Recording industry trade organization RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) released its final numbers for 2016—and eight country singles released in 2016 earned gold (500,000 units), platinum (1 million) or double-platinum (2 million) designations for their sales. Interestingly enough, the eight songs came from just six artists/duos: Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Cole Swindell and Jake Owen.
Florida Georgia Line’s “H.O.L.Y” was the only country song of 2016 to earn double-platinum certification.
Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton were the two artists who each had two entries on the list. Dierks’ “Somewhere on a Beach” was designated platinum while his duo with Elle King, “Different for Girls,” earned gold status. Blake’s “She’s Got a Way With Words” and “Came Here to Forget” were both designated gold.
Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here” was one of three country songs in 2016 to be certified platinum or double-platinum.
Rounding out the list were Dan + Shay’s “From the Ground Up” and Jake Owen’s “American Country Love Song,” which both earned gold designations.
RIAA Double-Platinum Single of 2016
“H.O.L.Y” – Florida Georgia Line
RIAA Platinum Singles of 2016
“You Should Be Here” – Cole Swindell
“Somewhere On a Beach” – Dierks Bentley
RIAA Gold Singles of 2016
“She’s Got a Way With Words” – Blake Shelton
“Came Here to Forget” – Blake Shelton
“Different for Girls” – Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
“From the Ground Up” – Dan + Shay
“American Country Love Song” – Jake Owen
