Washington, DC (Top40 Charts/ RIAA) - Some of country music's leading bands racked up the April accolades while a medley of rap, rock and pop artists scored outstanding successes as well, according to the monthly G&P certification count from the Recording
Industry Association of
America (RIAA).
Three enormously talented country groups - Atlanta artists Zac Brown Band, American honeys Lady Antebellum and sweet singing duo Sugarland - received top multi-Platinum album honors in April. Z.B.B. and Lady A. both earned their first double-Platinum album nods for their respective albums The Foundation (Homegrown/Atlantic Records, 2008) and Need You Now (Capitol Nashville, 2010) while Sugarland took a triple-Platinum award for Enjoy the Ride (Mercury Nashville, 2006). April's spotlights are not all the three bands have in common - each has received the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards' 'Top New Duo or Vocal Group' prize: Zac Brown Band in 2008, Lady Antebellum in 2007 and Sugarland in 2006.
Lady Antebellum also joined the likes of popular artists Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, Jay Sean and Train to take April's top digital download awards. At 3x multi-Platinum, their respective tracks 'Need You Now' (Capitol Nashville), 'Empire State of Mind' (Roc Nation/Atlantic), 'Down' (Universal Records) and 'Hey, Soul Sister' (Columbia) have each sold more than three million copies. Following closely was Roc Nation hip hop collaborative hit 'Run This Town' by Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West bringing in a double-Platinum plaque to mark two million tracks sold.
Georgia-bred R&B singer Monica's album Still Standing (J Records, 2010) certified Gold less than month after its release. Still Standing is Monica's sixth studio album, while her highest certified albums to-date - both 3x multi-Platinum - are Miss Thang (Rowdy/Arista, 1995) and The Boy Is Mine (Arista, 1998).
April was also a solid-selling month for jack-of-all-trades and Def Jam rapper Ludacris whose new dance release 'How Low' swiftly certified Gold and Platinum in just one month. Luda fans purchased more than one million downloads of 'How Low,' which hails from his March album Battle of the Sexes, to bring Luda his first RIAA Platinum song award.
More inaugural Platinum song awards went to the ACM's 2010 'Top Male Vocalist' Brad Paisley for 'She's Everything' (Arista Nashville, 2005), Irish band The Script's melodic 'Breakeven,' R&B performer Trey Songz' smooth 'Say Ahh' featuring Fabolous (Atlantic, 2009) and pop-country rocker Uncle Kracker's uplifting 'Smile' (Atlantic, 2009).
Country crooner Kenny Chesney struck Gold twice in April with his songs 'Out Last Night' and 'Never Wanted Nothing More' released in 2009 and 2007, respectively, on BNA Records. Having sold a staggering 22.5 million total albums, the talented Tennessean is one of the most certified country artists in G&P history.
As if fans were purchasing this set 'Eight Days a Week,' April bestowed Gold, Platinum and triple-Platinum honors upon the highly anticipated 2009 Beatles in Stereo box set compilation. The collection contains the remastered stereo versions of 16 albums in the Beatles' original catalogue. Additionally, the legendary British band's corresponding 13-disc Beatles in Mono release (that features the remastered versions of Beatles' albums released in true mono) went Platinum.
Universal Republic solo pop act Owl City earned a premiere Platinum album award for its 2009 major label debut Ocean Eyes. The albums' lead single, 'Fireflies,' is currently RIAA certified double-Platinum. Look for Owl City's producer, singer and sole member Adam Young touring with both A&M/Octone L.A. band Maroon 5 and Columbia rock icon John Mayer this summer.
Continuing her successful trend, Hollywood Records star singer Miley Cyrus earned a Platinum album award for Time of Our Lives (2009). The popular record features 'Party in the U.S.A.,' Miley's best-selling and highest RIAA-certified single to date at 3x multi-Platinum. Keep an eye out for Can't Be Tamed, Cyrus's next album, scheduled for release in June.
Warner Bros. alternative rock trio Muse earned their third Gold album award for Resistance (2009). The band, which formed in 1994 in Devon, England, continues to rock out having just come off the major worldwide U2 360� Tour last year and now heading into a summer of concerts across Europe this year.
In April the RIAA awarded a total 34 digital singles and 19 albums. All certifications are calculated by Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman. Complete lists of all album, single, mastertone and video awards can also be accessed at www.riaa.com.
