Independent singer/songwriter Ron Pope has earned RIAA platinum certification on his 2007 hit, “A Drop in the Ocean.” Co-written by Pope and Zach Berkman, the single was the first off Pope’s Daylight album and picked up syncs on shows like The Vampire Diaries and 90210.

With a career spanning over a decade, the Georgia native has sold out shows in 20 countries and has accumulated nearly 500m Spotify streams and 864m Pandora streams. After inking a major-label deal in 2009, Pope returned to his indie roots to release through TuneCore and started his label, Brooklyn Basement Records, in 2015.

“Ron Pope is a prolific singer songwriter who embodies the independent spirit that TuneCore is all about,” said TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson, who announced the certification. “This RIAA platinum award is an indicator of things to come in the indie world, with Ron leading the way,”

“It seems unreal, but I am so excited. And to know that we did it completely independently is even better,” added Pope, who recently released a series of tracks every two weeks for an entire year, entitled The Builder, to showcase his journey through the pandemic.

Pictured thinking what kind of drop the plaque would make in an ocean is (l-r) TuneCore COO Matt Barrington, Pope, Berkman and TuneCore Director, Artist & Partner Relations, Amy Lombardi.