NMPA Announces Top Gold & Platinum Songwriters for January & February 2016

April 1, 2016


NMPA Honors Songwriters of RIAA-Certified Gold, Platinum & Multi-platinum Singles

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NMPA today announced the top 221 songwriters and 290 certifications of this winter’s most popular songs as part of its G&P Program which identifies and honors the songwriters of RIAA-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum singles.

“The songs we know by heart aren't always written by the artists we see. They are the work of brilliant writers who pen the notes and lyrics we love,” said NMPA President & CEO David Israelite. “NMPA’s Gold & Platinum Program celebrates these talented songwriters and reminds us that great music is a team effort.”

In partnership with The Recording Industry Association of America’s Gold & Platinum Program, NMPA finds and certifies the songwriters of RIAA-certified singles. RIAA counts both sales and on-demand streams towards its gold (500K), platinum (1M) and multi-platinum (2M+) thresholds. Thousands of songwriters have been recognized since NMPA’s program began in 2007.

The top songwriter is:

Lady Gaga is the songwriter behind 10 of 2016’s most popular songs including multi-platinum certifications Alejandro; Born This Way; Edge of Glory; Judas; Love Game; Paparazzi; Telephone; You and I; gold certified Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say); and Beautiful, Dirty, Rich.

The other top songwriters include:

4 G&P Certifications:
Rodney Clawson: Burnin’ it down (Jason Aldean); Sippin’ on Fire (Florida Georgia Line); Southern Girl (Tim McGraw); Where I come from (Montgomery Gentry)
Justin Bieber: Sorry; Love Yourself; What do you mean; I’ll show you (Justin Bieber)
The Weeknd: Love Me Harder; (Ariana Grande); Can’t Feel My Face; The Hills; Earned It (The Weeknd)
Savan Kotecha: Can’t Feel My Face; (The Weeknd); Focus (Ariana Grande); Love Me Harder (Ariana Grande); Somebody to You (The Vamps)

3 G&P Certifications:
Max Martin: Can’t Feel my face (The Weeknd); Focus (Ariana Grande); Love Me Harder (Ariana Grande)
Peter Svensson: Can’t Feel My Face (The Weeknd); Focus (Ariana Grande); Love Me Harder (Ariana Grande)
Ed Sheeran: Photograph; Thinking Out Loud; Love Yourself (Justin Bieber)
Nadir Khayat: Alejandro (Lady Gaga); Judas (Lady Gaga); Love Game (Lady Gaga)

The top publishers honored are:

SONY/ATV Music Publishing: 86 certifications 
Gold: 29
Platinum: 21
Multi-Platinum: 36

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG): 49 certifications 
Gold: 15
Platinum: 15
Multi-Platinum: 19

Warner/Chappell Music: 46 certifications
Gold: 13
Platinum: 12
Multi-platinum: 21

Kobalt Music: 31 certifications
Gold: 12
Platinum: 9
Multi-Platinum: 10

BMG: 23 certifications
Gold:15
Platinum: 5
Multi-Platinum: 3

Round Hill Music: 10
SONGS Music Publishing: 10
Pulse Music Management: 10
Reservoir Media Management: 5
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.: 5

Imagem: 4
Bluewater Music: 4
Spirit Music Group: 3
The Administration MP: 2
Disney Music Publishing: 1
Clearbox Rights: 1
Ole: 1
Peer Music: 1
Big Deal Music: 1
Black River Entertainment: 1

For more information about the songwriters and songs certified or to order a plaque please contact Charlotte Sellmyer at CSellmyer@nmpa.org.

About the NMPA G&P Program:
NMPA’s Gold & Platinum Program identifies and honors the songwriters behind today’s biggest hits. NMPA confirms songwriters with their music publishers to ensure all appropriate songwriters are recognized for their contribution to an RIAA certified single. Certifications count both sales and on-demand streams towards gold (500K), platinum (1M) and multi-platinum (2M+) thresholds. Thousands of songwriters have been certified since NMPA’s program began in 2007. For more information visit www.nmpa.org/gp-program.

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