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Nine Breakthrough Artists Score First-Time US Certifications on Coveted Annual List
WASHINGTON, DC (December 11, 2025) – The Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA) today announces an annual tally of 2025* certifications as noteworthy superstars and future icons make their mark, reaching more fans than ever. Since 1958, the Gold & Platinum program has celebrated the impact of music in the US from physical sales to significant streaming thresholds as artists and their creative collaborators foster community through music.
“RIAA is proud to recognize the artists and their label partners who defined the year with music that exemplifies human artistry and reached remarkable milestones. From Taylor Swift and Alex Warren who earned this year’s top honors, to all the artists who have been certified this past year, we wrap 2025 with excitement for all the ways music has impacted people’s lives,” said RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier.
With her ubiquitous record-breaking trajectory, Taylor Swift again takes the pinnacle spot as THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL (Republic Records) surpasses 5 million RIAA-certified units for the highest certification AND Top Album, while Alex Warren’s 3x Platinum “ORDINARY” (Atlantic Records) soars to the Top Single. EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, the singing voices of HUNTR/X, bold debut earns the Class of 2025 honorees the most certified superlative with their first-ever RIAA milestones: 2x Platinum “GOLDEN” and Platinum “How It’s Done” and “What It Sounds Like” (Visva Records/Republic Records).
Explore the full Year-End list of albums and singles, including RIAA’s Class of 2025!
“Each year we spotlight artists earning their first Gold & Platinum certification, a testament to the drive and dedication it takes to truly break through. The Class of 2025 is reaching fans in exciting new ways, and this is only the beginning! Congratulations to these rising talents and the label teams supporting them – RIAA is proud to be part of the journey,” said RIAA President & COO Michele Ballantyne.
BY THE NUMBERS & MORE HIGHLIGHTS:
- For the second consecutive year, Taylor Swiftcommands the Year-End list with the highest certification level AND Top Album for 5x Platinum THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL released on Republic Records
- Follows her success earlier this year when Taylor became the first AND only female artist in history to surpass 100 million RIAA certified album units with her catalogue
- Proving to be anything but, Alex Warren boasts the Top Single of 2025 with 3x Platinum “ORDINARY” from his Platinum debut YOU’LL BE ALRIGHT, KID via Atlantic Records
- 13 albums and 46 singles releases in 2025* are #RIAATopCertified
- 23 Pop, 18 R&B/Hip-Hop, 7 Country, 7 Soundtracks, and 4 Alternative titles add to the prestigious Gold & Platinum program this cycle
- Drake earns the most certified titles with 8, including his Year-End highest with 2x Platinum single “NOKIA” and 7 collaborations with PARTYNEXTDOOR – Gold singles “CN TOWER,” “SOMETHING ABOUT YOU,” “SPIDER-MAN SUPERMAN,” “GIMME A HUG,” “DIE TRYING” & “SOMEBODY LOVES ME” from their Platinum album $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U
- 12 artist collaborations in 2025 were #RIAATopCertified, not including the KPOP DEMON HUNTERS soundtrack
- Fastest certifications on the Year-End are Cardi B’s AM I THE DRAMA? on Atlantic Records (album hit Platinum upon release & currently 3x Platinum) and Lil Tecca “Dark Thoughts” on Galactic Records/Republic Records (single earned Gold in 56 days & now sits at Platinum)
- Stray Kids are the only artists with multiple albums certified this year with their Gold-certified HOP and KARMA (JYP Entertainment/Imperial)
- Gigi Perez scored the only Alternative and Tucker Wetmore the sole Country albums, with their Gold-certified AT THE BEACH, IN EVERY LIFE (Island Records) and WHAT NOT TO (Tucker Wetmore/Back Blocks Music), respectively
- Chappell Roan found cross-genre success with Gold singles “THE GIVER” (Country) and “THE SUBWAY” (Pop) on Island Records
- OVO SOUND and Republic Records have the most certified titles on the Year-End list
- 9 first-time artists across 13 singles were introduced into the Class of 2025
- Olivia Dean’s Platinum smash “Man I Need” is the highest certified Class of 2025 Pop title, released via Island Records
- EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, the singing voices of HUNTR/X, became the most certified Class of 2025 recipient with three singles: 2x Platinum “Golden” and Platinum “How It’s Done” and “What It Sounds Like” via Visva Records/Republic Records
- Each with a pair of Platinum hits, Saja Boys (“Soda Pop” & “Your Idol” on Visva Records/Republic Records)and Sombr (“Back to Friends” & Undressed” through SMB Music/Warner Records) tie for second most certified on the Class of 2025 list
- Gelo’s Platinum “Tweaker” on Def Jam Recordings is the fastest certified title in the Class of 2025(earned Gold just 97 days after release) AND joins 803Fresh’s Gold “Boots on the Ground” landed Gold (Artist Partner Group) as the only two Hip-Hop tracks on that list this year
- Only 1 new title by a Class of 2025 first timer was certified multi-Platinum; 8 Platinum for surpassing 1,000,000 units and 4 Gold for reaching 500,000 units (sales + streaming equivalents)
- RIAA celebrates music with more than 50% Spanish language through Premios de Oro y Platino where Clave Especial earned the 2025 Year-End Top Latin Title AND Single for Diamante “Tu Tu Tu” featuring Edgardo Nuñez (Warner Music Latina), while Beéle’s landed the Top Latin Album with 4x Platino Borondo (5020 Records)
Representing the impact of artists, label teams, creative partners and fans, explore each generation of RIAA certifications here and join the online conversation with #RIAATopCertified, #RIAAClassOf 2025 and #LabelsAtWork.
*For the purposes of this analysis, RIAA reviewed singles/albums released and certified December 1, 2024 – November 30, 2025. Only first-time Gold & Platinum Program awardees are included in “Class of 2025” and album soundtracks are excluded. New in 2025, eligibility timeframes for both lists are the same.