You won’t find these definitions in Webster’s.
Refining the definitions and terms of record award collecting is something Honor Music Awards has been doing in our Glossary. Over the past few months there have been some updates which I wanted to share.
Please contact me with your thoughts and ideas on this language of record awards…
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Record Awards – Gold and platinum plaques that are made to celebrate artists and music.
Authentic awards – Awards that are called for by labels and management to give to someone, or some organization, that has participated in the successful creation and sale of music. In recent years, awards may not be given, but instead purchased by authorized individuals.
Certified awards – Awards whose sales have been certified by a country’s recording association. In the United States, the association is the RIAA. An award that is not certified can none the less be Authentic, but it would be called an In House award.
- RIAA awards – Awards with unit sales certified by the Recording Industry Association of America at levels of gold, platinum, and multi-platinum. Since 1958 RIAA awards have had a variety of formats and logo styles, each distinctly different.
- RIAA Types of Presentation
- First Presentation — Award correct in parts and format for the date of RIAA certification. You would expect an award manufactured in 1974, to have the 1974 label, components, and construction typical of the period.
- Second, Third, Fourth, etc. Presentations — Awards for the same album, in a later, and therefor different RIAA format (not that of the original date of certification). Example
- RIAA States of Condition
- First-State – Awards that are completely original including backing paper (which may be torn).
- Second-State — Awards that have had the backing paper replaced, and those that have been repaired with First-State components.
- Third-State — Awards that have been made, changed, or repaired, with parts not Authentic to format date. Sometimes called Frankensteins.
In-House Awards – Any Authentic award that is not an RIAA award is considered and In House. Labels had them made them for convenience, to get a particular look or cost savings. These awards will likely have a label logo on the presentation plate instead of an RIAA logo. Example
Display and Souvenir Awards – Made for sale to satisfy the collector or fan market. These awards are less valuable than Authentic awards.
Fake Awards – Frankensteins, and especially those made to fool someone and gain the higher value of Authentic awards. These are not worthless, and may be valued like display or souvenir awards, but in any event much less than their Authentic counterparts. The best way to spot fakes is to know what Authentic awards look like.
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