Recording 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.