Do you know the difference between Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Uranium?

Gold, platinum, diamond and uranium records are awarded to musical artists in recognition of their recording work based on the number of record sales they achieve.

However, not all countries measure it in the same way and, in addition, sales measurements have been modified throughout history to adapt to the new sales formats that emerge as technology advances.

Thus, for example, in Spain, originally a gold disc was awarded to those artists who reached 50,000 records sold and a platinum disc when they reached 100,000 copies. But in 2005 they dropped to 40,000 and 80,000 respectively, in 2009 they were reduced to 30,000 and 60,000 and currently they are awarded when the artist reaches 20,000 and 40,000 copies distributed and both physical and digital copies are taken into account (since 2015).

Why has the number of copies an artist must sell to get a gold, platinum, diamond or uranium record been reduced?

Because times are changing and with the massive use of the Internet as a means to listen to music, sales of records legally have been sharply reduced.

Perhaps the dissemination of music is much easier nowadays, thanks in large part to the proximity offered by social networks, but it is evident that the direct income from record sales has progressively decreased, to the disgrace of musicians, record labels and other people linked to the music business.

Depending on the country, the copies that a musical artist needs to achieve a gold, platinum, diamond or uranium record vary according to the format of the record production: album, single, DVD or download. In some countries, such as the United States, the differences are even based on language (more sales are required for an English album than for a Spanish album to qualify for such an award).

In Spain, the association in charge of drawing up the sales lists and also of granting the certifications of such sales in our country is the Spanish Music Producers Association (Promusicae).