The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a group of large corporations that oversee the recording and distribution of music in the United States. The RIAA represents approximately 90% of recording companies and distributors. The organization’s objectives are now primarily focused on copyright protection. This is a significant shift from the RIAA’s founding in the 1950s, when the primary concern was to standardize the quality of vinyl records and, later, cassette tapes.
Much of the RIAA’s shift, now led by Mitch Bainwol, is due to the widespread illegal downloading and copying of copyright-protected music. When Napster first became available in the late 1990s, the majority of people were able to download music without having to pay for it. With the advancement of computer technology, burning discs and copying albums became more common.
The RIAA worked hard to pass legislation prohibiting file-sharing programs like Napster and tightening copyright restrictions. Several laws were enacted in the early 2000s to increase the penalties for those who violated copyright laws by illegally copying music from a computer source or purchased CDs. In a series of campaigns to discourage illegal downloads, the RIAA has targeted college-aged youth in particular.
Not everyone agrees that the RIAA’s current mission is logical or reasonable. Critics point to increased CD sales during the Napster era and conclude that restrictions on sharing or free downloads are incompatible with the RIAA’s goals of assisting musicians and studios. Critics also claim that the RIAA is little more than an organized crime ring that rips off artists by fixing CD prices to maximize profits for record labels while ripping off artists who receive relatively little compensation for CD sales.
Opponents of the RIAA point to copyright infringement lawsuits filed against innocent people. An 83-year-old woman was sued, a 12-year-old girl was sued, and a woman in her 60s who had never used a computer was sued. Many people criticized these and other lawsuits, which harmed the RIAA’s credibility.
The RIAA issued an amnesty in 2003, deciding not to prosecute those who had previously engaged in illegal downloads. Those who came clean about previous copyright violations and promised not to do it again would not be prosecuted. Few people took advantage of this offer, and the amnesty ended a year later because the RIAA’s amnesty did not protect people from civil suits brought by individual record companies or artists.
When requested, the RIAA is also responsible for tracking record sales, which results in records being labeled “Gold” or “Platinum” depending on the number of copies sold. The unwavering support for artistic freedom as interpreted by the 1st amendment is a little more contentious at times. Many people consider this to be one of the RIAA’s best features because it protects artists’ right to free speech and expression and will defend them if they are attacked because of controversial lyrics.