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- Latin music in the United States is defined by both the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Billboard magazine as any release with 51% or more of its content recorded in Spanish. Since 2010, Billboard has tracked the best-selling Latin Digital Songs chart on January 23, 2010 which shows the top downloaded Spanish-language song of the week. On October 11, 2012, the methodology for the Hot Latin Songs chart were changed to include sales of digital downloads and streaming activity as well as excluding non predominately Spanish languages from appearing on the chart. As a result, English-language versions of a track sung in Spanish are not factored to the digital sales of a Latin song. Sales certifications for US singles sales are awarded by the RIAA. The RIAA began awarding certifications in 1958. Certifications are based on unit retail sales: sales of 500,000 were awarded gold, 1,000,000 for platinum and 2,000,000 or more for multi-platinum. Beginning on May 9, 2013, the RIAA updated the methodology for singles to include digital downloads and streaming (with 100 streams counting as one download). Since February 1, 2016, 150 streams are equivalent to one download. In 2000, the RIAA launched Latin certifications to acknowledge that market in the United States. The thresholds for a Latin certification were — 50,000 for gold, 100,000 for platinum, and 200,000 or more for multi-platinum. "La Bomba" by Azul Azul was the only single to receive a Latin certification based on units sold to retails (it was certified platinum). On December 20, 2013, the RIAA established the Latin Digital Singles Award for Spanish-language digital songs. The threshold for the Latin digital songs are 30,000 for gold, 60,000 platinum, and 120,000 or more for multi-platinum. The Latin Digital Singles Awards uses the same methodology as the Digital Singles Award. The RIAA also awards the Latin diamond certification for singles that have been certified at least 10× multi-platinum for sales plus track-equivalent streams of 600,000 units. "Ay Vamos" and "6 AM" by J Balvin are the first Latin singles to receive the diamond (Latin) award. As of January 2018, the highest-certified Latin single is "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, which has been awarded a diamond certification. (en)
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