The Weeknd is already beaming in the Billboard Hot 100 history books for ‘Blinding Lights’ being the longest-running song in the history of the hit list, but now the Max Martin-produced jam is garnering shine by way of the RIAA.
See what we mean after the jump…
On Tuesday (April 5), The Weeknd – born Abel Tesfaye – learned that eight of his most prized singles had their certification statuses updated by the RIAA.
Among them were 2019’s ‘Blinding Lights’ and 2016’s ‘Starboy,’ which were certified 10x Platinum and 11x Platinum respectively.
The two singles join the previously Diamond-certified ‘The Hills’ and render Abel the first Black singer in the RIAA’s 70-year history to own three singles certified as high (or higher).
Among all artists, only Bruno Mars has more Diamond certifications (5). However, The Weeknd is in a very exclusive class as Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Imagine Dragons, Eminem, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, and Cardi B are the only other artists attached to three Diamond-certified singles.
With the certification updates, Tesfaye passes Mars and Chris Brown to become the second best-selling male singer of the digital era – with 98 million singles sold in the United States. Only Bieber, at 107.5 million singles sold to date, has more to his name.
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Ace Abel ♦️♣️♥️♠️
A I D S Trashy💅🏾
Ugly ass, flavorless, #1 HOEE lmaoooooooooooo 🤣 Go pre-save Flopmilia 💋
Cardi b is the first y’all tried it
Cardi is NOT Black hun.
You tried it.
Then why da hell she rap and say the N word???? So she can get a pass for doing this crap?
So does Fat Joe & French Montana.
Cardi is also A RAPPER, not a singer
cardi doesn’t even like you lol
in fact, she says she’s hates her fans
and that y’all are some dumbasses
and can suck a dïck 🤣🤣🤣
They’re just giving these diamond certifications away. I remember when a diamond plaque meant you sold over 10 million physical copies, which means 10 million people BOUGHT your album or single. Streams are no equivalent to physical sales. Someone can stream a song 1500 times, that doesn’t mean 1500 people bought it.
Seriously, the fact that the overwhelming majority of these diamond certifications have come post the streaming era illustrates that there should be someway of recognizing that these are not the diamond certifications of yesteryear when people had to actually purchase a song not stream it for free in order for it to count ….I mean if that’s the case, it could be argued that old Napster, Kazza, and Limewire records should be looked up and factored into the equation because there are hella artists from the 2000’s who deserve recognition for all the joy they brought people via illegal downloads:
Unpopular opinion, but the weekend can not sing . I don’t get it
Lol “first black singer” babe he doesn’t even consider himself b.l.a.c.k. but okaaaay 😂