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Red Hot Chili Peppers presented with Gold plaques for ‘The Getaway’ in Toronto

Posted February 4, 2017 by Bram Gonshor

Photo: Warner Music Canada

Prior to their highly anticipated sold-out show at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, legendary rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers were presented with Gold award plaques for their latest album The Getaway by Warner Music Canada.

The 2016 album also features the Gold-certified single “Dark Necessities.” The Getaway is the band’s ninth album to be certified Gold in Canada, while “Dark Necessities” is the first track in the band’s career to be certified in Canada. In 2001, the band received their highest Canadian certification for Californication at Six Times Platinum.

The video for “Dark Necessities” can be seen below.

Categories: Gold/Platinum
Tags: Gold, Gold/Platinum, red hot chili peppers, the getaway, Warner Music Canada

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Kiiara receives Platinum plaque in Toronto

Posted November 17, 2016 by Bram Gonshor

Kiiara with Warner Music’s John Delaney (left) and Julia Hummel (right)

American singer Kiiara was one of 2016’s breakout stars with the success of her single “Gold,” off her debut EP low kii savage.

The 21-year-old Wilmington, Illinois native was in Toronto on Tuesday for a highly anticipated show at The Hoxton. Prior to her performance, Warner Music Canada presented Kiiara with a Platinum Single Award plaque for “Gold.”

Tuesday’s show marked Kiiara’s first performance in Toronto and the second Canadian show of her career, with her first happening November 8 at Vancouver’s Imperial.

Categories: Gold/Platinum
Tags: Gold, Gold/Platinum, Kiiara, Platinum, Warner Music Canada

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Alx Veliz receives Gold Single plaque for “Dancing Kizomba” at Music Canada AGM

Posted October 20, 2016 by Bram Gonshor

During Music Canada’s 2016 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, Toronto-based singer, songwriter, and producer Alx Veliz was presented with his first Canadian Gold plaque for the single “Dancing Kizomba.” The plaque for the breakout hit, which has also been recorded in Spanish and certified Gold in Spain, was presented to Veliz by Universal Music Canada President & CEO Jeffrey Remedios.

“Dancing Kizomba” was officially announced Gold in the first wave of Single certifications in September, when Music Canada revealed updates to its Gold/Platinum program to now include on-demand streams for track certifications.

https://twitter.com/alxvelizmusic/status/775343706471821313

Following the plaque presentation, Veliz performed three songs from his 2016 debut EP Love Has No Language, including “Heroes & Villains,” “Dancing Kizomba,” and his latest single “U+Me.”

Categories: Gold/Platinum
Tags: Alx Veliz, Dancing Kizomba, Gold, Gold/Platinum, Single Award, Universal Music Canada

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Music streaming now included in Canada’s historic Gold/Platinum certification program

Posted September 12, 2016 by Bram Gonshor

New award and branding revealed at CCMA Awards

Toronto, ON – September 12, 2016

With the introduction of a new Single Award, Music Canada’s Gold/Platinum certification and awards program will now include streams towards digital track certifications. Over 50 new Single certifications were revealed today, with 10 artists receiving their first Canadian certifications.

“Today’s announcement signifies a pivotal moment in Canada’s evolving digital music marketplace,” says Graham Henderson, President & CEO of Music Canada. “By accepting on-demand streams for track certifications, Music Canada can continue to acknowledge the success of Canadian and international artists, as well as the subscription-based streaming platforms currently thriving in our market. The new Single Award helps maintain the integrity of our Gold/Platinum program, which has historically recognized the active choice consumers make when building their personal music libraries.”

During County Music Week in London, ON, rising country stars Brett Kissel and Chris Lane were presented with the first Single Award plaques leading up to Sunday’s 40^th CCMA Awards broadcast.

.@BrettKissel just scored a gold record for #Airwaves @WesternFair @CCMAofficial #LetsPlay #CCMA40 pic.twitter.com/rsQtCiJ3eu

— Country 104 (@Country104) September 10, 2016

“We are thrilled that Music Canada is now accepting streams with its new Single Award,” says Steve Kane, President of Warner Music Canada, who presented Kissel with his plaque for the Gold Single ‘Airwaves’ at Saturday’s CCMA FanFest. “Canadian music fans have welcomed the arrival of streaming subscription services with open arms, and are now consuming more music than ever before. We are excited to honour new milestones for our artists who have flourished on this new path, and whose fanbases continue to grow as streaming increases in popularity.”

The new Single Award will combine on-demand audio streams from subscription services with digital download and CD single sales. Streams can be used toward certification using a conversion formula of 150 streams equaling 1 unit towards certification. This 150:1 ratio is consistent with other major global counterparts. Streaming data from YouTube/VEVO videos will not be accepted towards certification upon launch.

The Single Award launch also coincides with the reveal of new bilingual branding for the program, which has certified over 16,000 releases in its 41-year history.

Music Canada’s Gold/Platinum Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts are live with the new branding. For more information, visit www.musiccanada.com/gold-platinum.

Categories: News Release
Tags: Brett Kissel, CCMA Awards, Gold, Gold/Platinum, Platinum, Single Award, Streams

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Dierks Bentley receives Gold plaque in Toronto during surprise club visit

Posted August 10, 2016 by Bram Gonshor

Photo courtesy of CMT Canada

Ontario country music festival Boots & Hearts celebrated its fifth anniversary over the weekend, with over 40,000 fans taking in some of the biggest acts in country like Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Sam Hunt, and many more. On the Thursday night before the festival, one of the weekend’s headliners joined Boots & Hearts 2015 Emerging Artist winners and 2016 festival performers James Barker Band during their warm-up show at Toronto’s Boots & Bourbon Saloon.

Following a performance of their hit “Lawn Chair Lazy,” the band began playing the opening chords to Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere On A Beach.” In front of a packed crowd, Bentley emerged from the side of the stage to perform his hit with the group, as well as his Platinum-certified hit “Drunk On A Plane,” and Gold-certified “I Hold On.”

During the intimate performance, Bentley received a surprise himself, as Universal Music Canada presented him with a Gold plaque on stage for “Somewhere On A Beach.” The following night, Bentley closed out the first night of Boots & Hearts.

Photos of the evening can be viewed at CMT Canada.

Categories: Gold/Platinum
Tags: Boots and Bourbon, Boots and Hearts Music Festival, Dierks Bentley, Gold, Gold/Platinum, Universal Music Canada

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Brett Kissel presented with Gold plaque at epic ‘Hometown Homecoming’ show

Posted June 30, 2016 by Bram Gonshor

On Saturday, June 18, 2016, Canadian country star Brett Kissel returned to his hometown of St. Paul, Alberta, for a special sold out concert at Jaycee Ballpark. Dubbed the Hometown Homecoming, Kissel performed for over 3,000 fans in attendance, and thousands of more listeners across the province through a live broadcast on 840 & 910 CFCW.

‘It’s hard to put into words,” said Kissel of the special evening, “I’m blown away by the excitement and atmosphere. It really was surreal and so, so special to be performing for so many fans, family, friends, and people I grew up with who’ve supported me since the beginning, in my hometown. It was an awesome night.’

During the show, the JUNO Award winning artist was presented with a Gold plaque for his 2013 debut single “Started With A Song,” certified earlier this year. Kissel has previously received a Gold plaque for his single “3-2-1,” and posed with his latest plaque backstage following his monumental performance.

The event also raised over $60,000 for local charities and non-profit organizations, including a $10,000 donation from Kissel and event producers. $5,000 was donated to local cancer-support society Haying In The 30s, and another $5,000 was directed to Fort Murray fire-relief efforts.

The video for “Started With A Song” can be viewed below.

Categories: Gold/Platinum
Tags: Alberta, Brett Kissel, Country, Gold, Gold/Platinum, Hometown Homecoming, Started With A Song

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Artists presented with Gold/Platinum awards at 2016 iHeartRadio MMVAs

Posted June 29, 2016 by Bram Gonshor

Earlier this month, some of the biggest Canadian and international names in music gathered by Queen and John St. in Toronto, ON for the 2016 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards. During the festivities, many of the nominees and performers were presented with award plaques commemorating their recent Canadian Gold and Platinum certifications.

Universal Music Canada shared their plaque presentations through Twitter and Instagram, with Universal Music Canada President and CEO Jeffrey Remedios presenting Platinum awards to Hailee Steinfeld for “Love Myself,” Desiigner for “Panda,” and Nelson, BC’s Shawn Hook for “Sound Of Your Heart.”

James Bay was presented with a custom Gold plaque for his 2015 debut album Chaos And The Calm, as well as the Gold single “Hold Back The River.” The English singer/songwriter’s Platinum hit “Let It Go,” which he performed on the broadcast, is also represented on the plaque.

Canadian superstar Shawn Mendes was presented with a custom Platinum plaque for his album Handwritten. The plaque also represents the 2X Platinum certifications for “Life Of The Party” and “Something Big,” the Platinum certification for “Stitches,” and the Gold certification for “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” which won Best Pop and Fan Fave video.

Edmonton, AB singer/songwriter Ruth B, seen below with manager Mark Cunningham, received her first Platinum award plaque from Sony Music Canada for her breakthrough hit “Lost Boy.” The 2016 Fan Fave Vine Musician nominee performed the song during the pre-show broadcast.

Sony Music Canada also presented Fave International and Most Buzzworthy Group winners Fifth Harmony with a Platinum award plaque for “Work From Home.” Later in the evening, group member Dinah Jane Hansen shared a photo with the plaque through Twitter. Fifth Harmony closed out the 2016 iHeartRadio MMVAs with a performance of the Platinum hit.

Categories: Gold/Platinum
Tags: Desiigner, Fifth Harmony, Gold, Gold/Platinum, Hailee Steinfeld, iHeartRadio, James Bay, MMVA, Platinum, Ruth B, Shawn Hook, Shawn Mendes, Sony Music Canada, Universal Music Canada

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Selena Gomez receives Gold award plaque for 2015 album Revival in Toronto

Posted May 27, 2016 by Bram Gonshor

Since early May, American pop sensation Selena Gomez has been touring across North America on the first leg of her 2016 Revival Tour, which included a Canadian stretch beginning in Vancouver, BC, through to Montreal, QC.

During her tour stop in Toronto, ON, Wednesday night, Gomez was surprised with a custom award plaque by Universal Music Canada commemorating the Gold certification of her 2015 album Revival. The plaque also highlights the Platinum certification of her hit “Hands To Myself,” and Double Platinum certifications of “Good For You,” and “Same Old Love.”

Gomez was initially scheduled to play Toronto over the weekend, however an unprecedented playoff run by the Toronto Raptors caused the singer to reschedule her sold-out Air Canada Centre concert. Gomez made light of the situation by sporting a Raptors sweater during her dazzling 20+ song set, which included her multi-Platinum hits and covers of Hillsong United and The Eurythmics.

Gomez will return to Canada later this summer when she headlines Québec City’s Le Festival d’été de Québec July 7, and AtlanticFest 2016, happening September 3 in Paradise, NL, and September 4 in Moncton, NB.

@selenagomez is a Toronto girl. I'm dying. This girl KILLED it. #revivaltour #revivaltourtoronto #selenagomez

A video posted by k|rkpellet|er (@kirkpelletier) on May 25, 2016 at 7:46pm PDT

Categories: Gold/Platinum
Tags: Double Platinum, Gold, Gold/Platinum, Platinum, Revival, Selena Gomez, Universal Music Canada

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Charlie Puth presented with award plaque in Toronto

Posted March 29, 2016 by Bram Gonshor

American singer/songwriter Charlie Puth was in Toronto, ON Monday night for an intimate sold-out concert at The Mod Club as part of his 2016 North American Tour. Prior to the show, Warner Music Canada presented Puth with a custom award plaque for the Gold certification of his track “One Call Away” and Platinum certification of “Marvin Gaye.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDhFCVch40V/

Earlier in the day, Puth met with his Canadian fans for an autograph session at the HMV Underground, located at Toronto’s HMV Superstore (333 Yonge St.).

We felt "Some Type of Love" for @charlieputh today! Thanks for coming out to #thehmvunderground #hmvlive pic.twitter.com/Fk3jlo4fzs

— hmv canada (@hmvcanada) March 28, 2016

Charlie Puth has also been certified Quadruple Platinum in Canada for his collaboration with Wiz Khalifa on the Furious 7 theme song “See You Again.” The video for Charlie Puth’s Platinum single “Marvin Gaye” with Meghan Trainor can be viewed below:

Categories: Gold/Platinum
Tags: Charlie Puth, Gold, Gold/Platinum, HMV Underground, Marvin Gaye, One Call Away, Platinum, Warner Music Canada

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2015 Gold/Platinum Year End Review

Posted December 24, 2015 by Bram Gonshor

2015 was a landmark year for Canadian artists dominating the international pop music spotlight. Within Canada, Canadian artists saw an increase in Gold/Platinum certifications over 2014, with many of the 2015 releases expecting further certification milestones in 2016.

The full list of albums and tracks certified in 2015 in Canada can be viewed here.

70 albums were certified Gold in Canada this year, 30 of which were released by Canadian artists (up from 20 in 2014). 31 albums were certified Platinum, 11 of which were by Canadian artists (up from 9 in 2014).

Justin Bieber had the highest certified Canadian album released in 2015 with his album Purpose earning a Double Platinum certification, as well as it’s accompanying singles “Sorry,” “What Do You Mean?” and “Where Are U Now?”
Canadian tracks released in 2015 also certified Double Platinum include The Weeknd‘s tracks “The Hills” and “Earned It,” as well as Shawn Mendes‘ “Life Of The Party.”

Bruce Cockburn‘s classic 1993 holiday album Christmas is the highest certified Canadian album in 2015, joining Taylor Swift‘s 1989 and Josh Groban‘s Noel as the year’s highest certified albums at 6X Platinum.

117 tracks were certified Gold in Canada this year, with 42 being Canadian artists (up from 21 in 2014). 19 Canadian tracks were among the 76 Platinum certifications, up from 10 in 2014.

The highest certification for a song in 2015 was Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” at 9x Platinum, while OneRepublic‘s “Counting Stars” was the second highest certified track at 8X Platinum. Ellie Goulding “Love Me Like You Do,” X Ambassadors “Renegades” and Wiz Khalifa “See You Again” (ft. Charlie Puth) hold the highest certifications for songs released in 2015 at Triple Platinum.

Some of 2015’s Canadian Gold/Platinum certified artists were presented with awards plaques and a collection of photos of these artists can be viewed below: