Don't believe the RIAA when they try to say they are protecting the rights of the artists they represent. They have a long track record of looking after their own interests instead of the artists(why else would they make the artists sign copyrights over to them).
If you need some proof of this research the PMRC(parents music recording coalition) hearings, from the early 80's. A bunch of senator's wive's, with too little to do in their spare time, decided they could save their children from the "evils" of heavey metal music by enforcing a manditory rating system, much like movies now have.
The RIAA fully supported this movement, to avoid any bad publicity i suspect, in blatent diregard to the views held by the artists themselves. In fact the movement was rejected because of the testimonies from these artists.
Most notably frank zappa's testimony.
Check out the transcripts from the hearing here
http://uweb.superlink.net/~jdandrea/shrg99-529/toc.html