Hilary Rosen is an on-air business and political commentator for CNBC and MSNBC and consultant to the media industry. She is also partner at SKDKnickerbocker, a public affairs agency, She is the former Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade group representing the U.S. sound recording industry where she served for 17 years. At RIAA, Rosen initiated new policies and business models for online music distribution and is widely credited with developing the crucial relationships between the entertainment and technology industries. .A veteran of Capitol Hill, Rosen is known for her knowledge of the political and legislative process and was instrumental in the passage of several important laws relating to intellectual property and the digital age including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Her public affairs experience extends to work around the world on multi- and bi-lateral trade agreements and treaty negotiations. Rosen is a passionate defender of the arts and the recipient of numerous honors for her work on behalf of the First Amendment. She is one of the founders and a board member of Rock the Vote and she serves on several nonprofit boards including The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the Creative Coalition, and the Center for American Progress Fund. Prior to joining the RIAA in 1987, Rosen was a government affairs specialist with her own firm and prior to that at Liz Robbins Associates. Earlier in her career, Rosen worked for former Governor Brendan Byrne (D-NJ) and US Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ). She served as the transition director in 1992 for then newly elected U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Rosen holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business from George Washington University.