Hilary Rosen to step down as CEO of music industry organization

Hilary Rosen, the out lesbian CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, announced that she will step down from her position at the end of 2003, according to Billboard.com. "I have young children, and I want to devote more of my time to them," Rosen said in a statement. "This has been a difficult decision, but I know it is the right one for my family." Rosen has been with the RIAA for 17 years and was named CEO in 1998. She is the longtime life partner of Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based gay rights advocacy group. The RIAA board will begin a formal search for Rosen's replacement over the next few months, and RIAA president Cary Sherman is expected to remain in his current position.