Record Group Chief Sets Departure

Hilary Rosen, who earlier said she would step down as chief executive of the Recording Industry Assn. of America, plans to leave her post at the end of the month to become a television commentator and speaker.

The trade group’s president, Cary Sherman, has been tapped to supervise the association until a permanent replacement for Rosen is found.

Senior music executives have interviewed about a dozen candidates so far, including several this week.

Rosen, who had been chief executive of the group since 1998, said Thursday that she would become a commentator on the CNBC cable network and probably field public speaking opportunities. She said she already had rejected at least one book proposal.

The veteran Washington insider, who has led the music industry’s political efforts during the upheaval created by the Internet, will remain as a consultant to the organization for the next year.

Rosen suggested that her successor might see the return of stability to the industry, which is suffering from plunging profits and surging piracy.

“I don’t think that the tumultuousness of the last couple of years will be repeated again for a long time,” she said.