In a world where music streams and downloads have become the gold standard, Post Malone and Swae Lee have achieved the music industry’s equivalent of winning a Championship, Grand Slam, and World Series, all rolled into one by breaking a record so hard, a whole new record had to be invented.
Their track “Sunflower” from the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack has soared to unprecedented heights to become the first single ever to be certified Double-Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). That’s 20 million units moved, folks. In the US alone. Let that sink in.
For many who may not understand the impact of this achievement, the question on their minds is: What does it take for a song to reach this mythical status? Well, it’s not just about having catchy hooks or a groove that makes you hit the repeat button endlessly (though “Sunflower” has both in spades).
It’s about creating something that transcends the boundaries of traditional music consumption, becoming a cultural touchstone that resonates with multiple millions of listeners. According to the RIAA, hitting 20 million units means a combination of downloads and on-demand streams, with each download and every 150 streams counting as one unit towards this monumental achievement.
What “Sunflower” has undoubtedly accomplished is showing what’s possible when creative partnerships and infectious collaborations collide. RIAA Chairman Mitch Glazier didn’t mince words when he celebrated the track’s unprecedented success, heralding it as a groundbreaking moment for the industry.
Post Malone will likely celebrate this achievement more than his musical counterpart, Swae Lee. The 28-year-old rapper has been stacking up Diamond-certified singles like they’re going out of style, holding the crown for the most RIAA Diamond-certified singles of any artist.
With “Sunflower” now shining brightly atop his collection, we’re sure many other artists in the industry will be seeking the chance to make a name for themselves through a collaboration with him. He’ll have his fair pick of talent to work with, that’s for sure.
Swae Lee has also come a long way to be a part of this historic moment alongside Post Malone. The self-described singer began his ascent to stardom as one half of the hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, alongside his brother, Slim Jxmmi.
In 2017, he featured in French Montana’s single, “Unforgettable,” which went on to be certified Diamond. Clearly, the collaboration of Post Malone and Swae Lee had the makings of record-breaking success from the onset.
We’d be remiss not to mention the power of films in the music industry. Sunflower” is a banger, no question, but its meteoric rise to the charts can be largely attributed to Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film. At the time of writing, the lyric video on YouTube, featuring scenes from the 2018 film, has amassed over 2.3 billion views.
Of course, a similar argument can be made that the video also promoted the film, which is true by all accounts. Ultimately, “Sunflower” is a perfect example of what the symbiotic relationship between the film and music industries can yield at its best.
