User:Kiac/Tables

The Beatles
Notes


 * Certification systems have been established periodically throughout the past half century, thus databases are not able to cover all sales. Some (or all) records released and sold prior to the certification system's establishment year may not be accurately published within the relevant searchable certification database. Year of establishment:
 * 1968: France
 * 1973: United Kingdom (also note, the UK's database system has recently gone through an update; therefore, it may take some time for previously published certifications to re-appear)
 * 1975: Germany, Canada
 * 1980: Argentina
 * 1987: Sweden (published at end of each year)
 * 1989: Switzerland
 * 1990: Brazil, Austria
 * 1997: Australia (ARIA began publishing certifications in 1997, however there is evidence of earlier certifications)
 * Note that the certified-sales-figures will be periodically updated as some records have yet to reach a level of either the gold or the platinum awards, and some records have yet to reach a multi-platinum status. Note that we are to post certified sales of those markets, the databases of which contain a total figures of over 300,000.


 * Certification numbers might overstate sales if stores order more albums than they are able to sell, due to certifications generally being determined by shipments, not actual sales. Record labels must also pay a fee; therefore, they may not always apply for a certification each time a record reaches an accredited status, meaning certifications might not be visible in the databases for more than a short period of time after an album is released.


 * Modern sales recording began in the US in 1991, when retailers began transmitting sales reports electronically to Nielsen SoundScan. Before then, Billboard's charts relied on rankings rather than absolute sales figures from record stores. SoundScan now covers about 95% of music sales in the US.


 * It should be noted that a large percentage of music markets experienced a decline in sales due to music piracy which began in 1999-2000, consequently associations in the likes of Argentina, Brazil, Finland, Germany and Switzerland opted to reduce their certification volumes.


 * A report in 2009 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry revealed that 95% of music downloads are done illegally. Illegal downloads are obviously not included in the certifications and figures of artist's sales.