IFPI Platinum Europe Awards - January & February 2006

March 10, 2006

The start of 2006 sees five albums gain their first Platinum Europe Award for sales of over one million copies in Europe, and a total of eight international artists gaining certification.

Fuelled by the runaway success in 2005 of American Idiot, Green Day's 2001 release International Superhits sells its first million in Europe. It is the band's first greatest hits album, containing tracks from 1994 to 2001 from the Grammy Award winning Californian pop-punk band. Penned predominantly by the group's front man Billie Joe Armstrong, the album has sold across 19 European countries.

Jack Johnson's third studio album In Between Dreams secures the first Platinum Award for the artist. The 30-year-old from Hawaii was a professional surfer before turning to surf film-making and then music. The singer-songwriter recently won Best International Newcomer at the 2006 Brit awards, and is currently on a sell-out European tour.

French singer Raphael also achieves his first PEA for his album Caravane. This is the third album release from the singer-songwriter who has just won Male Artist of the Year at the French 'Victoires de la Musique' award ceremony. Born in Paris to a Russian father and Argentinean mother, Raphael's work illustrates a broad mixture of musical influences, and the album has gone three times platinum in France.

Sugababes achieve the first Platinum Award for their fourth album Taller in More Ways. Following the album's October 2005 release, co-founding member Mutya Buena left the group shortly after in December. She was replaced by new find Amelle Berrabah, who joins Keisha and Heidi in one of the UK's most successful girl bands. Previously, the three-piece had topped charts worldwide and had four UK No.1's since forming in 1998, including the first hit single from this album, Push the Button.

The Pussycat Dolls have also crossed the million mark in Europe with sales of their debut title PCD. The all-girl group, previously a dance troupe based in L.A. and Las Vegas, was formed in 1995 but did not release an album until September 2005. Since then they have enjoyed global success with the single Don't Cha (featuring Busta Rhymes), which scooped a Billboard Music Award last year. The band have also revealed they are to tour with the Black Eyed Peas, whose member Will.I.Am features on the girls' latest single Beep.

Gorillaz' second studio album Demon Days mirrors their eponymous debut by going double-platinum. The May 2005 release includes hit singles Feel Good Inc, Dare and Dirty Harry, and features an impressive and eclectic list of collaborators including De La Soul, Shaun Ryder, Ike Turner, Dennis Hopper, MF Doom and the London Community Gospel Choir. The virtual group made up of Noodle, 2D, Murdoc and Russel, recently performed at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards and the 2006 Grammys - 3D animation was used to project the band onto the stage.

Coldplay's global No.1 album of 2005, X&Y, picks up its fourth PEA for four million European sales. This album won the group the Best Album award at the 2006 Brits, whilst the first single from the album - Speed of Sound - took Best Song. This is the third studio album from the British group, which has gone eight times platinum in the UK alone.

Robbie Williams scoops another multi-platinum award - a fifth for his 2004 Greatest Hits album. This has now sold in excess of five million copies across 19 European countries, going multi-platinum in 12. The title has gone six times platinum in Ireland and Williams' native UK, plus five times platinum in Germany and Italy, cementing the artist's huge popularity across the continent.

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