Judy McGrath's new thing

JUDY RETURNS: We’re told that former MTV Networks ruler Judy McGrath, whose trailblazing tenure at the company saw her working on a string of branding benchmarks, has a new project. The well-liked McGrath is said to be forming a new company in conjunction with a major music firm--though the venture in question isn’t necessarily a label. The Pennsylvania native started her career in the magazine world, and arrived at MTV in 1981 as a copywriter. She rose through the ranks from editorial director to EVP to Creative Director to President, helping the music-video purveyor transform itself into the global HQ of youth culture—defining MTV’s irreverent voice and overseeing MTV News, Beavis & Butt-Head and other key programming. She assumed the mantle of MTV Networks Chairman/CEO in 2004, adding VH1, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV2 and associated properties to her purview, and kept the Viacom subsidiary’s stable of brands in strong shape; she stepped down in 2011. Late last year, she signed on as an advisor to the Web outlet NowThisNews. Stand by for further details on McGrath’s new play. (6/11p)