Hilary ‘RIAA’ Rosen: Huffington Post polperson
p2pnet news | RIAA News:- “The Huffington Post has established itself as both a credible and diverse news organization as well as the pre-eminent home for progressive opinion. I am really excited to help expand our voice during this critical election period.”
That’s ex-RIAA dissembler-in-chief Hilary Rosen (right) on her just-announced appointment as the outlet’s political person.
She’s thus quoted in the New York Observer from whence comes the great pic showing her with ex-MPAA boss Hack Valenti, now dead.
Rosen’s mastery of the art of spin will be a great asset to the Puffington Host.
The pic shows her trying to claim the RIAA and its masters, Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony BMG, care about the gross obscenities routinely regurgitated as ‘lyrics’ on significant numbers of Big 4 releases.
“The recording industry takes seriously our responsibility to help parents identify music with explicit lyrics,” said Rosen back in 2000. “We believe that not all music is right for all ages and our Parental Advisory Label was created for just that reason.”
But, “I think that it is hypocritical for the music industry to claim that it is helping parents by placing a parental advisory [explicit content] label on a CD, while at the same time undermining parents by aggressively marketing the same CD to children,” stated then Federal Trade Commissioner Orson Swindle a year later.
The FTC had just released, Marketing Violent Entertainment to Children and of the 55 music recordings with explicit content labels the FTC reviewed, it found all 55 were aimed at children under 17.
“Rosen’s statement responding to a follow-up study would lead anyone to conclude the FTC had awarded the RIAA a large pat on the back for a good job well done,” said p2pnet, continuing >>>
Her puff release said: “The Recording Industry has made tremendous progress in our campaign to inform parents about the Parental Advisory. Surveys show that public education is what parents care most about and we are confident in our success in this area.
“We are heartened that the Federal Trade Commission’s report did reflect the many steps we have taken and the progress we have made to strengthen our program.”
Far from acknowledging the music industry’s sterling efforts, however, the FTC singled it out for further deep criticism and Swindle wrote a separate statement to the FTC’s 5-0 approval of the report to specifically emphasize, “the lack of serious attention given by the music industry and by retailers to the Commission’s recommendations in its two earlier reports,” concluding:
“After over 12 months of scrutiny, reports, and numerous recommendations, the music industry and retailers have chosen to do next to nothing.”
Says the New York Observer, “In 2003, Ms. Rosen was profiled by Matt Bai in Wired in a piece called ‘Hating Hilary,’ in which she’s seen as, “the embodiment of a venal corporate culture hurtling toward obsolescence”.
Bai went on, “It seems she’ll stop at nothing to frighten those who share music online instead of buying it in a store – hacking into networks, threatening universities and businesses, sending out subpoenas to unmask music-swappers”.
Seem familiar?
Meanwhile, on her new job, “Rosen e-mailed Media Mob to offer this statement,” says the story, to wit >>>>
I am confident that when the real story of those tumultuous years in the record industry [is written], history will show I was a strong advocate for compromises that would have served everyone’s interest—especially music fans. And I’m equally sure that my history of working closely with members of the technology community and the entertainment industry from RIAA to tech companies to starting Ourchart.com has moved the ball forward for all online users.
Riiiiight.
Here’s the Huffington puff piece >>>
The Huffington Post, a leading news and opinion site, announced today that Hilary Rosen, noted political and media consultant, has been named Political Director and Washington Editor-at-Large. The Huffington Post co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington made the announcement. In this new role, Ms. Rosen will liaise with elected officials and Congressional leaders, coordinate coverage of the upcoming national conventions, and assist in the recruiting of political, business and cultural bloggers.
“I’m delighted to welcome Hilary to the team,” said Ms. Huffington. “With her experience in the power corridors of Washington DC, and her extensive network of contacts, Hilary will be a driving force in taking HuffPost’s political coverage to the next level. Her seasoned perspective, judgment and relationships will be of enormous value as our political reporting continues to expand.”
Said Ms. Rosen: “The Huffington Post has established itself as both a credible and diverse news organization as well as the pre-eminent home for progressive opinion. I am really excited to help expand our voice during this critical election period.”
Ms. Rosen is a veteran of Washington and Capitol Hill, where she is well-known for her expertise on the political, legislative and public affairs process. She is the former Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade group representing the U.S. sound recording industry, where she served for 17 years before retiring in June 2003. She is an advisor to many Democratic candidates for federal and local offices. Rosen also has a 25-year history of pro-bono lobbying for LGBT civil rights laws and responsible AIDS policy. She has been instrumental in the passage of numerous public laws.
She is a respected communications expert and serves as a frequent on-air political commentator. Rosen maintains her involvement and influence within the media industry as an advisor to various companies on digital distribution and consumer branding strategies for entertainment and media properties. Rosen is also a Partner in Berman Rosen Global Strategies, a consulting firm with expertise in intellectual property policy development.
Being in the RIAA is like being in the Mafia, with which it’s often accurately compared, said p2pnet yesterday,m adding:
“Once you’re in, you never leave.”
.
.Stumble It!
New York Observer – Former RIAA Head Rosen Tapped as HuffPo Political Director, May 20, 2008
p2pnet – Wal-Mart sued over ‘f’ word, December 11, 2004
p2pnet – RIAA-ex Hilary Rosen joins Huffington Post, May 25, 2008
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May 27th, 2008 at 1:22 am
They’re just a bunch of lying hypocrites, among other things. Classic photo. Woof!
May 27th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
“The Huffington Post has established itself as both a credible and diverse news organization.” About as credible as the RIAA.