What is the status of Elvis record sales and gold & platinum record award certifications?
It is estimated that Elvis has sold over one billion records worldwide, more than anyone else in the history of the record business. It is estimated that 60% of these sales have been in the United States and 40% in other countries. Not all of Elvis’ record sales have been documented, so the one-billion figure is a good faith estimate among the Elvis-knowledgeable. Not all of Elvis’ record sales have been recognized with gold or platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) or by the appropriate bodies in foreign countries. Still, Elvis has more RIAA certifications than anyone else and his international success is generally regarded as astounding. The subject of record sales and gold/platinum awards is endlessly complex. Here, we attempt to give a basic explanation to respond to the constant flow of inquiries we get about this topic.
