Belgian Recorded Music Association

The Belgian Recorded Music Association (BRMA) is the trade organization representing the recorded-music sector in Belgium. It serves as Belgium's national member organization of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), linking the country's record companies and music-industry interests with the wider international recorded-music network. The association's work includes industry representation, market information, chart administration, and the certification of recorded-music products. BRMA was created under the name Belgian Entertainment Association (BEA) in February 2008. BEA resulted from the merger of three organizations with different areas of entertainment-industry coverage: IFPI Belgium, which represented the music-recording business; the Belgian Video Federation, which represented the video sector; and the Belgian Luxembourg Interactive Software Association, which represented video games and interactive software. The merger created a broader Belgian entertainment trade body rather than a music-only association. In 2022, the organization adopted the name Belgian Recorded Music Association, reflecting its present emphasis on recorded music. A central part of BRMA's public-facing activity is the Belgian chart and certification system operated through Ultratop. Ultratop is a nonprofit organization created by BRMA to publish sales and consumption charts. Because Belgium has distinct Dutch-speaking and French-speaking markets, chart reporting is divided between Flanders and Wallonia. Important Flemish charts include the Ultratop 50 singles and Ultratop 50 albums, while the principal Walloon singles chart is the Ultratop 40. These charts provide a reference point for the performance of domestic and international releases in Belgium. BRMA also supports the certification of albums, singles, and DVDs through the Ultratop system. The certification framework has changed as recorded-music consumption has shifted from physical purchases and downloads toward streaming. Streaming was incorporated into the singles charts in 2016 and into the album charts in July 2017, and it is also used for certifications. The detailed stream-conversion formula is not publicly disclosed. The album methodology limits the contribution of excessive track counts by counting only the twelve most-streamed tracks. It also reduces the effect of isolated hit tracks by counting the two leading tracks at the average level of the following ten tracks. The association's certification thresholds distinguish between domestic and international repertoire in some categories. Under the album thresholds in force after the inclusion of streaming, 10,000 units correspond to Gold and 20,000 to Platinum. For singles, the current domestic thresholds are 10,000 units for Gold and 20,000 for Platinum, while international singles use thresholds of 20,000 and 40,000. The international-single thresholds were introduced in July 2018 after streaming contributed to a sharp rise in awards and were applied retroactively where a release had not already been certified. DVD thresholds vary according to whether a product is a local Belgian release, a nationwide Belgian release, or a foreign product. Ultratop maintains an archive of certifications dating back to 1997. BRMA is therefore not a consumer-facing label or retailer. Its role is institutional: it represents the recorded-music industry, coordinates or supports market measurement, administers recognized chart and award mechanisms through Ultratop, and provides a Belgian interface for international industry policy. Publicly available material does not establish a separate commercial ownership structure, a named founder, or a corporate headquarters address.

The organization now known as the Belgian Recorded Music Association originated in a 2008 consolidation of Belgian entertainment-industry trade bodies. In February of that year, IFPI Belgium, the Belgian Video Federation, and the Belgian Luxembourg Interactive Software Association merged to form the Belgian Entertainment Association, commonly abbreviated BEA. The three predecessor organizations covered recorded music, video, and interactive software respectively, so the new association initially had a broad entertainment-sector mandate. IFPI Belgium had served as the Belgian representative of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and brought recorded-music representation into the merged body. The Belgian Video Federation contributed expertise in the video market, while the Belgian Luxembourg Interactive Software Association represented the interactive-software and video-game business. The merger reflected an industry environment in which music, video, and games were increasingly connected through common distribution, copyright, and digital-market issues. For the music sector, the association's most visible infrastructure has been Ultratop. BRMA created Ultratop as a nonprofit organization to publish Belgian sales and consumption charts and to support certification. Chart publication recognizes Belgium's linguistic and cultural divisions: separate reporting is provided for Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. The best-known Flemish charts include the Ultratop 50 for singles and albums, while Wallonia's principal singles listing is the Ultratop 40. This regional structure allows releases to be measured in the two main language markets rather than treating Belgium as an entirely uniform chart territory. Ultratop also provides the mechanism through which BRMA certifies albums, singles, and DVDs. The certification system has evolved with changes in music consumption. Streaming entered the singles charts in 2016 and the album charts in July 2017; it was subsequently incorporated into certification calculations as well. The methodology does not publish the exact stream-equivalent conversion figures. For albums, only the twelve most-streamed tracks are counted, and the two most-streamed tracks are adjusted to the average performance of the next ten tracks. These rules are intended to reduce distortions caused by albums with unusually large track lists or by a small number of unusually successful songs. The certification framework has also changed over time. Earlier thresholds distinguished between domestic and international repertoire and, in some periods, used higher levels for international releases. After streaming was incorporated into album certifications in 2017, the principal album thresholds became 10,000 units for Gold and 20,000 for Platinum. Domestic singles use the same Gold and Platinum levels, while international singles use 20,000 and 40,000 units respectively under the current framework. The international-single levels were set in July 2018 in response to the effect of streaming on award frequency and were applicable retroactively where a single had not already received certification. DVD thresholds vary by the geographic scope and origin of the product, with separate levels for Belgian-local, Belgian-national, and foreign releases. In 2022, BEA changed its name to the Belgian Recorded Music Association. The new name narrowed and clarified the organization's public identity around recorded music, while its connection to IFPI and its chart and certification functions remained central. The association continues to act as a Belgian industry representative and as the institutional sponsor of market-measurement tools used by artists, labels, media, retailers, and the public. Available reference material does not identify individual executives, a founder, a commercial parent company, or a publicly listed structure.

• 2022

  BEA becomes BRMA

  [1]Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Belgian Entertainment Association adopts the name Belgian Recorded Music Association.

• 2018

  International single thresholds are raised

  [1]Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Gold and Platinum thresholds for international singles are increased to account for the impact of streaming on award volumes.

• 2017

  Streaming enters album charts and certifications

  [1]Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Streaming is added to the album charts in July and becomes part of the certification framework.

• 2016

  Streaming enters the singles charts

  [1]Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Ultratop begins including streaming data in its singles charts, marking a shift toward blended sales and digital-consumption measurement.

• 2008

  Belgian Entertainment Association is formed

  [1]Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org

  IFPI Belgium, the Belgian Video Federation, and the Belgian Luxembourg Interactive Software Association merge to create the Belgian Entertainment Association.

A national trade association and industry infrastructure organization for Belgium's recorded-music business, with a public role centered on representation, chart measurement, and certifications.

• Music charts

  Ultratop charts

  Ultratop is the nonprofit chart organization created by BRMA to publish Belgian recorded-music rankings. Its output reflects the country's two principal language markets, including the Ultratop 50 singles and albums charts for Flanders and the Ultratop 40 singles chart for Wallonia. The charts combine relevant forms of recorded-music consumption according to the methodology in effect at the time, including streaming since its phased introduction in 2016 and 2017.

• Industry certification

  Recorded-music certifications

  BRMA certifies albums, singles, and DVDs through the Ultratop system. Awards include Gold and Platinum levels, with thresholds that vary by format and, for some releases, by domestic or international status. The system incorporates streaming and applies controls intended to limit distortion from very large track lists or a small number of dominant tracks. Ultratop maintains an archive of past certifications reaching back to 1997.

• 2022

  Rename the organization as the Belgian Recorded Music AssociationStrategy

  Background

  The former Belgian Entertainment Association had originated as a cross-sector body covering music, video, and interactive software. The new name places recorded music at the center of the association's identity.

  Action taken

  The organization changed its name from Belgian Entertainment Association to Belgian Recorded Music Association.

  Aftermath

  BRMA continues its Belgian recorded-music representation, IFPI affiliation, and Ultratop chart and certification activities.

  Source

• 2018

  Revise international-single certification thresholdsStrategy

  Background

  The inclusion of streaming led to a sudden increase in the number of singles reaching award levels.

  Action taken

  The Gold and Platinum thresholds for international singles were raised to 20,000 and 40,000 units, respectively, with retroactive application where a single had not previously been certified.

  Aftermath

  The revised levels differentiated international singles from domestic singles and were intended to reduce inflation in award counts.

  Source

• 2017

  Add streaming to album certificationsGeneration change

  Background

  The growth of streaming required the album chart and award system to account for digital listening alongside other forms of consumption.

  Action taken

  Streaming was incorporated into the Ultratop album charts in July 2017 and applied to album certifications.

  Aftermath

  The methodology introduced track-count controls and maintained Gold and Platinum album thresholds of 10,000 and 20,000 units under the revised framework.

  Source

• 2016

  Add streaming to single-chart measurementGeneration change

  Background

  Digital streaming had become an increasingly important form of music consumption, making sales-only chart measurement less representative of the market.

  Action taken

  Ultratop incorporated streaming into its singles charts.

  Aftermath

  Streaming also became relevant to the subsequent development of certification calculations.

  Source

• 2022

  Belgian Entertainment Association adopts the name Belgian Recorded Music Association[1]Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Leadership change

  The Belgian Entertainment Association changed its name to the Belgian Recorded Music Association, placing its recorded-music representation role at the center of its public identity.

• 2018

  Belgian international-single certification thresholds are revised[1]Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  BRMA's certification framework introduced higher Gold and Platinum thresholds for international singles after the inclusion of streaming caused a rapid increase in awards.

• 2017

  Streaming becomes part of Belgian album certifications[1]Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  Following the inclusion of streaming in the album charts in July 2017, streaming consumption also became part of the Ultratop-based album certification system.

1. 1Belgian Recorded Music Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Belgian Recorded Music Association official websitebrma.be