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Music Media

Mitch Bainwol To Succeed Hilary Rosen As RIAA Head 480

bmarklein writes "The RIAA has announced that it has named Mitch Bainwol, former chief of staff to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, as chairman & CEO. He replaces Hilary Rosen, who left earlier this month. This confirms the speculation that the RIAA would appoint a well-connected Republican (Rosen was a Democrat)." Several readers have submitted links to CNET's coverage as well. Update: 07/29 12:30 GMT by J : Lobbyists wield incredible power nowadays, and Slate's report on why was enlightening. Here's part 1 and part 2. Includes lyrics to the rap recorded for Rosen's going-away party by some of the most powerful people in the world: "Who wants the job of Hilary Rosen? / How 'bout the dream team of Bono and Tauzin?"
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Mitch Bainwol To Succeed Hilary Rosen As RIAA Head

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  • Hey (Score:5, Funny)

    by Surak ( 18578 ) * <surakNO@SPAMmailblocks.com> on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:09AM (#6556416) Homepage Journal
    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist

    Is this a Frist Psot?
  • by BWJones ( 18351 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:13AM (#6556439) Homepage Journal
    This confirms the speculation that the RIAA would appoint a well-connected Republican (Rosen was a Democrat)."

    Well, I suppose from this wording there will not be any political flame wars generated from this.... :-)

  • Tattoo (Score:5, Funny)

    by Ryan Stortz ( 598060 ) <ryan0rz&gmail,com> on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:14AM (#6556452)
    Damn, now I need to get that "Death to Hillary" tattoo removed.
  • So... (Score:5, Funny)

    by zifty ( 692892 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:15AM (#6556460)
    We're replacing a liberal die-hard conservative with a republican die-hard conservative to head a company whose conservatism rivals Dubbya's lack of intelligence.

    I think I'll have a good cry.

  • by jeffkjo1 ( 663413 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:17AM (#6556473) Homepage
    Bainwol said in a statement. "What could be more rewarding than helping to promote two great American traditions: music and property rights?"

    Damnit... And all along I thought it was baseball and barbeques.
  • by fidget42 ( 538823 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:21AM (#6556494)
    /me sits back and waits for people to start making fun of his name.....

    You mean simething like: "Can you imagine a Bainwol cluster of these?"
  • Email? (Score:2, Funny)

    by wmspringer ( 569211 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:21AM (#6556500) Homepage Journal
    So, is everyone going to email him and congratulate him on his new job? I'm sure he'd love to hear what slashdotters think he should do first..
  • by HermanAB ( 661181 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:21AM (#6556501)

    Well, in the time honoured tradition, repressed citizens of the freedom loving USA, can still flee to Canada. Maybe, just maybe, claiming persecution by the evil RIAA, will get you refugee status.

    If anything, it will probably get the Vietnam vets and slave traders to spin in their graves at 45rpm...

  • Re:Tattoo (Score:5, Funny)

    by greysky ( 136732 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:22AM (#6556504)
    You'd probably be best to keep it for when "the other Hillary" runs for the White House in 2008.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:23AM (#6556510)
    What could be more rewarding than helping to promote two great American traditions: music and property rights?" Bainwol said in a statement.

    What would be more rewarding that promoting music and property rights? Hmmmm tough one there.

    How about the immense joy, convenience and satisfaction associated with obtaining music online? Heck, how about masturbation for that matter.

  • Armageddon (Score:4, Funny)

    by arvindn ( 542080 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:35AM (#6556580) Homepage Journal
    I can't help getting the feeling that as the inevitable ganging together of the forces of evil accelerates, armageddon can't be far off.
  • by teamhasnoi ( 554944 ) * <teamhasnoi AT yahoo DOT com> on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:37AM (#6556592) Journal

    Thank God I'm not sharing Midnight Oil or I could end up being 'liberated' in the head.

    *knock, knock*

    Hold on a sec....

    Hey! What the..?! *PFhhT*

    *thunk*

    I FULLY SUPPORRT OUR NEW REPUBLIC KAN OVERLOARDS!!

  • by Alien Being ( 18488 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:38AM (#6556595)
    Didn't he try to buy uranium from Nigeria?
  • Re:Former? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Waffle Iron ( 339739 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:39AM (#6556604)
    Why did Bainwol get fired from / leave his previous position?

    He was just carried along by the angular momentum of the congressional/lobbyist revolving door.

  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:42AM (#6556613)
    is you kidding?

    property rights almost DEFINE America!

    But of course I wonder what the hell does that have to do with Copyrights and music.. copyright takes the concept of property right and flips it upside down.

    I can just imagine if the RIAA was around in the early days of America:

    RIAA exec: Hi there Farmer Joe, I'd like to talk to you about potential copyright infringements, specifically your Friday-night get-togethers where you sing unlicensed performances of Little Brown Jug.

    Farmer: Git off mah property, monkey-suit boy! I bought that there sheet music fair an' square!

    RIAA exec: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you only purchased the rights to perform it in the presence of yourself and one optional family member. Inviting the neighborhood over to "sing along" constitutes an infringment of the our rights.

    Farmer: What the hell are you talkin' about! I BOUGHT that there sheet music, that there sheet music is mine, same as the door you're a-standin' in, and the gun I'm a-gettin right now to blast a hole in your flabby gut.

    RIAA exec: Now now Farmer Joe, that's not how copyrights work, the rights to perform the song still belong to us. Now, we can settle this matter if you pay us $15,000, and we promise not to take away your house.

    Farmer: You're an ijit. *BLAM* *BLAM*
  • by Txiasaeia ( 581598 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:44AM (#6556626)
    ... repressed citizens of the freedom loving USA, can still flee to Canada. Maybe, just maybe, claiming persecution by the evil RIAA, will get you refugee status...

    Forget that. I think we're going to go with the time honoured American tradition of overreacting [canada.com] and turn you guys away at the border.

    HOWEVER, if you come bearing A&W Sparkling Vanilla Cream Soda, I will greet you at the border myself.

  • by vegetablespork ( 575101 ) <vegetablespork@gmail.com> on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:48AM (#6556645) Homepage
    . . . rumors from unnamed sources on the Hill are that the only MP3 file that will be able to be shared within the U.S. and its possesions [iana.org] without fear of prosecution by the Department of Homeland Security will be Horst Wessel Lied.
  • by ramzak2k ( 596734 ) * on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @12:52AM (#6556670)
    He hasn't even DONE anything yet.

    And we are just practicing.
  • by snooo53 ( 663796 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @01:08AM (#6556740) Journal

    Hey now! at least give the guy a day to prove he's right in line with the rest of the recording industry.

    Ya never know, maybe being a conservative republican (and therefore presumably a good businessman) he will figure the P/E ratio of litigation and public intimidation isn't nearly as high as say, lowering the prices of CDs and driving up sales which is ultimately what I think this debate all comes down to.

    Then again maybe I will magically get enough money for that Z5 convertible I've been wanting the last few years. I'm telling you, $6 DRM-free CDs... people will buy them buy them by the truckload, p2p networks or not. Maybe by some small chance he'll figure it out.... don't hold your breath though.

  • by teamhasnoi ( 554944 ) * <teamhasnoi AT yahoo DOT com> on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @01:11AM (#6556753) Journal
    Mitch promises to bring a revival to the music industry.

    "Gone are the days when Auto-Tune carried a song! I will bring back talent to the Industry!", Mitch crowed at a Republican fund raiser, to the applause of many rich, white fat men.

    "It's high time the kids of today learned what music should sound like! I remember when talent drove the market, not the other way around! When I ascend to the throne, I will bring talent! I will bring value! I will bring CDs unencumbered with copy protection, and chock full of value!" Mitch puctuated these remarks with a pounding fist and spittle.

    Mitch finished his speech to the attendees with a rousing cry, "The RIAA will no longer be the 'bad guy'! We will sponsor new artists and stick with them, developing careers and encouraging creativity! We will offer all signed artists with new contracts, spelling out exactly what they will make - no hidden accounting!"

    "We will no longer chase file-sharers, who only do us a favor by expanding both our horizons with music, and purchase more CDs than ever before! We will never allow another American Idol or Making of the Band or manufactured marketing-friendly boy band again! All copyrights will revert to the original artist!"

    "I will personally include a puppy with every single sold! *HAHAHAAHAHA.cough cough..oh shit, I thought I could keep a straight face! Pass the bong guys, *wheeeezee* this is going to be great! I can't wait to absolutely wreck music forever! These shits are gonna be scared to look at a guitar, much less pick one up when we get done with them..I am gonna be SHITTTIIING moooonnnneeey, muthafuc...*hack* Oh, Bushies here!!! WHoooHOOO! Let's DO SOME LINES!!! Where's the White Lady??HAHAHAhaha..."

    This re-enactment is for entertainment only. It is not intended to portray Republicans as evil, rich, fat white, self-serving drug monkeys. Nor did Mitch ever say any of these things in front of me. Thank you, and please drink republicanly. ;)

  • by Lost Penguin ( 636359 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @01:30AM (#6556814)
    MP3's are easier to find than WMD's
  • by phorm ( 591458 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @01:35AM (#6556839) Journal
    Nobody copies our country music and gets away with it (even if they don't get caught, they suffer)!!!

    Are you sure that the CRIA can do anything about this, they may only have authorization over matters of Canadian artists.
  • by phorm ( 591458 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @01:54AM (#6556916) Journal
    Interesting... I've always assumed that the RIAA wasn't lead by a head, so much as a collection of asses...
  • Re:Tattoo (Score:2, Funny)

    by Oz_mjk ( 686888 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @02:23AM (#6557008)
    What if Hillary wins? I for one welcome our new robot master... oh wait what the fuck am I saying?? I say viva le death to hillary
  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @02:34AM (#6557047)

    "Pre-paid senators..."

    I think sentators should be freely downloadable.
  • by Monkelectric ( 546685 ) <[moc.cirtceleknom] [ta] [todhsals]> on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @02:59AM (#6557107)
    property rights almost DEFINE America!

    Tell that to the indians ... or I will, when I'm done gambling

  • by heretic108 ( 454817 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @03:01AM (#6557116)
    Parking in a 'No Parking' zone:
    - $40-$200 fine

    Petty Theft:
    - $200 fine to 90 days' jail

    Aggravated Assault:
    - 90 days to 5 years' jail

    3rd Degree Murder:
    - 3 to 10 years' jail

    2nd Degree Murder:
    - 8 to 20 years' jail

    Associating With A Person Who Is Known To Have Had KaZaa Installed On Their Hard Disk:
    - 25 to life!
  • Re:Former? (Score:3, Funny)

    by darnok ( 650458 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @03:03AM (#6557119)
    "I'll just confirm that with Chief of Staff BAINWOL"

    "Look out, here comes BAINWOL"

    I'll hazard a guess that having all your underlings laugh whenever they hear your name would tend to undermine your authority somewhat...

    Is this a real name, or something made up? He's not so much an enigma as an abbreviation:
    Bastards
    Allied
    In
    Neutering
    Wo rd
    Of
    Law
  • by Alien Being ( 18488 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @03:19AM (#6557157)
    limit bach now
    omni law bitch
    wino itch balm
    blow manic hit
    him can blow it
    i bowl in match
    nail mob witch
    mail bitch now
    howl at ibm inc
    i watch no limb
    climb a hit now
    octal whim bin
    hint i blow mca
  • by commodoresloat ( 172735 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @04:49AM (#6557422)
    And all along I thought it was baseball and barbeques.

    You misspelled "beer."

  • by Gordonjcp ( 186804 ) on Tuesday July 29, 2003 @10:46AM (#6559036) Homepage
    Erm, what? Your political system allows you to choose between right-wing and right-wing?


    Just stay where you are, we'll send some people over to assassinate your political leaders and "liberate" you, just as soon as we get them back from Iraq. We'll phone you when it's done.

The moon is made of green cheese. -- John Heywood

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