Music Notes Blog

Recognizing Madonna's Super Bowl Show

February 02, 2012

This Sunday the New York Giants will face the New England Patriots at the Super Bowl XLVI for a chance to win one of the greatest American sports honors: the Vince Lombardi Trophy.  Also on Sunday, the one, the only Madonna will undertake one of the music business’ top annual honors: headlining the Super Bowl’s world-famous halftime show. 

In honor of Madonna’s much anticipated weekend performance, as well her new music video debuting on FOX’s American Idol this week, and all other wonderful things happening in Madge’s world, the RIAA’s historic Gold & Platinum program takes this opportunity to salute her significant career G&P accomplishments:

With total G&P tallies reaching 64 million total certified units, Madonna is the 16th most certified artist in RIAA G&P history and the second highest certified female solo artist behind Barbara Streisand. 

Since first certifying her debut album “Madonna” Gold in 1983, America’s Material Girl has gone on to earn two RIAA Diamond Awards denoting more than 10 million copies sold of “Like a Virgin” (Sire, 1984) and “Immaculate Collection” (Sire, 1990).

Amongst her numerous additional honors, Madonna has earned 19 separate Gold album awards, 17 Platinum album certifications and 12 multi-Platinum certs.  Additionally, her 2008 single “4 Minutes to Save the World” (Warner Bros.) has sold more than two million downloads to earn a 2x multi-Platinum plaque, while her 2005 jam “Hung Up” (Reprise) has sold more than one million downloads to go Platinum. 

And while we of course anticipate many more G&P certs from Madonna in the future, those awards may come sooner than later, judging from the fortune of past halftime performers.  As we noted on our blog last year, The Black Eyed Peas 2011 halftime performance boosted their music sales 25 percent week-over-week following the Super Bowl, while songs played at the big game, or in its commercials, bumped the album sales of Eminem, Kenny G, Guns 'n' Roses, Elton John, Boz Scaggs and Usher up an approximate 20 percent, according to SoundScan figures reported in Variety. 

Best of luck this weekend to Madonna, the New York Giants and the New England Patriots!