RIAA Salaries

SALARY CAPS: Apparently $2 million is the going rate for the head of a trade organization. Fresh from yesterday’s revelation that RIAA head Mitch Bainwol is pulling in $2 million a year comes word from the org’s VP of Communications Jonathan Lamy that the total is “what top trade association chiefs in DC make,” telling Digital Music News: “That’s the barometer for the select few folks who have the political and leadership qualities to lead high-profile organizations." Of course, Lamy himself took home nearly $299k in 2008, noting that Bainwol's salary is now closer to $1.5 million and that the RIAA is “half the size we used to be,” indicating the labels have put pressure on the RIAA, IFPI, BPI and others to compress or merge over recent years. There were also some major payouts to outside law firms, including Holme Roberts & Owen ($9.4 million) and Jenner & Block ($7.1 million), undoubtedly to sue illicit file-sharers. (7/13a)