ZELNICK HOOKS UP WITH
ANOTHER DOT-COM

Former BMG President and CEO Strauss Zelnick has joined the ranks of digital music provider Echo Networks as a board member, advisor and "substantial" investor at the San Francisco-based netco, according to a report in inside.com.

Echo provides subscription and locker streaming services that allow users to chat while listening to music.

Part of Zelnick's role at Echo is to seek digital licenses from record labels. Echo has already struck a broad deal with Warner Music Group and has a promotional agreement with Arista.

The appointment marks Zelnick's second dot-com venture since leaving BMG in November 2000. Since Jan. 1, he has served as "non-exclusive Chairman" of New York-based broadband application service provider On2.com (hitsdailydouble.com, 11/6).

In addition, Echo has retained L.A. attorney Gary Stiffelman, who has worked with Michael Jackson, Aerosmith and Interscope Records.