TORONTO — Could Taylor Swift be the only artist to release a platinum-selling album in the U.S. this year?
The 24-year-old singer’s much-hyped 1989, out Oct. 27, will have two months to sell a million copies south of the border, where the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has handed out gold and platinum certifications since 1976.
Swift’s 2012 album Red sold 1.2 million copies in its first week of release.
Liz Kennedy of the RIAA declined an interview but, in an email, indicated 27 albums have been certified platinum so far this year — although none were released in 2014.
Kennedy said 10 of the 27 were released in the last quarter of 2013.
So far this year, the RIAA has bestowed gold status — recognizing sales of 500,000 copies — to 11 albums that were released in 2014.
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Only the soundtrack to Frozen, released in 2013, has sold more than 1 million copies this calendar year.
In Canada, platinum certification is awarded to albums that have sold at least 80,000 copies (down from the 100,000 required pre-2008).
According to Music Canada, of the 29 platinum albums certified so far this year, only four were released in 2014 — Ed Sheeran’s X, Pharrell Williams’ Girl, Coldplay’s Ghost Stories and Quebec artist Serge Fiori’s self-titled album.
In the UK, where platinum status is awarded on sales of 300,000 units, Sheeran’s X, Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour, Coldplay’s Ghost Stories, Paloma Faith’s A Perfect Contradiction, and Paolo Nutini’s Caustic Love have all been certified platinum.
All were released in 2014.
While album sales are down in the U.S., sales of singles are strong. The RIAA has given platinum certification to 133 digital songs, of which 27 were released in 2014.
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