Ace of Base: Encyclopedia II - Ace of Base - Achievements

Ace of Base - Achievements

Throughout their relatively short time recording and performing together, Ace of Base set a number of world records and other achievements. The following is a partial list.

Ace of Base released the world's highest selling debut album of all time, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, 1995, 1997 editions. Their 1993 release The Sign/Happy Nation sold an estimated 23 million copies.

Four of the group's singles have received gold or platinum certification by the RIAA in the United States. These are:

• All That She Wants
  • Gold RIAA certification (over 500,000 units sold) awarded October 26, 1993[1]
  • Platinum RIAA certification (over 1,000,000 copies sold) awarded November 12, 1993.[2]

• The Sign
  • Gold RIAA certification awarded February 23, 1994.[3]
  • Platinum RIAA certification, awarded April 6, 1994.[4]

• Don't Turn Around
  • Gold RIAA certification, awarded June 29, 1994.[5]

• Cruel Summer
  • Gold RIAA certification, awarded September 1, 1998.[6]

Two of the band's albums received multi-platinum certication in the United States:

• The Sign (10 RIAA platinum certifications = diamond) awarded May 21, 2002[7]
• The Bridge (2 RIAA platinum certifications) awarded May 21, 2002[8]

In addition, "The Sign Home Video Collection" was also certified gold.[9] The band also received three Grammy nominations, two American Music Awards, and two Billboard Music Awards for "Best-Selling Album" and "Best-Selling Single".

In Europe, Ace of Base won awards for Best Selling Scandinavian Artist at the 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997 World Music Awards in Monaco. They performed at each of these events.

In 1998, the band's single "Life is a Flower" was the most heavily played radio single of the year worldwide, despite the fact it was never released in the US.

In 2002, The Sign was certified diamond by the RIAA. Although Arista Records in the United States no longer releases new Ace of Base albums, both The Sign and The Bridge albums continue to be hot properties for the Arista/BMG label.

• Argentina: 4 times platinum (160,000+ units sold) (for 'The Sign')[10]
• Australia: 1 platinum (70,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[11]
• Austria: 1 platinum (30,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[12]
• Belgium: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')[13]
• Brazil: 1 gold (for 'The Sign')[14]
• Canada: 1 diamond (1,000,000+ units sold) (for 'The Sign')[15]
• Chile: 1 platinum (for 'The Sign')[16]
• China: 1 platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[17]
• Czech Republic: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')[18]
• Denmark: 4 times platinum (160,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[19]
• Finland: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')[20]
• France: 1 diamond (1,000,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[21]
• Germany: 3 times platinum (900,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[22]
• India: 1 platinum (200,000(?)+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[23]
• Indonesia: 4 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[24]
• Ireland: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')[25]
• Italy: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')[26]
• Greece: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')[27]
• Hong Kong: 1 platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[28]
• Japan: 4 times platinum (for 'The Sign')[29]
• Korea: 7 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[30]
• Mexico: 3 times platinum (450,000+ units sold) (for 'The Sign')[31]
• Netherlands: 2 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[32]
• New Zealand: 3 times platinum (45,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[33]
• Norway: 2 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[34]
• Portugal: 1 platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[35]
• Singapore: 3 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[36]
• Spain: 1 platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[37]
• Sweden: 2 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')[38]
• Switzerland: 2 times platinum (80,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[39]
• South Africa: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')[40]
• Thailand: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')[41]
• United Kingdom: 2 times platinum (600,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')[42]
• United States: 1 diamond (10,000,000+ units sold) (for 'The Sign')[43]

• Canada: 2 times platinum (200,000+ units sold)[44]
• Denmark 1 Platinum [45]
• Finland: 1 platinum[46]
• France: 1 platinum (300,000+ units sold)[47]
• Germany: 1 gold (300,000+ units sold)[48]
• India: 1 gold (100,000(?)+ units sold)[49]
• Indonesia: 1 platinum[50]
• Hong Kong: 2 times platinum[51]
• Japan: 1 platinum[52]
• Korea: 3 times platinum
• Malaysia: 1 gold [53]
• Mexico: 1 platinum (150,000+ units sold)[54]
• New Zealand: 1 platinum (15,000+ units sold)[55]
• Philippines: 2 times platinum[56]
• Poland: 1 gold[57]
• Spain: 1 gold[58][59]
• Sweden: 1 platinum[60]
• Switzerland: 1 platinum (40,000+ units sold)[61]
• Taiwan: 2 times platinum[62][63]
• United States: 2 times platinum (2,000,000+ units sold)[64]

• Canada: 1 gold (50,000+ units sold) (for 'Cruel Summer')[65]
• Denmark: 1 gold (20,000+ units sold) (for 'Flowers')[66]
• Japan: 2 times platinum (for 'Flowers')[67]
• Korea: 1 platinum (for 'Flowers')[68]
• Sweden: 1 gold (for 'Flowers')[69]
• Switzerland: 1 platinum (40,000+ units sold) (for 'Flowers')[70]

• Denmark: 1 gold (20,000+ units sold)[71]
• Japan: 1 Platinum[72]

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Achievements", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki