Update: A Monday afternoon update to the RIAA website confirmed that Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” had attained 5x platinum status in the United States. The update has since been removed.
It is unclear whether the initial announcement was in error — or if the RIAA is planning to reconfirm the news at a later date. It is worth noting that the website seemed to be have various glitches Monday.
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This Wednesday, the world will learn whether Ariana Grande’s single “thank u, next” scored nominations for the 2020 Grammy Awards.
Its status as a smash hit, on the other hand, is already formally documented. A former #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, “thank u, next” is officially 5x platinum in the United States as of November 15, 2019.
Issued by the RIAA, the certification confirms 5 million in US units. Each unit is equal to 1 paid download or 150 streams.
“thank u, next” follows the 6x-platinum collaborations “Bang Bang” and “Problem” as Grande’s third-most-certified song in the US.
Not simply a smash in the United States, “thank u, next” enjoyed immense success in numerous global markets. It hit #1 in nations like the United Kingdom and Australia.
