Riaa

"RIAA" redirects here. For RIAA equalization, see RIAA equalization.

The RIAA Logo.The Recording Industry Association of America (or RIAA) is a trade group that represents the recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of a large number of private corporate entities such as record labels and distributors, which the RIAA claims "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 90% of all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States.".[1]

The RIAA was formed in 1952 primarily to administer the RIAA equalization curve, a technical standard of frequency response applied to vinyl records during manufacturing and playback. The RIAA has continued to participate in creating and administering technical standards for later systems of music recording and reproduction, including magnetic tape, cassette tapes, digital audio tapes, CDs and software-based digital technologies.

The RIAA also participates in the collection, administration and distribution of music licenses and royalties.

The association is responsible for certifying gold and platinum albums and singles in the USA. For more information about sales data see List of best selling albums and List of best selling singles.

The RIAA's stated goals[1] are:

to protect intellectual property rights worldwide and the First Amendment rights of artists;

to perform research about the music industry;

to monitor and review relevant laws, regulations and policies.

Contents [hide]

1 Company structure and Sales

2 Sales certification

2.1 Digital sales certification

3 Efforts against copyright infringement

3.1 Stance on backups

3.2 Efforts against file sharing

3.3 Lawsuits against recording and distribution technologies

3.4 The RIAA "Dirty Dozen"

3.5 Legislation

4 Efforts against censorship

5 Artist opinions

5.1 The "Work Made for Hire" controversy

5.2 Cultural references

6 See also

7 References

8 External links

[edit] Company structure and Sales

The RIAA is led by Mitch Bainwol, who has been Chairman and CEO since 2003. He is assisted by Cary Sherman, the President of the Board of Directors. The board of directors consists of 26 members of the board, drawn mostly from the big four members of the RIAA.[2]

The RIAA represents over 1,600 member labels, which are private corporate entities such as record labels and distributors, and which collectively create and distribute about 90% of recorded music sold in the US. The largest and most influential of the members are the "Big Four".

EMI

Sony BMG Music Entertainment

Universal Music Group

Warner Music Group

The total annual net income from members of the RIAA is reported to be $11.5 billion[3], reflecting a decline since a high of $14.5 billion in 1996.

[edit] Sales certification

Main article: RIAA certification

The RIAA operates an award program for albums which sell a large number of copies.[4] The program originally began in 1958, with a Gold Award for singles and albums which reach US$ 1 million sales. The criteria was changed in 1975 to be based on the number of copies sold, with singles and albums selling 500,000 copies awarded the Gold Award. In 1976, a Platinum Award was added for one million sales, and in 1999 a Diamond Award for ten million sales. The awards are open to both RIAA members and non-members.[5]

The RIAA also operates a similar program for Spanish language music sales, called Los Premios Awards.

[edit] Digital sales certification

In 2004, the RIAA added a branch of certification for legal downloads, such as files downloaded via iTunes. In 2006, digital ringtones were added to this branch of certification. The certification criteria for the digital downloads is currently as follows:

Silver: 100,000

Gold: 500,000

Platinum: 1,000,000

Multi-Platinum: 2,000,000 (recertified at each million unit sales level)

Diamond: 10,000,000

[edit] Efforts against copyright infringement

[edit] Stance on backups

The RIAA takes a broad view about what constitutes copyright infringement. In 2006, the RIAA claimed that ripping CDs and backing them up does not constitute fair use, because tracks from ripped CDs do not maintain the controversial DRM to prevent the music file from being copied. They argue that there is no evidence that any of the relevant media are "unusually subject to damage" and that "even if CDs do become damaged, replacements are readily available at affordable prices."[6]

[edit] Efforts against file sharing

See also: Trade group efforts against file sharing

The RIAA opposes unauthorized file sharing of its music. It has commenced high profile lawsuits against file sharing service providers. It has also commenced a controversial series of lawsuits against individuals suspected of file sharing, notably college students and parents of file sharing children. It is accused of employing techniques such as peer-to-peer network pollution to combat file sharing.

[edit] Lawsuits against recording and distribution technologies

In October 1998, the