Cary Sherman is the retired Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of
America (RIAA), the U.S. trade group for the major record companies in the music industry. In
that capacity, Mr. Sherman was responsible for the business, legal and policy objectives of the
largest sound recording industry in the world, where he led efforts to transition the music
industry from the age of physical disks to digital downloads and streaming.
Among his proudest accomplishments was securing legislation that gave artists and labels the
rights necessary for a sustainable business model in a world dominated by streams instead of
sales; and building bridges within a fractious music community to unify the voice of creators. He
has served on the boards of many music industry organizations, been recognized as a leading
expert in intellectual property law and policy, and honored with numerous awards.
Before joining the RIAA as General Counsel of the organization in 1997, he was a senior
partner at the Washington, D.C. firm of Arnold & Porter, where he was the head of the firm’s
Intellectual Property and Technology Practice Group. He became President of RIAA in 2001,
and Chairman and CEO in 2011.
He is currently consulting on intellectual property and music industry matters. He is co-chair of J
Street’s Regional Advisory Committee, and a member of J Street’s Public Affairs Committee,
Finance Committee, and the DC Metro chapter’s Steering Committee.
Mr. Sherman graduated from Cornell University and Harvard Law School. He is currently on the
Council of Advisors for Levine Music (where he previously served as Chairman and as a board
member for 25 years). He has served on numerous other boards in the nonprofit sector.