Editing RIAA certification (section)

===Singles===
Standard singles are certified:
* Gold when it ships 500,000 copies
* Platinum when it ships 1,000,000 copies
* Multi-Platinum when it ships at least 2,000,000 copies

Note: The number of sales required to qualify for Gold and Platinum discs was higher prior to January 1, 1989. The thresholds were previously 1,000,000 units (Gold) and 2,000,000 units (Platinum).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-14-fi-188-story.html|title=New Golden Rule: 500,000 Sales Mark for All Singles|last=Grein|first=Paul|date=May 14, 1989|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=12 November 2010}}</ref>

Digital singles are certified:
* Gold means 500,000 certification units
* Platinum means 1,000,000 certification units
* Multi-Platinum means 2,000,000+ certification units

From 2004 through July 2006, the certification level was 100,000 downloads for Gold and 200,000 for Platinum. When the RIAA changed the certification standards to match retail distribution in August 2006, all Platinum and Multi-Platinum awards for a digital release were withdrawn. Gold certifications, however, were not, meaning a song that was downloaded over 100,000 times and certified so by the RIAA during that time frame retains its Gold status.<ref>{{cite book |title=Top Pop Singles 1955-2008 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2009 |edition=12th |isbn=978-0-89820-180-2 |page=14|publisher=Record Research }}</ref>

Starting May 9, 2013, RIAA certifications for singles in the "digital" category include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads at a rate of 100 streams = 1 certification "unit".<ref name=streams>{{cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?content_selector=riaa-news-gold-and-platinum&news_month_filter=5&news_year_filter=2013&id=C19496E7-CEC0-C453-D8A1-BD80E56E610F|title=RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=May 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019233038/http://riaa.com/newsitem.php?content_selector=riaa-news-gold-and-platinum&news_month_filter=5&news_year_filter=2013&id=C19496E7-CEC0-C453-D8A1-BD80E56E610F|archive-date=October 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=new-combined-GP |title=NEW "COMBINED" DIGITAL SINGLE AWARD|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> On February 1, 2016, this rate was updated to 150 streams = 1 certification unit.<ref name=digital>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DIGITAL-SINGLE-AWARD-RIAA-AND-GRF-CERTIFICATION-AUDIT-REQUIREMENTS.pdf |title=RIAA and GR&F Certification Audit Requirements: RIAA Digital Single Award|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

Latin digital singles are certified:
* Disco de Oro (Gold) means 30,000 certification units
* Disco de Platino (Platinum) means 60,000 certification units
* Disco de Multi-Platino (Multi-Platinum) means 120,000+ certification units

The Latin Digital Single Awards began on December 20, 2013. As with the digital sales, 100 streams count as one download sale.<ref name=spanishsingles/>