Articles — artist-presented record awards

In the music industry, record awards have been a barometer of success and a tangible symbol of achievement since they were introduced in the mid-50s. But do they mean much to the artists themselves? Most artists, even very accomplished ones, express appreciation for awards since they know they are a reflection of their fans buying and enjoying their music. As a result record awards continue to hold powerful meaning. Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum certifications—presented by organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and similar bodies worldwide—remain tangible symbols of commercial achievement. For many music artists, these plaques...

Note: This article has been updated to indicate sold items as of 10-1-25  MusicGoldmine recently acquired a stellar collection of rare RIAA "white matte" record awards. For those not familiar, this type of RIAA awards are the rarest and most valuable of all RIAA awards. They were made from 1964 through 1974 in quite limited numbers for each title by only one company, the New York Frame & Picture Co. Also worth noting is that artist-presented awards are always the most valuable*, when they are genuine. Fortunately, all of these awards are genuine. If you'd like to know how we...