BPI LAUNCHES BRIT BILLION

British trade body the BPI will launch a BRIT Billion award in 2023, celebrating artists whose recorded music surpasses 1b U.K. streams. The award expands upon its platinum, gold and silver certifications.

Winners will be verified using Official Charts data. The 1b total will include tracks an artist has appeared on either as the principal performer or featured artist. The first wave of recipients is set to be announced this spring.

BRIT Billion will also mark 50 years of the BPI and its certification program. This will be the first time the certification scheme recognizes an artist’s success across multiple projects.

"With total weekly audio streams in the U.K. now regularly exceeding the 3b mark, it seems an appropriate moment to recognize exceptional artist achievement through streaming as the primary currency for recorded music,” said Geoff Taylor, outgoing chief executive of the BPI, BRIT Awards & Mercury Prize.