The Importance of the RIAA

            RIAA, Recording Industry Association of America is an organization that supports the creative flow and financial future of the major record companies.  The RIAA members are music labels executives, and personal.  The members of the RIAA are responsible for creating, manufacturing and distributing around 85% of music heard in households.  RIAA also helps protects copyrights and the First Amendment rights of artist and music labels.  RIAA conducts consumer, industry and technical research, and they also monitor and review state and federal laws and regulations to make sure music labels are in compliance.  Another role the RIAA plays in the music industry by certifying Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum and Diamond sales awards.

            The RIAA plays an important role in the music industry because of all the support they give to the music labels.  If you are an independent music label the RIAA can be a great asset to your music label.  Sometimes it can be hard for an independent label to know the intellectual property laws that protects them.  Also, many independent labels do not have the money to pay for lawyers that can help protect them and make sure they are not making any infringements with intellectual properties.  The RIAA can provide information to help you protect your music and how you bring your music to the market.  Also, the RIAA can by a great place to start networking, and getting know people in the industry.  The RIAA provides a list of all their members on their website, and the are many leading industry record labels as members.  Becoming a member of the RIAA will also help your record label look professional, and can make you stand out over some of your competitors.  RIAA is a reputable organization, and is well-known in the music industry and this would be an organization that anyone who is trying to make a career in the music industry should join.

Kellie B.