RIAA Taps Washington Insider as Chairman

The music industry reached out to a veteran Republican insider Monday, naming Mitch Bainwol its chief lobbyist and top executive.

Bainwol will assume the title of chairman and chief executive of the Recording Industry Assn. of America starting Sept. 1. The post is one of the highest-paid lobbying jobs in Washington, with an annual salary of about $1 million.

In appointing Bainwol, the RIAA has tapped a leader with close ties to Washington’s current power base at a time when the industry faces a crucial fight against digital piracy, which continues to erode its profits.

Over the last month, the RIAA has stepped up its offensive against piracy, obtaining subpoenas to identify those it believed were violating music copyrights.

But the association has become a target of critics who accuse the organization of using heavy-handed tactics against small-time users. Grass-roots groups are forming in an effort to pressure the industry to back off.

The naming of Bainwol, 44, is part of a wholesale changing of the guard for the entertainment industry in Washington.

Jack Valenti, Hollywood’s top lobbyist and president of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, has been laying the groundwork for his eventual succession after 37 years on the job. But a decision on Valenti’s replacement probably is months away.

Bainwol will replace Hilary Rosen, who, citing personal reasons, left at the end of last month to become a CNBC television commentator.

Rosen had worked for the RIAA for 17 years, serving as CEO since 1998.

“Mitch brings to the RIAA the consummate insider’s understanding of political nuance in Washington,” said Roger Ames, chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group.

Bainwol enjoys close ties to the Republicans in power in Washington. A graduate of Georgetown University and Rice University, he first served in Washington during President Reagan’s administration. Most recently a consultant, Bainwol served briefly as chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).

Bainwol was executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which raises money for Republican Senate candidates and was instrumental in helping the party retake the Senate in the 2002 elections.

He also served as chief of staff to Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) and as chief of staff to the Republican National Committee, where he became known as a top political strategist.

RIAA President Cary Sherman has been in charge of the RIAA in the interim.

About a dozen top candidates were said to have been interviewed for the job by senior music executives before Bainwol was picked.

The RIAA represents the five major record companies -- Sony Corp.’s Sony Music Entertainment, Vivendi Universal’s Universal Music Group, AOL Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Music Group, Bertelsmann’s BMG division and EMI Group.

Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, said he didn’t know Bainwol but was looking forward to working with him.

“Now, more than ever, it’s important that the music communities work together to ensure the protection and advancement of music makers,” Portnow said.