Loading LOADING ....
Skip to main content

About RIAA

Become an RIAA Member
Overview RIAA Members Become an RIAA Member Board & Executives Music Organizations Internship Program

Benefits of membership:

  • Discounted rates on Gold & Platinum Program certifications.  
  • Inclusion in RIAA’s listing of member companies.
  • Having RIAA as a voice in federal and state government advocating for music creators.
  • Having RIAA engage in broad enforcement programs to protect our members’ rights.

Requirements:

To become an RIAA member company, you must:

  • Be a record label/company based in the US.*
  • Distribute recordings of performances to US 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 in the US through a major record label (Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, or Warner Music Group), you are already a member.

How to Apply:

  • Please contact RIAA at 202-775-0101 for further details.
  • Please note that there is a non-refundable $250 application fee that does not apply toward dues.
  • It may take several weeks to process your application.
  • If your application is approved, your annual dues will be based on your annual revenues. 

Important information about Membership

  • RIAA works to protect the intellectual property and First Amendment rights of artists and music labels; conducts consumer, industry, and technical research; and monitors and reviews state and federal laws, regulations, and policies. RIAA does not generally provide individual legal advice.
  • RIAA does not collect or distribute streaming royalties. SoundExchange pays royalties to artists and record labels for certain digital performances of their sound recordings in the United States. Please visit www.soundexchange.com to learn more and join SoundExchange.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the application process and benefits of being an RIAA member.

No, SoundExchange pays royalties to artists and record labels for certain digital performances of their sound recordings in the United States. Please visit www.soundexchange.com to learn more and join SoundExchange.

Also the MLC, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and others pay royalties to songwriters and publishers for certain uses of their work. Visit their websites for more details.

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. Instead, please follow the FBI guidelines for use of the FBI seal, which are available 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.