Is the RIAA up to date on VH album sales?

Badabing · 11.23.02, 06:53 PM

Man, I been visiting the RIAA site for the last like 5 years and it seems like VH has been stuck at 51 Million album sales in the U.S.!!
Now that sure is a nice place to be stuck at, lol, but seriously, why hasnt that number gone up? Didnt VH1 & 1984 both achieve Diamond around 1999? Right there that shoulda added a few million to the total..
Plus I figure other albums had to go up sales wise as well...
I have heard all kinds of theories.. Warner Bros. hasnt sent albums for re-certification, whatever that means... Things like that..
According to the chief over at the Official VH site, he says VH is up to around 60+ Million in the U.S. . But how can he know this and the RIAA not acknowledge it and update the list? I dont know how he got that figure, but I dont find it hard to believe at all. I just dont understand why for the last 5 years VH's numbers havent been updated?

Goo · 11.23.02, 07:12 PM

I belive the individual record co's have to apply for gold/platinum certifications. It's possible they have to confirm or supply sales data too, and WB simply havn't bothered.

Daved Mikalex · 11.23.02, 07:12 PM

Their web-site is in dissarray at the moment,
thats for sure. How accurate or up to date they are, Im unsure. One thing I have noticed over the last five years is that the original Van Halen albums have actually outsold the other versions of VH. If RIAA had accurate data, it will most likely show that the original Van Halen has sold close to 3-1 over Van Hagar. When Sammy was actually in the Band, the ratio was over 2-1 in favor of the original Van Halen. It has been steadily growing in favor of the original band ever since. It would appear the Van Hagar albums dont have the same longevity that Van Halen did.
Read whatever you like into that...

I would welcome some new and up to date figures from RIAA..

Daved Mikalex · 11.23.02, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Goo:
I belive the individual record co's have to apply for gold/platinum certifications. It's possible they have to confirm or supply sales data too, and WB simply havn't bothered.

Yeah, I think you are right, since WB and VH parted company I dont think there has been an update on the sales figures.

Chronarius · 11.23.02, 07:20 PM

Yeah I noticed on the Official VH Site that if you look at the number of sales for some of the albums, you'll see that the number of millions doesn't match with the number of times platinum. For example, Women and Children first was certified 3x platinum around 1994, but the album itself has sold more than 4.3 million copies. I think my total of actual sales came to about 61 million.

Badabing · 11.23.02, 07:32 PM

See, thats what I mean.
Women and Children First is a great example. According the the Official VH site it has sold 4.3 Million in the U.S.. But according to RIAA, it has only been certified 3x platinum?
This occurs with several albums. I have heard from different sources that VH is up to 60 Million sales in the U.S.
And while I have no beef with Sammy, I always did dislike how he ran his mouth claiming VH sold like 40 Million albums while he was at the helm.. Its' like yea dude, but over half of those sales where from the Dave era!! lol..
Dont try to take credit for those.. I appreciatte Sam and what he did, truly. Hey, 4 straight no. 1 studio albums is nothing to sneeze at. Hell, that ties Led Zeppelin! And they all went multi-platinum. Very sweet indeed.. But the funny thing is Sam counts the sales of the Dave era albums as his?!?! Almost as funny as Dave acting like VH sank after he left. Sure, real VH is old school VH. Duh... But what they did with Sam, like it or not, was most impressive.

Glenn · 11.23.02, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Daved Mikalex:
One thing I have noticed over the last five years is that the original Van Halen albums have actually outsold the other versions of VH. If RIAA had accurate data, it will most likely show that the original Van Halen has sold close to 3-1 over Van Hagar. When Sammy was actually in the Band, the ratio was over 2-1 in favor of the original Van Halen. It has been steadily growing in favor of the original band ever since.

What's your source for this information?

Daved Mikalex · 11.23.02, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Glenn:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Daved Mikalex:
One thing I have noticed over the last five years is that the original Van Halen albums have actually outsold the other versions of VH. If RIAA had accurate data, it will most likely show that the original Van Halen has sold close to 3-1 over Van Hagar. When Sammy was actually in the Band, the ratio was over 2-1 in favor of the original Van Halen. It has been steadily growing in favor of the original band ever since.

What's your source for this information?[/QUOTE]Observation of the sales figures from various sources. Actually I was hoping to post an up to date listing from RIAA in another thread, but their website is all fucked up. I do have another source but they are reliant on WB releasing certain information. (Its a record company if you need to know)

twonabomber · 11.23.02, 07:57 PM

the RIAA is too busy whining about file sharing to update their website...

Glenn · 11.23.02, 08:03 PM

Daved, if you get ahold of the information that proves your 2:1 and 3:1 ratios, I'd love to read it.

Daved Mikalex · 11.23.02, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Glenn:
Daved, if you get ahold of the information that proves your 2:1 and 3:1 ratios, I'd love to read it.

Actually the 2-1 ratio is available now, in the public domain. But these figures are a little dated. I will post any updated figures I come across.

Glenn · 11.23.02, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Daved Mikalex:
Actually the 2-1 ratio is available now, in the public domain. But these figures are a little dated.

It shows the figures for the specific period of 1986 to 1996? What are they for each record during that time period?

Daved Mikalex · 11.23.02, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Glenn:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Daved Mikalex:
Actually the 2-1 ratio is available now, in the public domain. But these figures are a little dated.

It shows the figures for the specific period of 1986 to 1996? What are they for each record during that time period?[/QUOTE](Is that from RIAA ?)

You have to search for gold and platinum releases, from here you will get a numeric figure which represents how many millions of units were sold. ie 2.0 would be 2 million.

As I said, the figures are like five years old but do you give you a rough idea.

Daved Mikalex · 11.23.02, 09:03 PM

Heres one dated public domain listing. I havent bothered to add it all up, as its always in Van Halen's favor. Intersting list from the Solo albums viewpoint.

SAMMYS:
HAGAR, SAMMY SAMMY HAGAR 09/15/87 GEFFEN Gold ALBUM SOLO MALE
HAGAR, SAMMY STANDING HAMPTON 01/28/83 GEFFEN Gold ALBUM SOLO MALE
HAGAR, SAMMY STANDING HAMPTON 04/03/92 GEFFEN Platinum ALBUM SOLOMALE

HAGAR, SAMMY THREE LOCK BOX 05/25/83 GEFFEN Gold ALBUM SOLO MALE
HAGAR, SAMMY UNBOXED 09/21/95 GEFFEN Gold ALBUM SOLO MALE
HAGAR, SAMMY VOA 11/13/84 GEFFEN Gold ALBUM SOLO MALE
HAGAR, SAMMY VOA 11/19/85 GEFFEN Platinum ALBUM SOLO MALE

DLR:
ROTH, DAVID LEE A LITTLE AIN'T ENOUGH 04/11/91 WARNER BROS. Gold
ALBUM SOLO MALE
ROTH, DAVID LEE CRAZY FROM THE HEAT 04/02/85 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM
SOLO MALE
ROTH, DAVID LEE CRAZY FROM THE HEAT 06/11/85 WARNER BROS. Platinum
ALBUM SOLO MALE
ROTH, DAVID LEE DAVID LEE ROTH 12/22/86 WARNER HOME VIDEO Gold VIDEO
SOLO MALE
ROTH, DAVID LEE DAVID LEE ROTH 07/18/90 WARNER HOME VIDEO Platinum
VIDEO SOLO MALE
ROTH, DAVID LEE EAT 'EM AND SMILE 09/09/86 WARNER BROS. Platinum
ALBUM SOLO MALE
ROTH, DAVID LEE EAT 'EM AND SMILE 09/09/86 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM
SOLO MALE
ROTH, DAVID LEE SKYSCRAPPER 03/29/88 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM
SOLO MALE
ROTH, DAVID LEE SKYSCRAPPER 03/29/88 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM SOLO
MALE

EXTREME:
EXTREME II III SIDES TO EVERY STORY 12/04/92 A&M Gold ALBUM DUO
EXTREME II MORE THAN WORDS 05/17/91 A&M Gold SINGLE DUO
EXTREME II PHOTOGRAFFITTI 12/13/91 FUNKY METAL PRODUCTIONS Gold
VIDEO DUO
EXTREME II PORNOGRAFFITTI 05/17/91 A&M Gold ALBUM DUO
EXTREME II PORNOGRAFFITTI 06/18/91 A&M Platinum ALBUM DUO
EXTREME II PORNOGRAFFITTI 10/26/92 A&M Multi Platinum 2.00 ALBUM DUO

VAN HALEN (the mighty VH):
VAN HALEN 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) 03/12/84 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) 03/12/84 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) 10/22/84 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 4.00
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) 01/23/85 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 5.00
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) 07/01/87 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 6.00
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) 07/11/94 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 7.00
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) 08/08/96 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 9.00
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) 02/08/99 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 10.00
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 5150 05/28/86 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 5150 05/28/86 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 2.00 ALBUM GROUP

VAN HALEN 5150 05/28/86 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN 5150 10/10/86 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 3.00 ALBUM GROUP

VAN HALEN 5150 01/18/89 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 4.00 ALBUM GROUP

VAN HALEN 5150 08/17/94 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 5.00 ALBUM GROUP

VAN HALEN BALANCE 03/29/95 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN BALANCE 03/29/95 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 2.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN BALANCE 03/29/95 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN BEST OF, VOLUME I 05/01/97 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP

VAN HALEN BEST OF, VOLUME I 05/01/97 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN BEST OF, VOLUME I 05/21/98 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 2.00
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN DIVER DOWN 06/30/82 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN DIVER DOWN 06/30/82 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN DIVER DOWN 10/22/84 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 2.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN DIVER DOWN 02/22/89 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 3.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN DIVER DOWN 05/21/98 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 4.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN FAIR WARNING 07/07/81 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN FAIR WARNING 11/18/81 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN FAIR WARNING 08/04/94 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 2.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE 08/22/91 WARNER BROS. Platinum
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE 08/22/91 WARNER BROS. Gold
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE 11/08/91 WARNER BROS. Multi
Platinum 2.00 ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE 08/17/94 WARNER BROS. Multi
Platinum 3.00 ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN JUMP 04/03/84 WARNER BROS. Gold SINGLE GROUP
VAN HALEN LIVE WITHOUT A NET 12/22/86 WARNER HOME VIDEO Gold VIDEO
GROUP
VAN HALEN LIVE WITHOUT A NET 02/25/87 WARNER HOME VIDEO Platinum
VIDEO GROUP
VAN HALEN LIVE WITHOUT A NET 01/23/90 WARNER HOME VIDEO Multi Platinum
1.00 VIDEO GROUP
VAN HALEN LIVE: RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW 05/04/93 WARNER HOME VIDEO Gold
VIDEO GROUP
VAN HALEN OU812 07/26/88 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN OU812 07/26/88 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN OU812 07/26/88 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 2.00 ALBUM GROUP

VAN HALEN OU812 01/18/89 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 3.00 ALBUM GROUP

VAN HALEN RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW 05/04/93 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW 05/04/93 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW 09/20/93 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum
2.00 ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 05/24/78 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 10/10/78 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 10/22/84 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 5.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 02/01/89 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 6.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 09/29/93 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 7.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 07/11/94 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 8.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 08/07/96 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 10.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN II 04/03/79 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN II 05/08/79 WARNER BROS. Platinum ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN II 10/22/84 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 3.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN II 07/05/90 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum 4.00 ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN VAN HALEN III 08/19/98 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN VIDEO HITS VOLUME I 02/14/97 WARNER HOME VIDEO Gold VIDEO
GROUP
VAN HALEN WOMEN & CHILDREN FIRST 05/29/80 WARNER BROS. Gold ALBUM
GROUP
VAN HALEN WOMEN & CHILDREN FIRST 06/02/80 WARNER BROS. Platinum
ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN WOMEN & CHILDREN FIRST 10/22/84 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum
2.00 ALBUM GROUP
VAN HALEN WOMEN & CHILDREN FIRST 08/04/94 WARNER BROS. Multi Platinum
3.00 ALBUM GROUP

Glenn · 11.23.02, 09:06 PM

According to VH.com, with just the certified numbers at the bottom of the descriptions, VH with Sammy sold 15 million records in the timeframe that Sammy was in the band. It's vague of course, it last shows OU812 being certified in 1989.

So you're suggesting VH with Dave sold 30 million records between 1986 and 1996?