Become an RIAA Member
Benefits of membership:
- Discounted rates on Gold & Platinum Program certifications. The charge for individual certifications is $350 for RIAA member companies, while non-members are charged $450 per certification, which must be pre-paid.
- Inclusion in RIAA’s listing of member companies.
- Utilizing a variety of tactics and tools, our anti-piracy staff works tirelessly to protect the copyrights of our member labels. For example, our expert online piracy team constantly monitors the illegal trading of copyrighted songs on the Internet and sends tens of millions of “takedown notices” for unauthorized songs to the illegal sites and services themselves, as well as to search engines, ISPs, and a variety of other online intermediaries.
Requirements:
To become an RIAA member company, your label must:
- Be a U.S. based record label/company.*
- Distribute recordings of performances to U.S. consumers under your label for home use.
- Have not been engaged in the piracy of sound recordings during the last five years.
*If your company is distributed through a major record label (Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, or Warner Music Group), you are already a member.
How to Apply:
(Please note: We will not review your application without payment of fee, the completed application form, the signed confidentially agreement, and copies of your two sound recordings.)
- Download RIAA Membership packet here.
- Email your completed application form and copies of two (2) sound recordings released by your company in the U.S. Market to RIAAmembership@riaa.com.
- If you are submitting examples of digital music product sold by your company in the United States, please attach:
- Digital copies of each recording (.mp3 or .zip file format); and
- Screen shots (.doc or .jpeg file format) showing the availability of your recordings for purchase on the website of a legitimate online music retailer (Apple Music, Spotify, etc.).
- If you are submitting examples of physical music product sold by your company in the United States, please attach:
- Digital files of the sound recordings (.mp3 or .zip file format); and
- Screenshots of the outside packaging for the sound recordings (front and back covers) as offered for purchase.
- If you are submitting examples of digital music product sold by your company in the United States, please attach:
- Please mail your application fee of $100.00 (with your label/company name) to:
- RIAA
Attn: Member Services
1000 F Street, NW
2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20004
- RIAA
RIAA will contact applicants whose materials have passed an initial review to discuss membership fees and additional documentation to complete the application process.
Please contact RIAAmembership@riaa.com regarding membership questions/concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Complimentary access to RIAA’s U.S. recording industry revenue database, which includes total year-end shipment and revenue statistics for the recorded music industry in the United States going back to 1973. The database allows users to view, compare, and export historical year-end U.S. revenue statistics. Discounted rates on Gold & Platinum Program certifications. The charge for individual certifications is $350 for RIAA member companies, while non-members are charged $450 per certification, which must be pre-paid. Inclusion in RIAA’s listing of member companies. Utilizing a variety of tactics and tools, our anti-piracy staff works tirelessly to protect the copyrights of our member labels. For example, our expert online piracy teams constantly monitors the illegal trading of copyrighted songs on the Internet and send tens of millions of “takedown notices” for unauthorized songs, to the illegal sites and services themselves, as well as to search engines, ISPs, and a variety of other online intermediaries.
U.S. based record label/companies.* Those who distribute recordings of performances to U.S. consumers under your label for home use. Those who have not been engaged in the piracy of sound recordings during the last five years.
*If your company is distributed through a major record label (Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, or Warner Music Group), you are already a member.
If you meet the requirements, please complete an application form, pay the $100 application fee, and submit two samples of your recordings. We will then review your application to confirm you meet the requirements. If approved, your application fee will be credited towards your dues.
No. If you are distributed through a major record label (Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, or Warner Music Group), you are already a member.
No. SoundExchange was established as an unincorporated division of the RIAA in 2000 to pay royalties to artists and record labels for certain digital performances in the United States (webcasting, satellite radio, etc.). In 2003, SoundExchange became an independent performance rights organization. In 2013, the group celebrated its 10 year anniversary and nearly $2 billion paid to musicians and labels. Visit www.soundexchange.com to learn more and become a member. AARC was also established by the RIAA to pay home-taping royalties to artists and record companies. In 1993, it became an independent organization. Visit www.aarcroyalties.com to learn more and become a member. ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC pay royalties to songwriters and publishers for certain performances in the United States. Visit their websites for more details.
No. Any record label or artist that complies with the Parental Advisory Label Program and its Standards can apply for a license to use the Parental Advisory Label. Click here for more details.
We no longer administer the FBI Seal. Follow their new guidelines, listed here.
There is an application fee of $100. If you are approved, your application fee will be credited towards your dues.
RIAA will take the revenue data provided by the applicant on the Revenue Declaration form, determine which member category the applicant falls under on the Dues Schedule, and charge the amount indicated.
It may take several days to several weeks, depending upon when the application materials and fee are submitted.
RIAA works to protect 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. RIAA does not generally provide individual legal advice.
No, we do not license our logo to be used in this manner. You can use the words “RIAA” and link it back to our website.
Yes, the sale of a compilation of your previously released material would qualify as an exemplar for your membership application.
Indie labels distributed by other indie labels have to go through the same application process. Only labels distributed by a major label obtain RIAA membership without going through the application process.