FAQ's
What is the NMPA Gold & Platinum Composition Program? How are the singles certified by RIAA? Who will be recognized by NMPA to receive this award? How will NMPA and RIAA work together to make this program a success? Is the NMPA program retroactive? Does the publisher of the certified single need to be a member of NMPA to be eligible for an award? Who designed the awards and how do I get one? Who designed the official hologram and how are the awards tracked?
What is the NMPA Gold & Platinum Composition Program?
This new award program, launched in October of 2007, recognizes songwriters and composers of singles that have been certified by the RIAA as Gold & Platinum. For the first time since the RIAA began certifying gold records in 1958, songwriters will receive their own awards for singles on which they have written or collaborated. This is an extremely important milestone in the history of the music industry as songwriters are such an integral part of the process.
How are the singles certified by RIAA?
RIAA certifies singles with 500,000 downloads Gold and 1,000,000 downloads Platinum. Songs may achieve multi-platinum status. For a physical single, the song must ship 500,000 units to receive gold status. RIAA certifies songs Gold & Platinum by conducting an independent sales audit of each title. This audit is performed by Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman. Once a title’s sales (downloads) has been audited and verified as having reached requisite levels, a formal certification report is issued and sent to the title’s record company.
Who will be recognized by NMPA to receive this award?
Only songwriters with credits on current Gold & Platinum Singles certified by RIAA will be recognized by NMPA.
How will NMPA and RIAA work together to make this program a success?
RIAA will release their monthly certification list at the end of each month; NMPA will wait at least two weeks, and then certify songwriters with Gold & Platinum Singles. NMPA will then notify songwriters and music publishers that they have been certified and provide them with an opportunity to order an official plaque.
Is the NMPA program retroactive?
No. The NMPA program will be prospective from the date of its launch.
Does the publisher of the certified single need to be a member of NMPA to be eligible for an award?
Yes. A publisher must be a member of NMPA for their songwriter to receive an award. Details on becoming a member can be found at www.nmpa.org or by contacting Jamie Marotta at jmarotta@nmpa.org.
Who designed the awards and how do I get one?
The NMPA award was designed and produced by Ill-Eagle Enterprises in New Jersey. The process of award certification is easy. NMPA will notify all publishers of certified singles that their songwriters may order an official award. There will be a form to fill out to process the order. The cost of each award is $180.00. The cost of the award could be paid by either the songwriter or music publisher.
Who designed the official hologram and how are the awards tracked?
The hologram on the award was designed by OpSec Security and has a numbering identification so that each award can be tracked in a database. NMPA will maintain the database of all awards and certifications.
