[VRGRK]

according to the RIAA, Ayu's You were.../Ballad (only according to this thread) would NOT have even made GOLD status.

Recording Industry Asscosiation of America:

Currently, the RIAA certification criteria for albums - physical are:
500,000 units: Gold album.
1,000,000 units: Platinum album
2,000,000 or more units: Multi-Platinum album
10,000,000 units: Diamond album

Singles - physical:
Gold when it ships 500,000 copies
Platinum when it ships 1,000,000 copies
Double platinum when it ships 2,000,000 copies

Note: Before January 1, 1989, gold was achieved at 1,000,000 copies, and platinum at 2,000,000

Digital Sales - Downloaded:
Gold means 500,000 tracks downloaded
Platinum means 1,000,000 tracks downloaded
Double platinum means 2,000,000 tracks downloaded

Spanish (over 50% of the content must be in spanish):
50,000 units: Oro album.
100,000 units: Platino album.
200,000 units: Multi-Platino album.

Recording Industry Asscosiation of Japan:
RIAJ Certification:All music sales, including singles, albums, digital download singles are on the same criteria.

Gold: 100,000
Platinum: 250,000
Million: 1 million
Unlike many countries, the highest certification is not called "Diamond" or "Platinum", but "Million".

Oh my gosh.. I just realized how much easier it is in japan to get certified than in America...