RIAA MISSION STATEMENT The U.S. sound recording industry is one of the most influential, creative and visible industries in the world. Through the talent of thousands of artists, producers, and musicians, it entertains millions of people around the world, and it does so with recordings of remarkable diversity and depth. The U.S. sound recording industry is not only one of our country's greatest cultural assets, but it is one of our greatest economic assets. Representing the industry in Washington is the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a trade association whose member companies create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 90 percent of all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States. The association's more than 250 members include such familiar record companies as Warner Bros. Records, Columbia, Motown, RCA, Geffen, and Capitol, as well as lesser- known labels such as Sparrow, Jim Henson Records, Rabbit Ears, and One Little Indian. Founded in 1952, the RIAA's mission is to promote the mutual interests of recording companies, as well as the betterment of the industry overall through successful government relations (both federal and state), intellectual property protection, and international activities. The association also operates an aggressive anti-piracy unit, conducts extensive consumer and industry research, and provides ongoing communications support. The RIAA is the official certification agency for gold, platinum and multi-platinum record awards. In 1996, U.S. record companies generated $12.5 billion in domestic sales. That growth, which has continued steadily for more than a decade, is fueled by consumers' insatiable demand for American music, ranging from rock to gospel. As a trade commodity, U.S. sound recordings are a precious asset and a powerful contributor to our balance of trade -- our industry creates almost a third of the world's recordings, which in 1996 was more than $32 billion in sales. Hilary B. Rosen serves as the association's President and CEO.