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How Mariahpedia Calculates Singles Sales
At Mariahpedia, we aim to provide accurate and transparent sales figures for Mariah Carey’s singles by aligning our methods with established industry standards, particularly those outlined by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and their certification audit partner, Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman, LLP (GR&F).
Understanding RIAA Certification Tiers
The RIAA’s certification system is based on specific unit thresholds:
General Program:
Gold = 500,000 units
Platinum = 1,000,000 units
Diamond = 10,000,000 units
Latin Program:
Oro (Gold) = 30,000 units
Platino (Platinum) = 60,000 units
Diamante (Diamond) = 600,000 units
Unit Calculation:
1 Permanent Digital Download = 1 Unit
150 On-Demand Audio/Video Streams = 1 Unit
How Mariahpedia Calculates Digital Sales
To ensure consistency with RIAA standards, Mariahpedia applies the following methodology:
Digital Downloads:
Every verified permanent download of a track contributes one full unit towards its total sales.
On-Demand Streams:
Streams are calculated in multiples of 150. For instance, if a song has 1,500,000 on-demand streams, we count this as 10,000 units (1,500,000 ÷ 150).
Combining Versions:
Versions that are classified as ‘radio mix’, ‘album version’, or ‘explicit/clean edits’ are combined.
Remixes are included only if they are less than 90 seconds longer than the original track.
Exclusions:
Live performances, unless they are certified separately, are excluded.
User-generated videos are not counted; only official label videos qualify for certification metrics.
Certification Verification Process
To validate our sales calculations, Mariahpedia cross-references available public data from sources such as:
RIAA Certifications
Official Chart Data (Billboard, SoundScan, etc.)
Legitimate Digital Service Providers (DSPs)
Statements from official record labels and sales reports
Where appropriate, sales totals are adjusted to reflect solely U.S.-based figures, excluding foreign distribution unless specified in certification data.
Example Calculation
Suppose Mariah Carey’s single “We Belong Together” achieves the following:
800,000 digital downloads
75 million on-demand streams
Calculation:
Digital Downloads: 800,000 units
On-Demand Streams: 75,000,000 ÷ 150 = 500,000 units
Total Sales Units: 800,000 + 500,000 = 1,300,000 units (Certified Platinum)
Why This Matters
By following these standards, Mariahpedia ensures that its sales data aligns closely with industry benchmarks. This method helps provide fans and researchers with reliable figures, contributing to an accurate representation of Mariah Carey’s legacy and impact in the music industry.
