Hilary Rosen
| Hilary Rosen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 (age 54–55) West Orange, New Jersey |
| Known for | Lobbyist for the RIAA & BP, punditry |
Hilary Beth Rosen (born 1958) is an American lobbyist and Democratic pundit. She worked for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for 16 years where she was CEO from 1998 to 2003. In June 2010, during Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Rosen worked to help British Petroleum (BP).[1] She works for the public relations firm SKDKnickerbocker.
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Early life [edit]
Rosen was born in West Orange, New Jersey in 1958.[2] She received her BBA degree from George Washington University.
Lobbyist for the Recording Industry [edit]
Rosen was with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) from 1987 to 2003 and served first as President and then Chair and CEO from 1998 to 2003.[3] She presided over the RIAA during the period of when the rise of the Internet notably conflicted with the established Recording Industry interests. She was paid to lobby the US Legislature and was a regular presence on behalf of the her employers in the Recording Industry at a time against proponents of file-sharing and new Internet technologies. During her tenure the RIAA filed lawsuits against early peer-to-peer file-sharing communities including Napster, Audiogalaxy and Grokster. The organization lobbied the US Congress to pass controversial legislation supporting Recording Industry interests, such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Record Rental Act, and numerous trade treaties (see Societal views on intellectual property). Despite the RIAA's aggressive tactics, online file-swapping has continued to grow. Industry critics, including those within the Association, have begun to question the effectiveness of the campaign. Indeed, many believe that the RIAA's activities alienated consumers and some popular artists from the very music industry the RIAA is supposed to protect. Rosen has expressed her agreement with this assertion.
The RIAA, under Rosen, attempted to lobby for strict digital copyright protection, including copy protected CDs and DRM-enabled media formats for personal computers. Copy-protected CDs were widely rejected by consumers for a variety of technological and political issues. Rosen's RIAA advanced a legal and public relations campaign to limit the digital file swapping of copyrighted music.
In 2002, Rosen began to argue that the Recording Industry should begin even more aggressive tactics aimed at individual citizens engaged in filesharing. The content industry, already facing an anti-copyright backlash opted against Rosen's approach.
Speaking in 2007, Rosen said
- "It's pretty well known that I was impatient with the pace of the [Music] industry's embrace of online distribution of music. There's no substitute for speed when times are dire. The record companies had valid reasons for their caution, but that caution let the situation get out of hand."[4]
In 2010, Rosen gave an interview and spoke candidly on her career: "When I gave $1,000 or $2,000 to a lawmaker, I wanted him to listen to my business proposition. And when I helped organize an event that raised $50,000 or $100,000, you bet I expected their vote. Why else do it?"[5]
Departure from RIAA [edit]
Rosen resigned as head of the RIAA at the end of 2003 with the officially stated reason that Rosen's wanted to spend more time with her partner, Elizabeth Birch, and the twins they adopted in 1999. Birch was then the executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, an organization devoted to LGBT rights.[6]
Rosen is herself a lesbian[7] and briefly served as interim director for the LGBT organization Human Rights Campaign in 2004.[8] Her partner Elizabeth Birch had been the executive director of HRC for eight years prior.
Rosen and Birch separated in 2006.[9]
Consultant and pundit [edit]
In 2006, Rosen founded Berman Rosen Global Strategies, a short-lived consulting firm, with Jason Berman, Chairman of the International Recording Industry Association. In 2007, she was involved in creating the now-defunct OurChart.com for fans of the television series The L Word.[10][11]
She began working for the Brunswick Group, a London-based PR firm, in 2008.[12]
Rosen left the Brunswick Group, joining the PR firm SKDKnickerbocker in 2010.[13]
Rosen began a television pundit career, first with CNBC and then with MSNBC. She signed with CNN in early 2008.
On April 11, 2012, during an appearance on CNN, Rosen criticized Mitt Romney for using his wife as an adviser on women's issues, stating that Ann Romney "has never worked a day in her life."[14][15] The statement was broadly condemned.[16][17] Ann Romney responded that she "made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work."[18] On April 12, Rosen apologized for her comments.[19]
Consultant to British Petroleum (BP) [edit]
Rosen worked for The Huffington Post during the 2008 election. In June 2010, during Deepwater Horizon oil spill, The Washington Post revealed that Rosen was a consultant for British Petroleum (BP). This revelation led The Huffington Post to publicly cut ties with Rosen.[20]
Lobbyist at the White House [edit]
White House visitor logs list 35 separate instances where a "Hilary Rosen" visited the White House.[21] In 2009, the AP reported that Rosen was present at a White House meeting between health care industry lobbyists and senior White House strategists.[22] In 2012, the Wall Street Journal reported that Rosen was consulting with DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.[23]
Rosen attended the March 2012 White House state dinner with her lobbying client John Kelly of Microsoft.[24] Rosen supported the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act.[25] An April 2012 article quoted an unnamed senior Democrat: "It’s an open secret in the Dem consultant community that [Rosen's firm] SKD has been signing up clients based on ‘perceived White House access’ tied to prior relationships and employment."[26][27] In April 2012, The Nation's journalist Lee Fang penned an article entitled "The Real Hilary Rosen Scandal" in which Rosen's firm is described as "an unregistered lobbying firm that has become one of the biggest names in the influence business by using its ties to President Obama and leaders in Congress."[28]
References [edit]
- ^ Daily Caller - Hilary Rosen has ties to BP
- ^ Holson, Laura M. (August 20, 2001). "Conducting Music's Digital Shift; A Top Lobbyist Seeks Harmony In a Time Of Discord". The New York Times.
- ^ Bai, Matt (February 2003). "Hating Hilary". Wired.
- ^ The Daily Beast - Uncharted Terrain
- ^ May 2010 issue of Freeman magazine, quoted here
- ^ Holson, Laura M. (January 23, 2003). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Recording Industry Lobbyist Plans to Leave Her Position". The New York Times.
- ^ Hernandez, Greg (April 12, 2012). "Lesbian CNN commentator apologizes to Mitt Romney's wife". Gay Star News.
- ^ "Cheryl Jacques to Leave Human Rights Campaign". Human Rights Campaign. November 30, 2004.
- ^ Weinger, Mackenzie (12 April 2012). "10 things about Hilary Rosen". Politico. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "Uncharted Terrain". The Daily Beast. May 27, 2007.
- ^ "The L Word: A New Year A New OurChart". Showtime. Retrieved April 12, 2012. Part of OurChart were included in Showtime.com
- ^ Ahrens, Frank (November 21, 2008). "Hilary Rosen To Lead Brunswick's D.C. Office". The Washington Post.
- ^ Allen, Mike (July 29, 2010). "Hilary Rosen joins SKDKnickerbocker". Politico.
- ^ Pickert, Kate (April 12, 2012). "Ann Romney and Hilary Rosen Debate Motherhood: What American Women Really Think". Time. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- ^ Lowen, Linda (April 12, 2012). "Transcript of Hilary Rosen's Actual Ann Romney Comments Reveal Intent Yet Still Spark Working Mom / Stay at Home Mom Conflict". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ^ Rosen, Hilary (Thu April 12, 2012, 2:29 PM EDT). "Ann Romney and working moms". CNN.com. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ^ "Ann Romney criticism sparks political row over women". BBC. April 12, 2012.
- ^ Friedman, Emily (April 11, 2012). "Ann Romney Fights Back: Debuts on Twitter to Counter DNC Advisor’s Insult". ABC News.
- ^ "Rosen apologizes over comments against Ann Romney". CNN Political Ticker (CNN). April 12, 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ But she did write a column for The Huffington Post after her 'Ann Romney has not worked a day in her life' blunder.HuffPost cuts ties with BP consultant Rosen
- ^ The National Review Hilary Rosen, Frequent White House Visitor
- ^ AP Records Show White House Health Care Talks
- ^ Langley, Monica (February 16, 2012). "Combative Top Democrat Gains Clout in Campaign". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Slate - Meanwhile, Political Consultants Are Still Horrible
- ^ Daily Caller Hilary Rosen supported SOPA
- ^ The Nation - The Real Hilary Rosen Scandal
- ^ AB - Does Hilary Rosen's not-lobbying firm sell White House access to corporations?
- ^ The Nation The Real Hilary Rosen Scandal
External links [edit]
- SKDKick.com
- Washington Post bio "Who is Hilary Rosen?" 04/12/2012
- Wired Magazine "Hating Hilary" from 2002.
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