One Direction, THE HUNGER GAMES and More Receive New RIAA Certifications

Three spring album releases certified Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold in just one month this April, according to the music group's newest monthly Gold & Platinum Program tally.

Syco Records band One Direction's "Up All Night," Mercury Nashville legend Lionel Richie's first record in five years "Tuskegee" and the Universal Republic soundtrack to film "The Hunger Games" each sold more than 500,000 copies to earn timely golden awards in April. One Direction also received their first Platinum download certification for "What Makes You Beautiful" surpassing one million downloads sold in the United States.

The RIAA awarded Brantley Gilbert his first Gold album award for "Halfway to Heaven" (Valory Music Co., 2011). "Country Must Be Country Wide" off of the record earned the Georgia singer-songwriter his debut Gold digital single cert in January.

Premiere digital song certifications reached rising stars Carly Rae Jepsen and Kip Moore in April. Canadian songstress Jepsen received both Gold AND Platinum honors for selling more than one million downloads of her first single "Call Me Maybe" (Interscope/Geffen/A&M) while country soloist Moore earned his first Gold for "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" (MCA Nashville).

Grammy award-winning album "Brothers" by The Black Keys secured April's (and the band's) highest album award: a Platinum plaque denoting more than one million records sold. The Ohio rock duo's newest album "El Camino" is currently RIAA certified Gold.

Uncle and nephew musical duo LMFAO heated up April's G&P count, receiving the month's highest digital song award: a 6x multi-Platinum cert for selling more than six million downloads of "Party Rock Anthem" (Interscope/Geffen/A&M, 2011). 6x multi-Platinum is the highest digital single certification the RIAA has ever awarded, and just five other bands have earned it in G&P Program history: Adele, Flo Rida, Jason Mraz, Lady Gaga and The Black Eyed Peas. Additional kudos to LMFAO for earning a 2x multi-Platinum award for rocking single "Shots" (2011).

Also earning high download ranks were Rihanna, who received a 4x multi-Platinum award for "We Found Love," Fun. for certifying "We Are Young" 3x multi-Platinum, plus Selena Gomez & The Scene, Bruno Mars and Carrie Underwood who each earned 2x multi-Platinum certs for their respective singles "Love You Like A Love Song," "It Will Rain" and "Jesus Take The Wheel."

Carrie Underwood fans are good by her new single "Good Girl," which earned the 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville singer her 13th career Gold digital single award. Congrats to Carrie for earning the Gold in time for the release of her fourth studio album "Blown Away" on May 1.

Keeping the good news coming – the success of B.o.B.'s new single "So Good" earned the rapper his second RIAA Gold download award in just two months this April. The song hails from B.o.B.'s second studio album "Strange Clouds," released on Atlantic records in May.

In April the RIAA awarded a total of five albums, 37 digital singles and seven video certifications. All certifications are calculated by Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman. Complete lists of all album, single, mastertone and video awards can also be accessed at www.riaa.com.

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