Does the RIAA‘s inclusion of streaming data when awarding certifications diminish their value?
The question above is one many continue to ask today as the gifted entertainer Bryson Tiller took to the net to announce that his debut LP ‘TRAP SOUL’ had received a platinum certification…without selling 1 million units.
Full story below…
Released on October 2nd 2015 ‘SOUL’ moved 22,000 units in its opening week, reaching sales of 294,000 units this month.
An impressive sales journey by today’s R&B standard.
However, what some critics are unimpressed/ puzzled by is how the set somehow managed to leap from the 294,000 mark to the 1 million milestone in a matter of weeks.
The secret to the talented R&B royal’s success?
Streaming.
LMFAO!!!! WHAT A JOKE!!!
I don’t think it should be considered a joke. It’s the current climate of the music industry. Different times. You have artist struggling to get 100 millions views on YouTube. I think streaming is a poor reflection but I won’t ignore its impact on the music industry. It’s all a result of pirating. Once music is no longer as accessible as it is, than I would put up a fuss but this is simply the industry conforming to the times. As long as music is digital, streaming is the new CD and should be acknowledge as so… It’s been over a decade since Napster.
I’ve tried and i cannot get into his music. Tory Lanez>>>>
I like them both, And Tory Lanez is taking forever to release that damn album…
Uhm yeah certifications lose value with each passing day. Legends like MJ and Madonna had to physically sell a million copies to earn a certification and untalented mediocre artists of today get the same certifications because people listened to their music online….what a joke
EXACTLY that’s why I can’t take nobody serious theses days. Its just free giveaways, no hard work, true artistry ect nothing. Like you said MJ, Madonna, Whitney, Prince, Janet, Mariah ect had to put in Work for their success while mediocre can get a quick certification. Cause if this is the case all the legends would be had more donzons of #1 hits then they have now.
Not even 500k in sales. Wow
Omg yassss preach! The certifications are not made to stroke egos. I feel like in all honesty the only reason it changed is because most of these garbage artist that are getting deals they don’t deserve aren’t living up to the hype and they are sugarcoating everything to make it look like they are legends. Period point blank if you cant make a decent number with pure sales, you need to go back to the drawing board. It’s not personal just the truth. It has nothing to do with times changing, because adele dropped her album with only physical copies and some pre orders. Adele broke 3.38million her first week. Talent speaks for itself. Talent doesn’t need the music industry to change to make it feel better! Bryson has mad skills, but he is nothing special. Good to know not only the grammy committee but now the riaa are trippin lol Michael is rolling over in his grave *dies of being annoyed
I don’t get the hype around him, but I really wish he wasn’t so insecure in front of cameras. He has a nice face and it’s not like he’s ugly, so I wish he would show off his face more. I’m sure it would help to increase his record sales too.
Hun I said the sane thing smh then they wonder why ppl like Sam Smith is winning cause none of our R&B boys of today can sing for s*** except for a few who don’t have their platform –>(Chris, Trey, August, ect.) SMG like where are the Ushers, Tevin Campbell, Johnny Gil, Luther, Kem, Debarge, New Edition, Boys 2 Men, Jodeci, R. Kelly, Maxwell, the guys who can sang with no help of technology or backup singers for the whole song. This generation is so talentless guess can say at least there’s a Bruno Mars around.
Um are you saying CB, Trey and August can sing because much like basic Bryson, they are a part of the whiny, talk-singing club who can’t sing live worth a damn. What’s even sadder is that it’s the ladies in the genre that are actually pushing things forward with their lyrical themes and vocal performances (see Jazmine Sullivan, Fantasia and he’ll, I’d even throw Tinashe in the mix) but they sell significantly less than their male counterparts. Sad tbh.
@coolness lol hell no. I’m talking about their platform is unfortunately bigger than the ones who can actually sing and have talen .
*talent
I saw a video of him live. He was whispering and trembling into the mic. Garbage ass rapper/”singer”. All these dudes trying to sound alike.
Meanwhile “Jackie” is still not certified even though it popped out a platinum single to its name…. And this new comer is platinum album with no certified singles, and had only pushed 294,000 units to date.
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Something is so fishy and inconsistent about this new streaming system, I swear.
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Is Artpop platinum yet? How about Me I Am Mariah?
In another era MIAM would have gone multi platinum. The Queen made such an amazing and criminally underrated album…
Streaming has put the entire music industry on life support. MJ, Janet, Prince, Whitney, they earned their platinum plaques the old fashioned way. The industry didn’t have to change chart rules to make them stars without putting in the work. That’s why they’re Legends.
I don’t think it’s a joke. You have stuff like Apple Music and Spotify where you can stream anyone album for only 9.99 over and over. I don’t know about y’all but case and point Ciara. I streamed her album, Jhene Aiko, big Sean and several others and even though I liked some of them , I never spent my money on them because I could listen to it everyday through Apple Music. The only albums I have bought this year was Anti by Rihanna, and lemonade. And I streamed probably 30 albums from different artist.
Whether its bought or streamed its being listened too. Thats the point. Just because someone isnt coming out of their pockets it doest mean an artist should get credit for being the one ppl are listening too. Streaming got included because artist arent being listened to the same way. Just like everything else thats changing. Why buy a cd burn it to ur computer just to put it on ur phone. Ppl dont even buy ipods n m** players cuz they have their phones. I feel streaming shows who is really being listened to over who is all hype. Tells u what songs and artist the general public likes instead of being force fed someone the media loves.
Listening to something for free isn’t the same as feeling passionate enough to buy it. These artists are only cheating themselves and will feel the heat when it’s time for them to graduate from nightclubs to arenas. The seats, much like their credentials, will be vacant.
correct me if im wrong but dont they only count paid streams like on subscribtion sites like spotify, not free streams like on youtube for albums? So i dont get the hate. People are spending money on these artist, im sorry but achieving certifications based off pure sales was way easier for mj, and they didnt have to put in as much work to move platinum as today’s artists
Exactly! Some cd’s are crap but it wont matter once the masses go out and buy it cuz its bought but if an album is great the streams shows how much ppl enjoy. I’ve bought plenty of cds and listened to em only once and there are albums i stream every day. I’d rather pay 10 a month listen to what i want instead of buying 5 cds in a year and only listen to one. Too many artist have gotten platinum cert for crappy albums 20/20 by justin timberlake was a waste of my money but he sold the hell out of it.
BAEson Tiller SLAYS and the girls are maddtt. Kii. #PLATSOUL❤️
Steaming is basically a way to help all the flop artists out. It’s a joke, and I don’t take it serious. STREAMKNG IS KILLING THE INDUSTRY
actually streaming is the reason the industry is on the up this last year.
You guys are just silly because if streaming can’t be considered towards album certification then neither should digital downloads as they aren’t considered physical copies. The industry is constantly evolving and any of you who can’t understand that should live in a bubble. Online information is the way of life now. #GetUseToIt
physical definition: things perceived through the senses as opposed to the mind; tangible or concrete.
That’s a stupid comparison. Digital downloads are bought, streams are free.
even tho i hate this new streaming platforms and agree more with the old fashion way . im not going out and buy no damn cd just to end up havent to transfer it to my phone etc etc .things are changin just like when walkmans was the ish cdplayers came and kill it and m** player came and kill cd players etc,just like cds came and kill out cassette tapes streaming and digital download is taking over,in five year cds gonna be history.
Get with the times, charts and certs always been about interest. Netflix have like 10 succesful tv show under their belt and it’s all streaming. Other are joining, it’s NOW. And Rihanna is so far Queen of it. 🙂
Lol. Bryson and Rihanna have ‘sold’ about the same then. I can’t kiii!!!!
Don’t…
Good for him……didnt sell any albums but hey thats the new standard thanks to a plethora of artists relying heavily on streams….like a certain good girl gone bad. The problem with streams is there is no real to determine if it was listened to or for that mattered enjoyed. Its one thing to count if someone purchased a digital album but streams should be treated more like radio play then album sales. Some people think its cool now but wait 10 years and you’ll the landscape dramatically different and any teeny bop flavor of the day could say they’re selling millions when in reality they sold 10. Also, streaming is not great for the artist as they’re paid very little for their work.
Certifications and chart rankings are not EARNED LIKE HOW WHITNEY AND MIMI HAD TO EARN THEM ANYMORE BACK THEN U ACTUALLY HAD TO HAVE GREAT MATERIAL TO CHART BUT HEY ITS THE SIGN OF THE TIMES YALL GET WITH IT….I MISS REAL MUSIC even Fantasia has let me down with the songs she got out not feeling any of them
I told y’all this s*** was gon happen
Good for him and he does have good music