Media Trade Group Heads Top Others in Salaries, Tax Returns Show
Media association heads grabbed the top three spots in our survey of non-profit group salaries. The field was led by RIAA President Cary Sherman at nearly $3.2 million. He was followed by former NCTA President Kyle McSlarrow at nearly $2.7 million and NAB ex-President David Rehr at $2.5 million. All figures are based on the groups’ most recent tax returns -- 2009 except where noted.
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Sherman’s total income was nearly one tenth of RIAA’s $34.9 million total revenue, as reported on its 2010 tax filing. NCTA had $64.1 million revenue and NAB $56 million. But their revenue paled in comparison with that of CEA, at $73.7 million, largely due to the CES show. CEA President Gary Shapiro came in a close fourth in the salary list, at $2.49 million.
Telephone associations trailed somewhat behind the media groups in salaries. USTelecom President Walter McCormick ranked fifth in compensation at $2.48 million, but that was a big chunk of the group’s $16.7 million revenue. CTIA President Steve Largent was seventh in compensation, at nearly $1.6 million. ATIS President Susan Miller ranked twelfth overall (and first among women) at nearly $870,000.
Other media groups that ranked highly in chief executive compensation included: CableLabs’ then-President Richard Green, sixth at $2.3 million; MPAA Chairman Daniel Glickman, eighth at $1.35 million; NPR, then-CEO Kenneth Stern, ninth at $1.2 million; Newspaper Association of America, then-President John Sturm, 10th at $1 million; Cable Ad Bureau, President Sean Cunningham, 11th at $983,523 (2010 return); and C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb, 12th at $840,404 (2008 return).
Among other telecom groups were: National Telecom Coop Association, CEO Michael Brunner, thirteenth at $827,634; CompTel, CEO Jerry James, $457,383l; Telecom Industry Association, President Grant Seiffert, $416,304; National Emergency Number Association, CEO Brian Fontes, $354,513 (2008); OPASTCO, President John Rose, $344,393; Utilities Telecom Council, then President William Moroney, $287,623 (2008); Wireless Communications Association, President Fred Campbell, $242,356; NARUC, General Counsel Brad Ramsey, $237,148; Independent Telephone & Telecom Alliance, President Curt Stamp, $221,053 (2008); Fiber to the Home Council, President Joseph Savage, $186,663 (2010): NASUCA Executive Director Charles Acquard, $148,609 (nearly half of $288,695 total revenue); Western Telecom Alliance, Executive Director Kelly Worthington, $122,000; Rural Cellular Association, Executive Director Eric Peterson, $101,674; and Rural Telecom Group, Executive Director Jerry Wilke, $60,000.
Salary levels varied widely among more-general technology and other interest group associations. For example, Information Technology Industry Council President Rhett Dawson’s compensation totaled $759,042 (2010), while NATOA Executive Director Tonya Rideout got $65,864 and Alliance for Community Media Executive Director Sylvia Strobel received $39,238.
Others included: Computer & Communications Industry Association, President Edward Black, $538,961; TechAmerica, Chairman Phillip Bond, $333,871; New America Foundation, President Stephen Coll, $305,954; Copyright Alliance, then-Executive Director Patrick Ross, $298,565 (2008); Open Internet Coalition, Executive Director Markham Erickson, $201,988; Public Knowledge, President Gigi Sohn, $198,493 (2010); Media Institute, President Patrick Maines, $190,123; Free State Foundation, President Randolph May, $186,667 (2010); Minority Media and Telecom Council, President David Honig $179,259; Technology Policy Institute, President Thomas Lenard, $170,969; Media Access Project, then-President Andrew Schwartzman, $160,034; Free Press, then-President Joshua Silver, $138,494; Electronic Frontier Foundation, Executive Director Shari Steele, $91,000 (2008); Future of Music Coalition, then-Executive Director Jean Cook, $72,050.
Among other public broadcasting groups: PBS, President Paula Kerger, $632,233; CPB, ex-President Patricia Harrison, $369,514 (2008); and APTS, then-acting President Mark Erstling, $288,446 (2008).
Other media-related groups: CTAM, President Char Beales, $768,080 (2010); NATPE, President Rick Feldman, $734,203; Society of Cable Telecom Engineers, President Mark Dzuban, $368,718; American Cable Association, President Matthew Polka, $227,000; RTDNA, ex-President Barbara Cochran, $183,430; Parents TV Council, President Timothy Winter, $182,158; and Society of Broadcast Engineers, Director John Poray, $96,563.
Satellite groups: Satellite Industry Association, President Patricia Cooper, $272,795; and Satellite Broadcasting and Communication Association Executive Director Joseph Widoff, $153,675.