Jamaican independent artists, such as Spice and Vybz Kartel, as well as record labels and the wider global music fraternity, plying their trade in the U.S. market, stand to benefit from a groundbreaking new initiative designed to spotlight the true achievements of the indie music sector. In a landmark move set to redefine how independent music success is recognised, Luminate and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) have partnered to launch a certification program that specifically celebrates independent album sales.
This fresh certification system introduces accessible and meaningful milestones that reflect the realities of the indie marketplace. Albums that sell 50,000 units will receive a One Star certification, 100,000 units earn Two Stars, and the highest honour—Three Stars—is reserved for those surpassing 300,000 sales. “This certification was created to recognize real achievement on terms that truly reflect how the independent sector operates,” explained Dr. Richard James Burgess, CEO of A2IM, highlighting the program’s intention to celebrate indie success on its own scale—not one borrowed from the major-label-dominated system.
While the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) maintains towering benchmarks—Gold at 500,000 units, Platinum at 1 million, and Diamond at 10 million—A2IM’s system acknowledges that many independent releases thrive without ever hitting such lofty numbers. Luminate CEO Rob Jonas emphasized this point, noting, “Our collaboration with A2IM on this new certification process aims to highlight and celebrate the independent artists whose music is truly resonating.”
The inaugural group of certified albums spans a diverse and respected range of indie talent. Thundercat’s Drunk, Jamie xx’s In Colour, and John Prine’s The Tree of Forgiveness earned the prestigious Three Star status, while Cavetown’s Lemon Boy and Muna’s self-titled project secured Two Stars. One Star nods went to standout works like Deafheaven’s Sunbather and Gregory Porter’s Be Good. As Burgess firmly stated in a recent Billboard interview, “There is an idea out there that I’ve tried to bat down during my time as A2IM CEO — the idea is that independent is small. It never has [been].”
