In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. selector=criteria" target="_blank">RIAA certification criteria. Retrieved on September 19, 2006 (Some other countries have similar schemes. See _Music recording sales certification.) Certification is not automatic; for an award to be made, the record label must pay a fee to have the sales of the recording audited. The audit is conducted against unit shipments (most often an artist's royalty statement is used), which includes albums sold directly to retailers and one-stops, direct to consumer sales (music clubs and mail order) and other outlets. Shipments that could potentially be returned to the label can not be counted.

Traditionally, an American RIAA-certified gold record was a single or album that sold $500,000' worth of units (records, tapes, and/or CDs). A platinum record was one that sold 1,000,000 units, representing typically four or five times greater sales than a gold record. However, the RIAA has changed these terms several times over the last five decades, so the criteria for certification depends on different factors, particularly in recent years.

Nielsen SoundScan figures are not used in RIAA certification; the RIAA system predates Nielsen SoundScan and includes sales outlets Nielsen misses. Prior to Nielsen SoundScan, RIAA certification was the only audited and verifiable system for tracking music sales in the U.S.; it is still the only system capable of tracking 100% of sales (albeit as shipments less potential returns, not actual sales like Nielsen SoundScan).