RIAA

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a United States trade organization that represents the country’s major music recording companies, with some independent labels as members. Established in 1952, it is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and serves as a central industry body for policy advocacy, certification, and market data related to recorded music.

One of the RIAA’s best-known activities is its Gold and Platinum Awards program, which certifies albums, singles, and videos based on sales and streaming activity. Gold and Platinum thresholds are defined by product format, and the organization has updated its rules to include digital downloads and streaming as part of the unit counts, using track-equivalent and streaming-equivalent metrics. The RIAA also maintains the Gold & Platinum database, which tracks these certifications and is widely cited in industry reporting.

The RIAA engages in copyright policy advocacy and anti-piracy enforcement, including litigation against illicit file-sharing services. In the early 2000s it led high-profile actions against peer-to-peer networks such as Napster, and it continues to pursue enforcement against unauthorized distribution and piracy today. The association collaborates with law enforcement, policymakers, and industry partners to protect intellectual property.

The RIAA also collects and publishes industry statistics, market analyses, and consumer education materials intended to inform members, policymakers, and the public about trends in recorded music consumption.

Membership is dominated by major labels, but the organization also includes independent companies in its roster, and it acts as a liaison among industry players on policy and regulatory matters.