In my time here at Idolator, I’ve written some unkind things about the RIAA, and some items have probably been slightly more fair (saying I believed the group does “more harm than good”) than others (implying the organization is made up of “a bunch of soulless creeps”). Still, it’s good to get the other side of the story, right?
I’ve claimed that the RIAA is a danger to the future of the music business, and New Yorker music critic Sasha Frere-Jones has wondered if anyone could name three good things the organization has done. And we’re not alone. So I thought it might be worth a moment to ask Jonathan Lamy, senior vice president of communications for the organization (and to his credit, a really helpful and nice guy), what they actually do over there that doesn’t involve the whole suing grandmothers thing (again, that’s probably not fair). Here’s a summary of what he came up with, presented without snarky retorts:
1. The RIAA fights for the freedom of speech of artists.
When legislators try to limit the free speech rights of musicians, the RIAA lobbies on the behalf of preserving free expression.
3. The Gold and Platinum program which has allowed for a tangible expression of commercial success.
4. The RIAA negotiates for the industry allowing for “new business models and licensing systems”, including the birth of subscription systems and the recent interactive streaming deal.
5. The RIAA has set technical standards for the music industry including “the LP album standards, CD standards, SACD and DVD-Audio standards, elimination of CD longbox for environmental reasons, and most recently, DDEX standard for electronic exchange of data to make it easier to track transactions and calculate royalties for billions of online transactions.”
6. Advocating and negotiating royalty payment standards. This includes the recent attempt to secure royalty payments for the performing artist from terrestrial radio stations, something that the United States is the exception for.
7. Something you’re probably already aware of, but the crackdown on illegal filesharing websites and services, including litigation in MGM vs. Grokster. As Mr. Lamy puts it, “Absent expensive, high profile industry campaigns, think of how the legal marketplace would be struggling to gain the traction it has and the fact that there would be hundreds of similar illegal sites.”
8. Working to expand access to works for which the copyright holder cannot be located.
9. Working to get pirated copies of discs off the street.
10. Philanthropic work, including helping to raise millions of dollars for charities such as Music Cares, working with the National Endowment for the Arts on the “Songs of the Century” project and developing curriculum for schools on the value of intellectual property.
There you have it, the top ten things the RIAA has done for music. I feel like I’ve added enough commentary for now regarding my own feelings about the organization, but does this list affect your perception at all?
Recording Industry Association of America [Official site]
It’s good to have the RIAA looking out for artists’ freedom of speech, because it’s not like that’s a freedom that is guaranteed anywhere else, right? Keep fightin’ the good fight, RIAA.
Seriously though, #s 4, 5, 6 seem like legit, non-soulless endeavors. And you can’t really argue with #s 8 and 10, either. So it ain’t all bad – just half of it.
Well, I’d have to question #s 1 & 2…when push came to shove and the PMRC attacked artist’s “freedom of speech,” wasn’t it Frank Zappa, Dee Snider and John Freakin’ Denver that came to the rescue in the Congressional hearings? Didn’t the RIAA and member labels cave almost immediately to the demands of the “Washington Wives” and institute the “Tipper sticker” on CDs?
As for some of the others, #3 is mostly to salve the egos of the label execs and album producers…most artists that I’ve ever spoken with would rather have the money than the accolade (and pay for the fancy award plaque). I’d questions #s 4 & 6, as artists are beginning to wise up and ask where their cut of the “new business models” is (see lawsuits by the Allman Brothers and Cheap Trick).
Standards are OK, so I’ll give #5 a pass, and #10 too, but most of the rest of these “accomplishments” benefit the member labels and have little or nothing to do with the recording artist. Lest we forget, the RIAA is an industry organization and will always work in that capacity. It may be a necessary evil, perhaps, but when do the artists…independent contractors all…get their representation?
@Rev.Keith: is this a call for an artist’s union?
I’ll leave most of the pros and cons to others (most are obvious) and just say what I’ve said before — the gold and platinum certification system has been badly corrupt for decades, and the advent of SoundScan and digital sales just makes it look more so.