ThatRetailChick

January 3, 2000 LeAnn Rimes’ self-titled 1999 Curb album becomes the decade’s first Platinum album
 

May 10, 2001 *NSYNC’s 2000 Jive album No Strings Attached is certified the first decade’s Diamond album of the decade
 

July 29, 2003 The decade’s top certified artist – Beyonce – receives her very first Gold album award for Dangerously in Love (Columbia, 2003).  The album is currently 4x multi-Platinum
 

September 23, 2004 The decade’s highest certified album by a female solo artist – Shania Twain’s Up! –  reaches 11x multi-Platinum
 

October 22, 2004 Digital Single award introduced.  45 titles were included in the initial group of certifications, encompassing tracks from each major recording company and representing nearly every genre in music
 

October 7, 2005 Interscope artist Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” becomes first digital single to sell one million units
 

January 7, 2005 Warner band Linkin Park earns a Diamond award for Hybrid Theory (2000)
 

February 15, 2005 Norah Jones’ debut Blue Note album Come Away with Me turns Diamond three years after its release
 

April 15, 2005  The Beatles earn their 5th Diamond award for 1 (Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol, 2000)
 

November 1, 2006 Capitol Nashville country artist Garth Brooks takes Double Live (2008) 21x multi-Platinum.  Garth Brooks is currently the best-selling solo artist in history having certified more than 128 million units to date
 

June 2006 Master Ringtone award introduced.  The Black Eyed Peas, Chamillionaire, D4L, T-Pain earn the RIAA’s first multi-Platinum ringtone certifications
 

January 10, 2007 Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” goes double-Platinum to become the RIAA’s first multi-Platinum digital download
 

July 27, 2007 The best selling ringtone by a female solo artist, Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable,” certifies 3x multi-Platinum
2008 RIAA celebrates 50th Anniversary of Gold Record
 

November 7, 2008 The decade’s highest certified album by a male solo artist – Usher’s Confessions – reaches 10x multi-Platinum
 

May 8, 2009 Flo Rida’s “Low” goes 5x multi-Platinum; is the highest certified digital download in history
 

August 21, 2009 Michael Jackson’s legendary album Thriller climbs to 29x multi-Platinum to tie the Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) as the highest certified album in RIAA Gold & Platinum history
 

October 12, 2009 The decade’s top recipient of digital download certifications – Taylor Swift – takes her best selling song “Love Story” 4x multi-Platinum
 

December 15, 2009 Lil Wayne’s ringtone “Lollipop” becomes the highest certified ringtone ever at 5x multi-Platinum

Highest certified album:

Group:  *NSYNC’s No Strings Attached (Sony/Jive, 2000), – 11x Platinum & OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – 11x Platinum (LaFace/Jive, 2003)

Male solo artist: Usher’s Confessions – 10x Platinum (LaFace/Jive, 2004)                                                                                                  

Female solo artist: Shania Twain’s Up! – 11x Platinum (UMG/Mercury Nashville, 2002)

Highest certified digital song:

Group: Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” – 3x multi-Platinum (EMI/Capitol, 2008) and The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” – 3x multi-Platinum (Sony/Epic, 2006)

Male solo artist: Flo Rida’s “Low” – 5x multi-Platinum (Warner/Atlantic, 2008)

Female solo artist: Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” – 4x multi-Platinum (UMG/Interscope, 2008) and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” – 4x multi-Platinum (Big Machine, 2008)

Highest certified master ringtone:  

Group:  D4L’s “Laffy Taffy” – 3x multi-Platinum (Atlantic, 2006), Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel” – 3x multi-Platinum (Universal Records, 2006), and Shop Boyz’ “Party Like a Rockstar” –3x multi-Platinum (Universal, 2007)

Male solo artist: Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” – 5x multi-Platinum (Universal/Cash Money, 2008)

Female solo artist: Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” – 3x multi-Platinum (Sony/Columbia, 2006)

Plain and simple, if you have no money, it’s not going to work.  You can’t reach a DJ on twitter, or at a DJ conference, or in the club.  The label doesn’t want to talk to you because you are talented, or you look good, or a couple of people like you.  The radio is not going to play your song because they believe in it and just want to support.  This is a business.  You are a business, and every business I have ever known needed start-up money.  They needed advertising, they needed promotion, the needed a staff (team) to operate. 

I often hear people say they’re grinding and working really hard.  They have been talking to all the right people but still nothing is happening.  If they just had the right advise or the right person working on their team with the right connections things would be a go.  Even the most connected person needs money to make it happen.   I hate to say this and kill your dream, because that is not my intent, but if you do not have any money,  it’s not going to work. 

Invest wisely and God Bless.

Sincerely,

That Retail Chick