IFPI Greece

IFPI Greece is the Greek branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, operating as the country's official music charts provider and recording sales certification authority. Known domestically as the Association of Greek Producers of Phonograms (ΕΕΠΗ), the organization compiles and publishes the Top 75 album sales chart, tracks music consumption, and awards gold, platinum, and diamond certifications. It represents the interests of the recording industry in Greece and ensures standardized, credible measurement of music sales.

Founded in 1989, IFPI Greece replaced an unreliable system of magazine-based charts that lacked authority. The organization brought professional oversight to Greek music industry metrics, giving artists, labels, and fans a trustworthy benchmark for commercial success. Its certification levels directly influence artist prestige and market recognition within Greece.

As a national group of the global IFPI, IFPI Greece is part of a network spanning over 70 markets. The global IFPI, headquartered in London, provides industry data and advocacy, while national groups like IFPI Greece handle local chart compilation and certification. The organization's work supports record labels, streaming platforms, and media outlets that rely on official chart data. [edit]

IFPI Greece's mission is to compile and publish the official Greek album sales chart, certify recordings based on sales thresholds, and represent the interests of the Greek recording industry. It aims to provide transparent, reliable data on music consumption and to promote the value of recorded music within the country. [edit]

IFPI Greece was founded in 1989 as the Greek national group of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Its first official music charts consisted of two Top 20 albums lists: one for Greek domestic repertoire and one for foreign repertoire. Broadcast rights went to ANT1 radio, while Pop & Rock magazine handled print publication. This marked the first time Greece had a credible, industry-backed chart system, replacing scattered magazine polls that lacked transparency.

By May 1991, those original charts were scrapped after a manipulation scandal came to light. Artists had been buying hundreds of copies of their own albums to inflate chart positions, which improved their bargaining power for live shows and media appearances. The system's collapse forced a reset, and IFPI Greece eventually rebuilt with stricter monitoring and a single Top 75 chart that remains today.

Globally, the IFPI itself was founded in 1933 and has grown into the voice of the recording industry worldwide. National groups like IFPI Greece operate semi-autonomously, adapting global standards to local markets. In recent decades, IFPI Greece has focused on adapting to digital consumption, though its core mission of charting and certification remains unchanged. [edit]