56 titles, encompassing songs from dozens of music labels and spanning many musical genres, are included in the inaugural certifications for the newly expanded Digital Single Award. Specifically, the RIAA is awarding 11 Gold, 18 Platinum and 27 multi-Platinum new “combined” Digital Single Awards counting both downloads and streams. This includes streams from on-demand services like MOG, Muve Music, Rdio, Rhapsody, Slacker, Spotify, Xbox Music and others, plus video streaming services like MTV.com, VEVO, Yahoo! Music, YouTube and more.

Including music streaming in Gold & Platinum awards marks the continued evolution of the industry’s premier program for recognizing artistic achievement, and it reflects the wide spectrum of ways consumers enjoy music from their favorite bands,” said Cary Sherman, Chairman & CEO, RIAA. “The music business, along with its incredible array of digital service partners, is offering fans more access to music than ever before. We’re thrilled that our awards will now more fully recognize artists’ commercial success today.

With the launch of the new program, RIAA today is awarding the following artists/songs with new certifications: 30 Seconds To Mars/”This Is War,” Adele/”Rolling in the Deep, “Aerosmith/”I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” Andy Grammer/”Keep Your Head Up,” Anna Kendrick/”Cups,” Avril Lavigne/”Smile,” Ca$h Out/”Cashin’ Out,” Carly Rae Jepsen/”Call Me Maybe,” Carrie Underwood/”Before He Cheats,” Cher Lloyd/”Oath,” Don Omar/”Danza Kuduro,” Drake/”Started from The Bottom,” Emeli Sandé/”Next To Me,” Eminem/”Love The Way You Lie,” Frank Ocean/”Thinkin Bout You,” Gym Class Heroes feat. Ryan Tedder/”The Fighter,” Imagine Dragons/”Radioactive,” J. Cole/”Workout,” Jake Owen/”Alone With You” and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” Jason Derulo/”Watcha Say” and “Ridin’ Solo,” Josh Turner/”Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Journey/”Don’t Stop Believin,’” Juanes/”La Camisa Negra,” Justin Bieber/”Baby,” Justin Timberlake/”Suit & Tie,” Kansas/”Dust In The Wind,” Kanye West/”Stronger,” Kelly Clarkson/”Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Kelly Rowland/”Motivation,” Kendrick Lamar/”Poetic Justice,” Kenny Chesney/”The Boys Of Fall,” Lady Gaga/”Bad Romance,” Lana Del Rey/”Video Games,” LMFAO/”Sexy And I Know It,” M83/”Midnight City,” Michael Jackson/”Billie Jean,” Of Monsters And Men/”Little Talks,” Olly Murs/”Troublemaker,” One Direction/”Little Things,” P!nk feat. Nate Ruess/”Just Give Me A Reason,” Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera/”Feel This Moment,” Rihanna/”We Found Love,” Robin Thicke/”Lost Without U,” Selena Gomez & The Scene/”Love You Like A Love Song,” The Black Keys/”Lonely Boy,” The Fray/ “Over My Head (Cable Car),” The Script/”The Man Who Can’t Be Moved,” The Weeknd/”Wicked Games,” Toby Keith/”Beers Ago,” Train/”Drive By,” Usher/”Scream,” Whitney Houston/”I Will Always Love You,” Will.i.am/”Scream & Shout” and Wisin & Yandel/”Follow The Leader.”

This new expansion of the G&P Program – the approach, methodology and formula – was the culmination of a year-long project by the RIAA, led by Sherman, and a variety of label marketing, business and data analysis executives, in which the RIAA examined comprehensive information comparing data on digital downloads to similar data on on-demand audio and video streams. The RIAA also closely consulted with NARM/digitalmusic.org, many digital music services, artist managers and industry leaders. It is important to note the new certification approach, including the formula of 100 streams being equivalent to one download, is an approximate barometer of comparative consumer activity; the financial value of streams and downloads were not factored into the equation.

Notably, the following 11 artists are receiving their first-ever RIAA digital song certifications due to streaming’s inclusion to the program: 30 Seconds To Mars /“This Is War” at Gold, Aerosmith/“I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” at Platinum, Andy Grammer/“Keep Your Head Up” at Platinum, Anna Kendrick/“Cups” at Gold, Emeli Sandé/“Next to Me” at Gold, Juanes/“La Camisa Negra” at Gold, Lana Del Rey/“Video Games” at Gold, Robin Thicke/“Lost Without U” at Platinum, The Weeknd/“Wicked Games” at Gold, Whitney Houston/”I Will Always Love You” at 2x multi-Platinum and Wisin & Yandel/“Follow The Leader at Gold.

Tonight, Emeli Sandé, Cher Lloyd and Jason Derulo will pick up inaugural “combined” Digital Single Awards during a red-carpet event at the NARM and digitalmusic.org Music Biz conference, held at Los Angeles’ Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Capitol Records singer Sandé will receive her first-ever RIAA Gold award for “Next To Me,” Epic Records artist Lloyd her second RIAA Gold for “Oath” (“Want U Back” is currently RIAA 2x multi-Platinum) and Warner Bros. Records musician Derulo will take home his top RIAA award yet – a 4x multi-Platinum for “Watcha Say” – in addition to a 3x multi-Platinum for “Ridin’ Solo.”

Jim Donio, President of music business association NARM commented, “Getting streams included in the RIAA’s Gold and Platinum Awards certification has been a top agenda item for all of the member music services who participate in our digitalmusic.org Music Subscription Work Group. They are especially pleased to see these collaborative efforts come to fruition, and for music fan’s streaming activity be measured and recognized by the G&P Awards, one of the most important milestones in an artist’s career. Over the past few years, our members have also worked on related initiatives such as the creation of the first On Demand Songs Chart with Billboard and Nielsen, and we will continue to work with the RIAA and others as our industry evolves in the digital era.”

On-demand streams on digital music services that are authorized by and reported to the record labels, whether paid for by the consumer through a subscription or free to the consumer through ad-supported services, will be accepted for RIAA certifications. Only official label/company videos count towards certification; user generated videos do not. Whymusicmatters.com, a joint initiative of the RIAA, NARM, and digitalmusic.org, lists the leading authorized music services in the United States.

The RIAA developed its Gold & Platinum Awards Program in 1958 to honor artists and create a standard by which to measure the commercial success of a sound recording. The program trademarked the Gold record and formalized the industry practice of presenting awards to artists for music sales achievements.

First awarded to LP recordings but expanded to a number of formats overtime to include cassette tapes, CDs, digital tracks, digital albums, ringtones, and now streams, more than 14,000 titles have been certified by the RIAA during the last 55 years.

All certifications are calculated by the firm Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman, which has audited title sales for the RIAA for more than 30 years. Complete lists of all album, single, mastertone and video awards can also be accessed at riaa.com, while new and notable program news can be found at facebook.com/GoldandPlatinum.

RIAA G&P TIMELINE

1958 Program launched by the RIAA to honor artists and create a standard by which to measure sales of a sound recording. First Gold song certification goes to Perry Como for his single “Catch a Falling Star” (RCA Records). First Gold album certification awarded to the cast album to “Oklahoma!” sung by Gordon MacRae (Capitol).

1964 The Beatles earn their first Gold album certification for “Meet The Beatles!” (Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol). Today the band is the most awarded in G&P history having certified 199 million units across all formats.

1999 Diamond Award established to honor sales of 10 million copies or more of an album or single.

2004 Digital Sales Award introduced in recognition of the significant sales of emerging digital music formats.

2005 First Platinum Digital Single Award goes to Gwen Stefani for her “Hollaback Girl” (Interscope) selling more than one million downloads.

2006 Master Ringtone Award introduced to recognize the growing popularity of enjoying music through cell phones.

2009 Michael Jackson’s legendary album “Thriller” (Epic/Legacy) certifies 29x multi-Platinum to join the Eagles’ “Eagles – Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975”

(Elektra/Warner Bros.) as the highest album certification in G&P history. Lil Wayne’s ringtone “Lollipop” (Cash Money) becomes the highest certified ringtone to date at 5x multi-Platinum.

2012 The Black Eyed Peas earn RIAA’s highest digital single certification ever upon certifying “I Gotta Feeling” (Interscope) 8x multi-Platinum.

2013 “Combined” Digital Single Award launches, counting both downloads and on-demand streams in recognition of the increasing popularity of streaming as a method of music listening.

Glitch is an audio effect plugin for Windows (VST), Mac (VST and AU) and Linux (VST), available in both 32-bit and 64-bit formats. It features a new and improved sequencer that can play multiple effects simultaneously, and the ability to trigger unique scenes from every note on your keyboard.

Features Included

• Improved sequencer timing controls to better match your groove and song structure.
• Intuitive pattern editor with drag’n'drop. Draw, erase, resize, split and join blocks with ease.
• 9 little effect modules designed to slice, dice, chop, screw, twist, turn and mangle your sounds into radical new forms.
• Filter, mix, pan and volume controls on each module, to help shape and fine-tune the output, and more…

Glitch 2 is available for download only with a price tag of $59.95
A license gives access to all platforms and includes any future Glitch 2 updates.

Actual Screenshot from my iPad – 3rd Generation

I’ve never owned an MPC, but I do now! And it only cost me $6.99 (at an introductory price!)
I made my initial mention of the new Akai iMPC for iPad at my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages. I’d read early on it was in the making, and what better time than now for Akai, in partnership with Retronyms to introduce it to the world?! As a music producer (who also loves to sample) with years of experience as a pianist, I’d never had a deep interest in owning an MPC. I’ve always had keyboard samplers in my arsenal, until just a few years back when acquiring BKE’s Beat Thang.

Details from Akai: Turn your iPad into an MPC. With more than 1,200 samples, 50 editable programs, 80 editable sequences, and iconic MPC workflow, iMPC is the first app to bring all the functionality of a classic Akai Pro MPC to your iPad. Developed in partnership with Retronyms, iMPC includes everything you need to create a beat quickly and easily, including built-in effects, plus the ability to create new sequences and record and overdub beats. Time correction from 1/8 note to 1/32T with variable swing, and Note Repeat from 1/8 note to 1/32T with latch control are also built in. The app’s built-in sampler can record samples three different ways: using the mic on the iPad, using the line input on the iPad, or using the multi-touch turntable interface in iMPC to record samples directly from iTunes or other music libraries.

The Sampler – An actual screenshot from my iPad -3rd Generation

Specs and Features
More than 1,200 samples, 50 editable programs, and 80 editable sequences
Exclusive iMPC sound set and classic Akai Professional sound library
Sample from iPad mic, line-in, or music library using multi-touch turntable interface
Export tracks to MPC Software for use with MPC Renaissance and MPC Studio
In-app SoundCloud community, powered by CloudSeeder
Share on SoundCloud, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or export to your computer
Tabletop-ready: works seamlessly with Retronyms’ Tabletop app for iPad
16 Levels mode: 16 levels of attack, velocity, length, and tuning
Note Variation slider: adjust attack, velocity, length, and tuning as you play
Trim and categorize samples, undo takes and erase samples
Create new sequences, record and overdub beats
Live Sequence queuing for real-time performance and playback
Simple drag and drop program creation
Built-in effects: delay, bit crusher, master compressor/limiter
Time correct: 1/8 note – 1/32T with variable swing
Note Repeat: 1/8 note – 1/32T timing, with latch
Supports WIST, wireless Sync Start protocol from Korg
AudioCopy beats and sequences to compatible apps
AudioPaste samples from compatible apps
Tabletop Ready App: works seamlessly with Retronyms’ Tabletop app for iPad
Route to and use with your favorite Tabletop Effects and devices
Line-in allows you to resample Tabletop devices
Use with Tabletop’s Timeline Editor

I’ll be posting videos of my findings and creations as I continue to explore the new iMPC