Internship Program
RIAA prides itself on being a fun and exciting place to work. It is also an excellent environment for students to learn about the music industry and intellectual property.
Each academic semester, RIAA hosts a class of legal and undergraduate interns, offering students a chance to gain first-hand experience dealing with the varied issues and projects we work on every day. An RIAA internship offers an invaluable opportunity to engage with our legal, enforcement, public policy, communications, and business affairs teams.
Legal Interns
Candidates must have completed at least one semester of – and be currently enrolled in – an accredited J.D. or LL.M. program to participate. Anticipated responsibilities include research and writing related to intellectual property, as well as other policies and legislation potentially impacting the music industry. Interns will become familiar with many of the legal issues facing our business and will have the opportunity to work with some of the top copyright and enforcement experts in their respective fields. Legal interns will assist with the review and drafting of reports, studies, memos, and other documents under the direction and guidance of supervising attorneys.
Undergraduate Interns
Candidates must have completed at least one semester of – and be currently enrolled in – an accredited undergraduate program to participate. Interns will gain an understanding of RIAA’s mission and operations, and of its role within the recording and broader music industry. They will also have the opportunity to work on Hill-related public policy matters, social media projects, and with our Gold & Platinum program.
Key Dates and Deadlines
| Semester | RIAA Internship Applications Due | Term Decisions Issued |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester early Sept.—late Nov. | mid-June | July 1 |
| Spring Semester early Jan—early Apr. | mid-October | November 1 |
| Summer Semester early June—late July | mid-March | April 1 |
Ideal candidates will have excellent research and writing skills, effective communications skills, and an interest in intellectual property, public policy, and the music industry. The program offers a stipend and interns will generally work 15 to 20 hours a week, with opportunities for additional hours if desired.
Our internship is held in person at our headquarters in Washington, DC. If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to the attention of RiaaInternship@RIAA.com.