In 2023, Beenie Man earned his first Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certification for the single “Who Am I”. The song was released on December 14, 1997 and was certified Gold for selling 500,000 units on November 15, 2023. Thereby making Beenie Man a first timer for US Gold Certification, but in the RIAA Class of 2023 for artists who achieved their first Gold, Platinum or Multi-Platinum single during the year their analysis reviewed singles and albums released in 2022-2023 and certified in 2023. Only first-time Gold & Platinum awardees were included.
WMV Class of 2023 also acknowledges dancehall and reggae artists who earned their first UK and Canadian certification in 2023.
Over in Canada Buju Banton earned his first Canadian certifications for the 1995 single “Champion” and Byron Messia’s 2023 single “Talibans” were both certified Gold by Music Canada for selling 40,000 units on July 27 and September 20 respectively. “Talibans” also earned Byron his first UK Silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry for selling 200,000 units as well as Skillibeng earned his first Silver Certification with “Crocodile Teeth.”
Additionally, “Talibans” was the only new dancehall track to hit the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 98 from the plethora of releases from the reggae and dancehall genres last year.
Back on the RIAA Class of 2023 list, Latin, K-Pop and hip hop delivered the goods necessary to earn several Gold, Platinum and multi Platinum certifications throughout the year.
“Génesis” earned Mexican singer Peso Pluma his first Platinum album certification. The album released June 22, 2023 under Prajin Parlay Inc., sold one million album equivalent units in streams and sales in the US as measured by Luminate.
Boy band Stray Kids’ snatched up their first Gold certification for the pop hit “5 Star” released June 2, 2023 under JYP Entertainment and Imperial,
Additionally, K-Pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER released “THE NAME CHAPTER: TEMPTATION,” on January 27 through Big Hit Music, Imperial, and Republic Records, and earned Gold RIAA certification August 4.
First Timers For RIAA Multi-Platinum Singles In 2023
Katelyn Brown sold his first 2 million singles with “Thank God,” released under RCA Nashville and achieved 2x Platinum status from the RIAA. Likewise, Megan Moroney’s “Tennessee Orange,” released by Arista Nashville and Columbia Records, also went double Platinum, marking the first time for the artist to reach the milestone.
First Timers For RIAA Platinum Singles
In total 15 artists earned their first RIAA Platinum single ranging from Afrobeats, Hip Hop and K-Pop including:
4*Town – “Nobody Like U” (Label: Walt Disney Records)
David Kushner – “Daylight” (Label: David Kushner)
Hailey Whitters – “Everything She Ain’t” (Label: Pigasus Records / Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters)
Hitkidd, GloRilla – “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” (Label: Blac Noize! Recordings / Campsouth Records)
Jimin – “Like Crazy” (Label: Big Hit Music / Geffen)
Jung Kook (Ft. Latto) – “Seven” (Label: Big Hit Music / Geffen)
Katy Nichole – “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” (Label: Centricity Music)
Libianca – “People” (Label: 5K Records / Sony Music UK / RCA Records)
Lil Uzi Vert & ARIZONATEARS – “Watch This (Arizonatears Pluggnb Remix)” (Label: Atlantic Records)
Lizzy McAlpine – “Ceilings” (Label: Harbour Artists & Music / AWAL)
Mariah The Scientist – “Spread Thin” (Label: RCA)
Omar Apollo – “Evergreen” (Label: Warner Records)
PinkPantheress & Ice Spice – “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” (Label: 300 Entertainment)
Raye, 070 Shake – “Escapism.” (Label: Human Re Sources)
Rosa Linn – “SNAP” (Label: Columbia Records)
In total 58 recording artists have achieved their first RIAA Gold single awards, elevating them to the same esteemed echelon as the most iconic figures in music history who have attained unparalleled creative and commercial success.
First RIAA Gold single certification:
Sumerian Records:
Bad Omens – “Just Pretend”
Griselda Records / Benny The Butcher / Empire: 2. Benny the Butcher – “Johnny P’s Caddy”
UnitedMasters: BigXThaPlug – “Texas”
Superstar Pride – “Painting Pictures”
*VP Records: Beenie Man “Who Am I”
Average Joes Entertainment: Bryan Martin – “We Ride”
Live Yours: Central Cee – “Doja Live Yours”
High Standardz / Def Jam Recordings: Coco Jones – “ICU”
VIRGIN MUSIC: David Kushner – “Mr. Forgettable”
Grey Area: David Morris – “Dutton Ranch Freestyle”
Arista: Duke & Jones and Louis Theroux – “Jiggle Jiggle”
Black 17: DVRST – “Close Eyes”
DXRK ダーク – “Rave”
Kordhell – “Murder In My Mind”
MUPP & Sadfriendd – “Vendetta!”
KYN Entertainment: Dylan Conrique – “Birthday Cake”
Mob Ties / Bread Gang / Atlantic Records: FINESSE2TYMES – “Back End”
Warner Music Nashville: Ian Munsick – “Long Live Cowgirls”
10K Projects / Capitol Records: Ice Spice – “In Ha Mood”
Ice Spice / Worldstar Distribution / Create Music Group, Inc.: Ice Spice – “Munch (Feelin’ U)”
Slumbo Labs / RCA Records: Isabel Larosa – “I’m Yours”
Atlantic Records: Kaliii – “Area Codes”
Masked Records / Warner Records: Kanii – “I Know”
Capitol Records: Kay Flock, Cardi B, Dougie B, Ft. Bory300 – “Shake It”
Milan Records / Sony Music Masterworks: Kenshi Yonezu – “Kick Back”
Lords Child: Montell Fish – “Hotel”
Black 17: Øneheart and reidenshi – “Snowfall”
#Boyz Entertainment LLC / Empire: Peezy – “2 Million Up”
Manifest / GoodTalk / Good Money Global: That Mexican OT – “Johnny Dang (FT PAUL WALL & DRODi)”
OEG Records: Wyatt Flores – “Please Don’t Go”
Lumbre Music / Columbia: Yahritza Y Su Esencia & Grupo Frontera – “Frágil”
* Added by WMV
