RIAA
The Recording Industry Association of America, which historically sued consumers for illegally downloading music.
First Mentioned
10/3/2026, 6:50:56 AM
Last Updated
10/3/2026, 6:54:22 AM
Research Retrieved
10/3/2026, 6:54:22 AM
Summary
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization representing the U.S. recording industry, with its members accounting for approximately 85 percent of all legally sold recorded music in the United States. Founded in 1952 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the RIAA's initial mission involved administering copyright fees, working with trade unions, and conducting research related to the record industry and government regulations. Early contributions included establishing standards for equalization curves and record formats. Today, the RIAA focuses on protecting intellectual property and artists' First Amendment rights, conducting music industry research, and advocating on relevant laws and policies. The organization has significantly increased its lobbying efforts, particularly in response to artificial intelligence. The RIAA also manages collective rights for sound recordings and is responsible for certifying gold and platinum albums and singles in the U.S., a system that has become a global standard. In its efforts to combat music piracy, the RIAA was convinced to embrace streaming as a legal alternative, which was instrumental in the development of platforms like Spotify.
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Wikipedia
View on WikipediaRecording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization representing the United States recording industry. Its members include major record labels and distributors, which the RIAA states "create, manufacture, and/or distribute approximately 85 percent of all legally sold recorded music in the United States". The RIAA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The RIAA was formed in 1952. Its original mission was to administer recording copyright fees and problems, work with trade unions, and do research relating to the record industry and government regulations. Early RIAA standards included the RIAA equalization curve, the format of the stereophonic record groove and the dimensions of 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm records. The RIAA says its current mission includes protecting intellectual property rights and the First Amendment rights of artists; performing research about the music industry; and monitoring and reviewing relevant laws, regulations, and policies for the purpose of advocacy. Between 2001 and 2020, the RIAA spent between $2.4 million and $6.5 million annually on lobbying in the United States. The organization ramped up its lobbying efforts in 2025, partly in response to artificial intelligence. The RIAA also participates in the collective rights management of sound recordings, and it is responsible for certifying gold and platinum albums and singles in the United States, a system that was the first of its kind in the global music industry and set the standard for music recording certification worldwide.
Web Search Results
- Recording Industry Association of America - Wikipedia
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization representing the United States recording industry. Its members include major record labels and distributors, which the RIAA states "create, manufacture, and/or distribute approximately 85 percent of all legally sold recorded music in the United States". The RIAA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The RIAA was formed in 1952. Its original mission was to administer recording copyright fees and problems, work with trade unions, and do research relating to the record industry and government regulations. Early RIAA standards included the RIAA equalization curve, the format of the stereophonic record groove and the dimensions of 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm records. [...] The RIAA says its current mission includes protecting intellectual property rights and the First Amendment rights of artists; performing research about the music industry; and monitoring and reviewing relevant laws, regulations, and policies for the purpose of advocacy. Between 2001 and 2020, the RIAA spent between $2.4 million and $6.5 million annually on lobbying in the United States. The organization ramped up its lobbying efforts in 2025, partly in response to artificial intelligence. [...] Print/export Download as PDF Printable version In other projects Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item Appearance From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Trade organization in the U.S. Recording Industry Association of America | Abbreviation | RIAA | | Formation | 1952; 74 years ago (1952) | | Type | Licensing and royalties, technical standards | | Headquarters | Washington, D.C., U.S. | | Location | United States | | Chairman and CEO | Mitch Glazier | | Website | riaa.com |
- Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA)
Description: The Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA) is the trade organization that supports and promotes the creative and financial vitality of the major music companies. Its members comprise the most vibrant record industry in the world, investing in great artists to help them reach their potential and connect to their fans. Nearly 85% of all legitimate recorded music produced and sold in the United States is created, manufactured or distributed by RIAA members. In support of this mission, the RIAA works to protect the intellectual property and First Amendment rights of artists and music labels; conduct consumer, industry and technical research; and monitor and review state and federal laws, regulations and policies. RIAA also certifies Gold®, Platinum®, Multi-Platinum™, [...] # Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA) [...] RIAA also certifies Gold®, Platinum®, Multi-Platinum™, Diamond and Los Premios De Oro y Platino™ sales and streaming awards.
- Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA says "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legally sold recorded music in the United States. Website. electronic | Electronic (Form).
- Recording Industry Association of America | Recording Industry Association of America, Gold & Platinum Certifications, History, & What They Do
Show less The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a Washington, D.C.–based trade organization that represents major American music companies and record labels (including producers, manufacturers, and distributors of audio recordings). Membership is not open to individuals. The RIAA’s mission is to protect its constituents’ intellectual property, to conduct industry and technical research, and to monitor federal and state laws regarding music and intellectual property. [...] The RIAA is a key figure in lobbying the U.S. Congress and other lawmakers to strengthen copyright protections and to protect the First Amendment right to free speech of its members. It also fights illegal copying/digital piracy and other issues in court on behalf of its members. The RIAA also honors record companies and artists with certification awards in recognition of sales achievements and helps to establish the Parental Advisory Label (or PAL) program. RIAA members account for at least 85–90% of the music legally sold in the United States. This entry discusses the RIAA’s role in certifying sales of recorded music and administering the PAL program. It also explores the RIAA’s advocacy on behalf of the recording industry and controversial court cases involving the RIAA. ## History [...] For this awards program, the RIAA counts each permanent album or physical album sale as 1 unit but also considers 10 permanent track downloads from an album or 1,500 on-demand audio and/or video streams from an album as 1 unit for certification purposes. The RIAA also recognizes music video singles, long form music videos, multibox music video sets, and ringtones, although the unit sales threshold for these formats varies and is usually lower than those listed previously. The RIAA also honors entire albums and single tracks from albums that are more than 50% Spanish language with certification awards in their Premios de Oro y Platino program when they meet the following sales benchmarks:
- What is the RIAA?
Skip to content English ![SONGTRUST_ICON.png]]( Log in to Songtrust Account 1. Songtrust Help Center 2. Music Industry 101 3. Publishing Partners & Other Organizations # What is the RIAA? ## They’re behind everything from platinum records to research. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) represents a wide range of record labels and distributors. It features the following among its goals: protecting the intellectual property and First Amendment rights of artists; performing research about the music industry; and monitoring/reviewing any relevant laws, regulations, and policies. The RIAA also issues the platinum, gold, and diamond certifications of hit songs and albums. For more information, please visit the RIAA’s official website here. Was this article helpful?
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