Clearing Nina’s ‘Diamond’ of impurities

[nina_ricci]

By PUNCH LIWANAGOctober 21, 2009, 1:23pm


Several people have asked if Soul Siren Nina actually deserves the Diamond Record Award she recently received for her album “Nina Live!”

The question was raised vis-à-vis Jose Mari Chan and Eraserheads who both were given the same citation years ago.

Here, Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online retraces the changes in criteria used in bestowing a Diamond Record Award:

A Diamond Record Award is given to an artist whose album has surpassed the 10x Platinum mark.

Released in early 2005 when a Platinum Record Award was put at 30,000 units sold, “Nina Live!” under Warner Music Philippines was awarded 5x Platinum by yearsend having sold 150,000 units.

In November 2008, the Philippine Association of the Recording Industry (PARI) lowered the number of units required for a Gold Record Award from 15,000 to 12,500, and a Platinum Record Award from 30,000 to 25,000.

When that new rule was set, “Nina Live!” had already sold around 200,000 units---or 8x Platinum.

On April 1, 2009, in response to the fast declining physical sales of CDs due to piracy and illegal downloading of music, as well as the need to recognize the efforts and craft of OPM and foreign artists, PARI once again changed the gauge for Gold Record and Platinum Record awards.

That is, any album that has sold 10,000 units will get a Gold Record award. Albums that have sold at least 20,000 copies get a Platinum Record Award.

And because of this, “Nina Live!” which has already moved more than 220,000 units at that point, was given the Diamond Record Award.

Although it is true that the number of units sold by “Nina Live!” is smaller compared to the number of units sold by the Diamond Record albums of Jose Mari Chan and Eraserheads, Warner Music Philippines still saw it fit to measure and recognize the achievement of that Soul Siren’s album using the latest PARI guidelines.

“Nina Live!” has sold 220,000 units. A Platinum Award nowadays is given to an album that has sold at least 20,000 copies. A Diamond Record Award is 10x Platinum.

“Nina Live!” receiving a Diamond Record Award is supported by solid math.

When Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online called PARI to inquire on the accuracy of these figures, they said, “We always require record labels to present us with a certificate of their CD replication every time they see the need to award their artists with Gold or Platinum.”

Asked about Nina’s latest award, the PARI representative simply said, “That’s the prevailing guideline (referring to the 20,000 units per platinum).”

Does it mean then that an artist like Aiza Seguerra, who in 2001 garnered an impressive Quintuple (five-times) Platinum award, at 40,000 units per,  can do a recount and now claim it has also reached Diamond Record status?

“Hypothetically? That is possible.”

[sijiro_05]

very well-said.
o ayan if other artists deserve a diamond record award it's up to their record labels to award them.
it just so happened that warner really wants to recognize the soul siren's extraordinary achievement in this age of tantamount music piracy. moreover, this is an additional boost to the company's marketing strategies.
good for nina because warner really manages her well. and in that with or without an award nina has already found a gem more so, a diamond in the arms of her loyal & trusted supporters & in her record label.

[Cassie]

Nina deserves that awards because up to now, bumebenta pa rin yung Nina Live album kahit 2005 pa na-release yung album. Although Sarah G. and Aiza S. was able to achieve the same figure with more than 200,000 copies sold, mas matagal na yung release date nang mga albums nila.

Sarah Geronimo's Popstar album, was released 2003 and Aiza Seguerra's Pagdating ng Panahon album was released 2001. Both were awarded 7x platinum.

Bumababa ang bilang ng album sales for the past few years. As far as I know, before 40,000 ang platinum at 20,000 ang gold. Then bumaba sa 30,000 for platinum and 15,000 for gold. At ngayon, 20,000 for platinum and 10,000 for gold. Sad to say na dahil yan sa technology of Piracy and downloading the songs sa net.

I hope we understand na before, may mga cassette tapes pa. Mas mura. Compare sa mgs CD's kaya mataas pa ang standard ng number of sales when it comes to awarding before. But now na CD's na lang ang meron sa market, isabay mo pa ang ang piracy and net download, mahirap nang makabenta. Lucky for Nina, all of her albums ay bumebenta.

I just hope na matutong mag-appreciate ang ibang fans diyan sa mga other artists aside from their idols. Hindi porke hindi nagbigyan ng award ang idol mo eh failure yun sa career nila.