Get the Recognition You Deserve
Certification Process
The Music Recognition Association of America (MRAA) has established a prestigious certification system to honor and recognize achievements in the music industry. The levels of certification, ranging from Steel to Rhodium, set clear benchmarks for success and provide a structured way to celebrate the accomplishments of artists and their music. Here are the levels of MRAA certification:
1. Steel Certification:
- Threshold: 100,000 plays
- Description: Awarded to songs or albums that achieve substantial recognition, reaching a milestone of 100,000 plays across various platforms. This certification celebrates significant success and emerging popularity.
2. Bronze Certification:
- Threshold: 500,000 plays
- Description: Awarded to songs or albums that achieve notable success, reaching a milestone of 500,000 plays across various platforms. This certification acknowledges artists who have made a considerable impact and are gaining traction.
3. Gold Certification:
- Threshold: 1 million plays
- Description: Awarded to songs or albums that achieve widespread popularity, reaching a milestone of 1 million plays across various platforms. This certification signifies a high level of success and mainstream acceptance.
4. Palladium Certification:
- Threshold: 5 million plays
- Description: Awarded to songs or albums that achieve significant success, reaching a milestone of 5 million plays across various platforms. This certification recognizes exceptional performance and substantial impact.
5. Rhodium Certification:
- Threshold: 10 million plays
- Description: Awarded to songs or albums that achieve exceptional success, reaching a milestone of 10 million plays across various platforms. This highest level of certification celebrates extraordinary achievements and global influence in the music industry.
By setting these rigorous and transparent benchmarks, the MRAA provides a comprehensive framework for recognizing and celebrating the success of artists at various stages of their careers. Each certification level represents a significant achievement, motivating artists to strive for excellence and providing a prestigious mark of distinction in the music industry.
MRAA Certification Review Standards
At the Music Recognition Awards and Accolades Association of America (MRAA), our certification process is designed to help review, verify, and recognize measurable achievements across the modern music and entertainment industry.
MRAA understands that success today is not measured by one number alone. Artists, labels, influencers, brands, publishers, and entertainment professionals may build impact through many different channels, including physical sales, digital sales, streaming activity, DSP reports, radio activity, video views, social media numbers, fan engagement, public platform data, and other measurable records.
For that reason, all submitted numbers will be considered, vetted, and reviewed as part of the certification process. This may include numbers from digital media platforms, streaming services, DSPs, social media platforms, radio reports, sales records, distributor statements, public-facing analytics, ISRC metadata, UPC information, and other supporting documentation.
Purpose of the Review
The purpose of the MRAA certification review is to help determine whether the submitted numbers support the requested certification level. Each application is reviewed for accuracy, consistency, completeness, and credibility.
MRAA may compare submitted data against available records, platform evidence, public numbers, digital media activity, and other supporting materials. This process helps reduce the risk of false claims, inflated numbers, duplicate reporting, or incomplete submissions.
Numbers Considered in the Certification Process
MRAA may consider, review, and vet the following types of data:
Physical product sales
Digital music sales
Streaming totals
DSP reports and analytics
Radio plays and airplay activity
YouTube views and video activity
Social media views, likes, shares, comments, and engagement
Public fan numbers and audience reach
Distributor reports
Platform dashboards
ISRC and UPC metadata
Performance-rights documentation
Digital media activity
Brand, influencer, or campaign-related music impact
Other supporting records submitted for review
MRAA does not rely on one source alone. The strongest certification applications are supported by multiple records that help confirm the achievement.
United States and Global Activity
MRAA may review both United States activity and global activity, depending on the certification request, the type of award, and the information submitted.
Applicants should clearly identify where the activity occurred when possible, including domestic sales, global streams, digital downloads, radio activity, DSP activity, social media reach, or other public-facing numbers.
If a certification request is based on United States activity only, the applicant should provide records showing that the sales, streams, downloads, plays, or audience activity occurred within the United States or through eligible domestic channels.
If a certification request includes global numbers, the applicant should clearly separate global activity from United States activity when possible.
Sales and Streaming Eligibility
MRAA may consider both traditional and modern forms of music activity, including:
Physical albums and tracks
Digital albums and tracks
Streaming activity
On-demand platform plays
Radio activity
Video views
Digital media engagement
Public platform numbers
Verified campaign or promotional impact
Physical product sales may require additional review depending on release date, supporting records, and distribution information.
Digital music activity may be reviewed from the release date when proper documentation is available.
Pre-orders may be considered once the release is officially available and the customer has received access to the product.
Bundles and Product Packaging
MRAA may consider bundled music products when the submission clearly shows how the music was included, sold, delivered, or promoted.
Applicants should provide clear documentation for bundles involving merchandise, tickets, physical products, digital downloads, fan packages, or promotional offers. MRAA may request additional records to confirm that the music portion of the bundle has measurable value and was properly delivered or made available to the customer.
Catalog and Older Releases
Older releases may be eligible for certification when the applicant can provide reasonable supporting records. This may include sales records, royalty statements, distributor reports, platform data, public numbers, archive records, or other documentation that helps support the certification claim.
MRAA understands that older catalog releases may not always have the same type of digital documentation as modern releases. Each request may be reviewed based on the available evidence.
Promotional Copies, Free Goods, and Unsupported Claims
MRAA is focused on recognizing measurable achievement. Promotional copies, free goods, unsupported claims, unverifiable numbers, duplicated reports, or unclear submissions may not qualify unless additional documentation supports the certification request.
Applicants must submit honest, accurate, and complete information. MRAA reserves the right to request more documentation, deny a request, correct a record, suspend a certification, or revoke a certification if submitted information is found to be inaccurate, misleading, unverifiable, or inconsistent with MRAA standards.
Comprehensive Review
MRAA reviews certification requests using a broad and modern approach. Music success can come from many places: sales, streams, radio, DSPs, digital media, social platforms, fan engagement, video views, public reach, and cultural impact.
Every submitted number may be considered as part of the overall review. However, MRAA may determine how much weight each number carries based on the quality of the documentation, the source of the data, the consistency of the records, and the certification level being requested. The MRAA certification process is designed to recognize real achievement in today’s music industry. By reviewing all submitted numbers, vetting the supporting evidence, and considering activity across sales, streaming, DSPs, radio, digital media, and social platforms, MRAA provides a pathway for artists, labels, influencers, brands, and entertainment professionals to document their success and receive meaningful recognition.
MRAA’s goal is simple: to help ensure that certified achievements are supported by credible data, fair review, and professional recognition.
MRAA Criteria
Chose a Framer
Now that you have reviewed the MRAA certification criteria, you may choose how you want to display and celebrate your achievement.
Each award framework is unique, and certified members may have multiple ways to recognize their accomplishment, including plaques, trophies, framed displays, commemorative awards, and other presentation options. Whether you prefer a simple display or a premium custom piece, your certification can be honored in a way that fits your budget, brand, and personal style.
To explore available award options, please reach out to one of MRAA’s preferred certified framers or authorized award providers. These providers can explain their available designs, pricing, production process, shipping options, and customization choices.
Physical awards are optional and are handled directly by the selected framer or provider. MRAA certifies the achievement; the preferred framer helps you turn that achievement into something you can proudly display.
