[rack gear]

depending on what stats you use, the record industry as a whole as seen a decline in sales of 40%-50% in the last 8-9 years.

I think we're pretty much beyond the point of seeing diamond certs (10m) on any single album.

Big records today are probably topping out around 4 million units - Taylor Swift for example on her biggest album (released 2006), whereas Shania Twain sold about 15 million on Come On Over (Released 1997).

What a difference a decade makes...

The RIAA publishes stats on how many certs per year at each sales level - I'd say even Gold and Platinum certs are waaay down from what they used to be...