The popularity of the Gold & Platinum awards has made them valuable collectibles, and their manufacturing has evolved into a specialized field. For the past 10 years, in order to curb potential fraud and abuse the RIAA has enlisted licensed framers, of whom Dejay is one, giving them the exclusive right to prepare awards. An RIAA-certified title permits a record company to purchase from these licensed frame shops the official RIAA awards bearing the specialized holographic seal.
After the hologram style of awards was introduced, the traditional size and style restrictions for awards were relaxed, giving record companies more freedom in choosing a design for a particular award. Customized awards and impressive designs, which now include the CD configuration, are a collaborative effort on the part of the record label and the licensed plaque manufacturer. The collectible value of these awards depends on a number of factors including the artist, title, presenter, format, and condition of each award. The style of the RIAA awards has a history of its own:
“White Matte” (1964-1975) – The plaques were an off-white linen material displayed in an unpainted, finished wood frame. The dedication on the plate was engraved with an etched RIAA seal and a mini-cover of the LP was mounted separately from the plate.
