THEY GOT A GREAT BIG CONROY, AIN’T IT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT?
To Head AOL Music
Conroy left his position as BMG's head of worldwide marketing just weeks ago (hitsdailydouble.com, 1/8), shortly after the ascension of the vowel-challenged Rolf Schmidt-Holtz to BMG's Prez/CEO spot. His job with the combined AOLTW will be to combine AOL's music units (including AOL Music Channel and Spinner/Winamp) and to develop a subscription music service. Conroy will report to AOL Senior Vice President and General Manager Jonathan Sacks.
"Online music is one of the clearest and most exciting synergies in the new AOL Time Warner, and we're very pleased that Kevin will be leading our efforts in this space," said AOL Chairman and CEO Barry Schuler. "Kevin is an experienced and respected music industry executive with a strong reputation for his work in developing the consumer and business models for the delivery of online music. Thanks to its unmatched range of assets, technologies, and consumer relationships, AOL Time Warner has a unique opportunity to help supercharge the development of this new industry. Wait! Did I use the word 'synergy'? Because we've got that too. Like nobody's business!"
"AOL is already one of the world's most sought-after marketing partners, and we look forward to working with each of the music companies to bring their artists, songs and labels to millions of online consumers. I'm pleased to be joining a company whose efforts will help redefine the music industry and create a new generation of digital music fans," Conroy said.
"Only AOL Time Warner has all of the pieces needed to lead this industry to the next level—tens of millions of subscribers and users, an incredible library of great albums and songs, an industry-leading technological infrastructure, some of the world's best-known recording artists and the ability to make the FCC and FTC turn a blind eye...oh, wait, I've said too much."
AOL and Time Warner finally consummated their yearlong courtship on Jan. 11, winning approval—conditional, just like any form of love, though it may be—from the Federal Communications Commission.
Shares of the newly combined company were up 23 cents to $46.70 at the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday (1/16).
