RIAA CEO Hilary Rosen to Become CNBC Commentator

alen writes "According to a story by the New York Post the CEO of the RIAA is stepping down. She is going to be an anchor on CNBC. Maybe this is going to signal a change in the way record companies think about file sharing?"

Fat chance!

[imadork]

Maybe this is going to signal a change in the way record companies think about file sharing?

Fat chance, considering who wants to replace her! [wired.com]

of course

[Anonymous Coward]

Just like Cheney quit his CEO job to become VP of the USA and conquer up some oil for his buddies back at Haliburton so it is that Hillary Rosen will quit the RIAA to spread propoganda for her RIAA industry chums on the TV.

I honestly doubt it

[jesse.k]

I really don't see how hilary rosen resigning is gonna signal any change in how the RIAA does business, if anything it might get worse. I can easily see her replacement being yet another lawyer headed shark from one of the big record labels.

If the record industry wanted to save itself, they'd drop the cost of CDs down to $8 or less and partner with someone like Apple to deliver a real legal digital music service. Then they might find a more sympathetic ear in regards to piracy.

She might change her opinion on digital media

[Frac]

I wouldn't be surprised if Hilary Rosen would become more open to digital media in general.

Afterall, she was simply the talking head for RIAA - when Hilary Rosen speaks out against P2P, it's not because Rosen hates P2P, but rather it's because the five record companies tell her to do so. I recall reading articles on Rosen quietly expressing frustration at times with the record companies' unwillingness to compromise or embrace new business models.

She obvious has a very strong domain of knowledge in the recording industry, and now that she's free from the shackles of being the public face of RIAA, I'm actually looking forward to hear her personal opinion on digital distribution.

Rough Edges...

[XplosiveX]

If Rosen has some rough edges, it's not surprising, given the difficult task of leading her industry through the perils of the Internet revolution. So far, her strategy has been to fight aggressively to control Internet distribution channels through new legislation, standards for copyright protection technology and aggressive litigation.

What's the differerence

[wfrp01]

What's the difference between NBC, CNBC, and MSNBC? And gee, do you think there's any conflict of interest in having an IP lawyer not only work, but anchor a media organization?!

Someday naming your daughter Hillary will be as favorable as naming your son Adolph.

Or maybe....

[MortisUmbra]

She just didn't have sharp enough teeth?

MAYBE, they will replace her with somebody ten time s worse? Considering her lack of accomplishments (i.e. all those evil filesharers are still walking free) I wouldn't be suprised.

Mary Bono wants the job

[ryder]

And that's not a good thing.

I saw a bit about Mary Bono wanting the job a few days ago. Here's a link to the wired story [wired.com] This can't be a good thing considernig the 1998 copyright extension bill bares her late husbands name.

Re:No dearth of crazies to take the helm

[retto]

There was also a piece on 20/20 a few months or so that was pretty pro-file-sharing. John Stossel for it, Barbara Walters was against (Barb you ignorant slut!). There was also a newsweek or time article (I get both, and can't remember which it was in) about DRM. Even had a nice graphic of a pair of hands handcuffed in front a computer screen. That kind of press will reach a lot of people that would never have cared about the DMCA before, or figured it wouldn't apply to anything they do. Hopefully that will draw more people over the 'free-speech' side, as posting anti-RIAA comments on /. is like preaching to the choir.

Re:Mouthpiece or policymaker?

[silne]

who don't want you to be able to copy your CDs

My CDs? Since when have they been my cds? I only pay money to purchase them. Has the US Govt suddenly decided that because somebody's paid money for something that it actually belongs to them??

Re:Fat chance!

[binarybum]

I'm not sure exactly how the RIAA works, but I imagine record companies have some say about this position, no?

People in powerful high-paying positions like that often don't step-down so much as they are asked to step down. Is it possible that the record companies are looking for someone who's even more of a total bitch than Rosen? Like Bono perhaps?

Re:don't count on it

[Blue Stone]

"HR did not make the policy, she was just the mouth piece of the companies."

What if... *shudder*.... she was a moderating voice amongst the companies?

Scary thing is....

[Sven The Space Monke]

The scariest part is that she was. At least according to her Wired interview - she made it sound like she was the lone voice of reason. I remember her saying she tried to convince them (the real power holders in the RIAA) that they won't be able to end file sharing through legal means or DRM, and that they will have to embrace the future (easy & cheap digital distrobution) if they don't want to go under. I also seem to remember her saying she has an iPod loaded with mp3's.

Not that I'm defending all those PR statements she made, or anything like that.

A scary combination

[drdale]

Don't forget that CNBC is a venture between NBC and... Microsoft. Go to the CNBC page [cnbc.com] and see where you end up.

Even more effective

[wardk]

Rosen will be exponentially more valuable to RIAA interests as a "news commentator". Her valuable insight into the plight of the music industry will help illuminate to the viewers what a horrid menace to society P2P really is.

she will help bring truth to this simple good vs. evil story. plus she's always fought the good fight, so she's a patriot too.

what an inspirational piece of news. pass the tums please.

Re:Fat chance!

[letxa2000]

The difference is that the intent of GPL is to make sure that open code stays that way. The intent of copyrighted music is to keep it "closed" and create scarcity.

Basically, many people want everything here to be free. It's not that they're inconsistent, it's just that in a world where some individuals and corporations would take the free product of open-sources and turn it into closed-source products you use their same copyright laws against them to make sure it doesn't happen.

Nice troll though.

Re:Scary thing is....

[cshark]

You can't fault her for that. The RIAA is a terrible organization. Even in her position, I would imagine that there isn't much she could have done to change things.

I mean would you want to work with a consortium that takes more pleasure in suing defensless college studants than actually producing a viable product? I don't blame her for stepping down. Any other sensible person would have done the same.

Given her experience with the RIAA though, I would be curious to see what stance she takes as a commentator.

Re:Scary thing is....

[chundo]

Here's an interview with her [wired.com] from 2000... she almost sounds downright reasonable at times. I wouldn't be surprised if she was more ready to embrace new technologies than the member companies, and was forced in the other direction.

-j

Fewer new titles?

[yerricde]

Most seem to be under the delusion that P2P networks don't hurt sales.

Does P2P file sharing hurt record sales more than a slow economy and fewer new titles [theregister.co.uk]?

And many who aren't under that delusion believe that a one-line disclaimer saying "don't use this software for copyright infringement" is plausible deniability.

In the USA: If a product is capable of substantial non-infringing use, then making or selling that product is not contributory infringement of copyright in works that the product is able to copy (RIAA v. Grokster, citing Sony v. Universal).

Personally, yes, I'm against copyright law

I agree that copyright as we know it is fundamentally broken, but what alternative model gives authors an incentive to create works without copyright's drawbacks? I know of patronage (that is, commissioning of original works for use in advertising) and the Street Performer Protocol (which is useful for series), but are there other models with as wide applicability as copyright?