domestic sales requirements. For a full-length album to be certified, the album’s sales must also reach a minimum dollar volume. Through these regulations, the RIAA ensures that Gold status is available only to records that are monetarily successful. | | | IV. In the Changing Landscape of Music Production and Distribution, the Current Criteria for Gold Status Fails to Capture Many Musically Successful Records. | | | V. Conclusion: If the Criteria for Gold Status Do Not Change, the Program Will Be Unable to Maintain Its Model of Musical Success as Monetary Success. | |
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< | The Gold award's focus on the monetary success of a record is hardly surprising. After all, the RIAA represents companies engaged in the business of selling music. However, as the link monetary success and musical success becomes more tenuous, the Program will no longer be able to maintain its model of the musically successful record without significant change. | >
> | The Gold award's focus on the monetary success of a record is hardly surprising. After all, the RIAA represents companies engaged in the business of selling music. However, as the link between monetary success and musical success becomes more tenuous, the Program will no longer be able to maintain its model of the musically successful record without significant change. | | | _________ |
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