Miley Cyrus is one of the most influential and versatile artists of the 21st century. From her early days as a Disney star to her transformation into a pop and rock icon, her discography boasts an impressive range of hits. However, despite her commercial success, not all of her songs have received the prestigious diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which is awarded to singles that surpass 10 million sales and streaming units.
In this article, we will explore which Miley Cyrus song should have gone diamond but didn't, analyzing factors such as cultural impact, chart performance, and fan reception.
Before diving into the specific songs, it is essential to understand what it means for a song to go diamond. In the U.S., the RIAA awards certifications based on sales and streaming equivalents:
Gold: 500,000 units
Platinum: 1,000,000 units
Diamond: 10,000,000 units
Given the digital era’s shift towards streaming, many artists are reaching these milestones through a combination of digital sales, physical copies, and streaming figures. However, even viral and widely celebrated songs do not always reach diamond status due to various industry dynamics.
As of now, Miley Cyrus has one diamond-certified song: "Party in the U.S.A." This track, released in 2009, became a cultural anthem and remains one of her biggest hits to date. However, several other Miley Cyrus songs arguably deserved the same recognition but fell short of the diamond mark.
While Miley has multiple multi-platinum hits, the following songs stand out as those that should have reached diamond status but did not.
"Wrecking Ball" was a massive hit upon its release in 2013, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song’s music video broke YouTube records, garnering over 100 million views within days.
It remains one of her most streamed and downloaded songs, with over a billion views on YouTube and millions of Spotify streams.
It won numerous awards and became a defining moment in her career.
Despite these achievements, "Wrecking Ball" has yet to be certified diamond. Industry experts speculate that the song’s initial digital sales were strong, but streaming and subsequent downloads did not maintain the required pace to hit the milestone.
"We Can’t Stop" was another major hit from Miley’s Bangerz era, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song became a party anthem and was widely used in pop culture.
Its controversial and boundary-pushing music video attracted widespread attention, solidifying Miley's rebrand from Disney star to rebellious pop icon.
While "We Can’t Stop" has multiple platinum certifications, it did not reach diamond due to strong competition from other tracks in the streaming era.
Released as part of Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack, "The Climb" became an inspirational ballad embraced by fans worldwide.
It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a staple on radio stations for years.
Its longevity and emotional depth make it one of Miley's most enduring songs.
Although it has been certified multi-platinum, "The Climb" didn’t achieve diamond, possibly due to lower streaming figures compared to more upbeat pop hits.
"Malibu" marked Miley’s return to a softer, folk-pop sound in 2017 and was well-received by critics and fans alike.
It peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and showcased a more mature side of Miley’s artistry.
Its airplay and streaming numbers were impressive, but not enough to push it to diamond certification.
"Flowers," released in 2023, became Miley’s biggest streaming hit, breaking records on Spotify and topping the Billboard Hot 100 for multiple weeks.
The song quickly achieved multi-platinum status and remains one of her most successful tracks to date.
Given its rapid success, "Flowers" is still a contender for a future diamond certification.
Several factors contribute to why certain songs, despite their massive popularity, do not reach diamond certification:
In today’s music industry, streaming plays a significant role in certification. Songs released before the streaming era often relied on digital and physical sales, which had different longevity compared to modern streaming dynamics.
Miley has faced competition from major artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish, whose music often dominates streaming platforms.
Some of Miley’s biggest hits came out before streaming dominated the industry, meaning their digital sales may have been strong but lacked the sustained momentum streaming provides.
Some of Miley's songs did not receive consistent promotional pushes over the years. Songs like "Wrecking Ball" and "We Can’t Stop" saw significant peaks but did not sustain long-term commercial campaigns compared to songs that have been continuously pushed by their respective record labels.
Miley Cyrus has produced several hit songs that have shaped the music industry, yet only "Party in the U.S.A." has achieved diamond certification. Tracks like "Wrecking Ball," "We Can’t Stop," "The Climb," "Malibu," and "Flowers" all had the potential to reach this prestigious milestone. However, various industry factors, streaming dynamics, and market competition have played a role in preventing them from reaching 10 million certified units.
With the evolving nature of the music industry and Miley’s continuous impact, it remains possible that some of these songs may eventually be certified diamond. Until then, fans can continue streaming and celebrating her incredible contributions to music.
