Mitch Glazier has been promoted to president of the Recording Industry Association of America and will take over as chairman and CEO in 2019, replacing Cary Sherman, the organization announced Monday.
Glazier, currently the RIAA’s senior executive vice president, will assume the top job on Jan. 1, 2019, when current chairman and CEO Sherman will step down after more than 40 years in the industry. Before he joined the industry organization, Glazier worked as Chief Counsel for intellectual property to the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Mitch brings that rare combination of policy chops, political sophistication and a forward-looking view of the business that we need to succeed,” Jeffrey Harleston, General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for Universal Music Group said in a statement. “A proven advocate who works well with those across the music community and our partners, Mitch is more than ready to take the next step in leadership. Needless to say, he has large shoes to fill. For more than 40 years, Cary has served as a selfless leader helping to steer the organization through a daunting series of legal and policy issues. We owe him enormously, thank him and wish him all the best; we are pleased that he will serve through this seamless transition.”
“A seasoned policy expert, Mitch is adept at translating complex recorded music industry issues into layman’s terms,” Paul Robinson, EVP and General Counsel, Warner Music Group, said in the statement. “We are pleased and honored that Mitch has agreed to become Cary’s successor, as it is a rare person who could take on this unique role and build on the RIAA’s achievements. Cary’s peerless work has helped strengthen the rights of creators through groundbreaking legal victories, enactment of pro-creator legislation and important industry partnerships.”
“Mitch is a talented advocate for the music business, and we are fortunate he has agreed to become CEO of the RIAA,” Julie Swidler, EVP, Business Affairs and General Counsel, Sony Music Entertainment, said in the statement. “He’s a savvy and strategic thinker who will help lead our community as we navigate an always challenging political landscape. We owe a debt of gratitude to Cary for his thoughtful and effective leadership, and we are fortunate to have both Cary and Mitch for another 21 months until Mitch takes over in 2019.”
“We have known Mitch from the time he served as counsel to the Judiciary Committee and have watched him become an effective leader and knowledgeable advocate for the music industry’s positions on important copyright issues,” The Honorable Bob Goodlatte, Chairman, and The Honorable John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, said in the statement. “We congratulate him on his promotion and look forward to his continuing contributions in the important debates that will help shape the 21st century music marketplace.”
“Additionally, we would like to recognize Cary for his 40-plus years of contributions to our nation’s creative landscape,” the Congressmen added. “He has been involved in every major change to modern copyright law and we have all benefitted greatly from his counsel. We look forward to his continued time at RIAA and wish him all the best as he approaches retirement.”