Can somebody explain to me
 

why not all records that sell over a million are certified platinum/double platinum etc?

For example Gotye - Somebody I used to know sold over 1.5 million yet it was never certified, whereas something like Aviici's Levels never sold over a million but has been certified platinum?


I never get how this works.

We ship platinum, them bitches is shippin' wood

Because STIUTK sucked

Labels have to apply for certification and it just isn't a big deal of some of them

Yeah and I think they only do certifications every so often in a big batch, rather than it being done as and when records reach certain levels, because I assume people have to research how many copies have been sold and then it's done in some sort of minor award ceremony fashion? Not too sure but I'm pretty sure you have to apply and it must cost a lot.