Recording Industry Association of America

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 are the music labels that comprise the most vibrant record industry in the world. RIAA was created in 1952.

 Why is the RIAA important?

            The RIAA most important program for the Latin Music Market is the Anti-Piracy initiative. Other services are the protection of 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.

Latin Industry and Piracy

            The Dominican urban music acceptance is growing among Latinos living in the United States, Central and South America, and Europe. The problem is that many of these artists are not selling their music at all. Artist are placing their music on online websites and distributing free cd. Since many of the Latin artist’s music are not copyrighted, this music cannot be control or deemed illegal every time is passed to someone else. 

Effect on the Latin Music Industry

            There is no secret that the online music sale among Latinos is growing. In the effort to understand Latin buyers RIAA is launching a demographic study. The RIAA wants to know for example: age, sex, place of purchase and other important information that help understand buyer’s behavior. This is just one initiative, but it is a good start. Latin Urban artist (Latin Rappers) have limited knowledge about this organization and its benefits.

            The RIAA’s Miami office is leading this effort to educate Latin Artist about the negative effect that piracy brings to the Latin music industry. Educating Latin artist is a way to control the piracy problem. RIAA is an organization unknown by Latin artist this is also another problem. RIAA can more effective for Latin artist if promotes their initiative in Spanish.

Benefits for the Latin Market

            RIAA efforts should help reduce the piracy in the Latin Markets in order to increase online sales. According to Hilary Rosen in an article post by RIAA’s website, this anti-piracy efforts are considered successful. This organization can bring more benefits for the Latin Market once the study of the Latin Marker Buyer’s Demographic is concluded. This study will provide a better understanding and ways to continue the fight against music piracy. 

Sources:

http://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?news_year_filter=&resultpage=115&id=C0A5CF83-61D1-FEAC-E573-6958DEDFAE68

http://www.riaa.com/index.php

http://www.riaa.com/physicalpiracy.php?content_selector=What-is-Online-Piracy

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2011/04/28/disappointing-latin-music-sales-making-industry-executives-sweat/