Back to EMI, and they've appointed another non-music man to a senior role, though this one is in brand partnerships, licensing and synchronisation, so someone with primarily consumer marketing experience probably makes sense.
Rafael McDonnell, EMI's new VP Brand Partnerships, Licensing and Sync for the UK and Ireland, previously worked in senior marketing roles for Pepsi and Coke, and while at the latter was involved in Mycokemusic, the Coke branded digital music store, one of the UK's first legit download platforms, albeit quite a short-lived one. McDonnell, more than most, will know that while brand partnerships can be valuable for music, like Mycokemusic, most brand-led music programmes are relatively short-lived, so as chief brands man for EMI UK he'll need to look for quick-win brand partnerships for his labels and artists.
McDonnell will report to EMI's LA-based VP of Global Brand Partnerships etc, Cynthia Sexton, who said yesterday: "At EMI Music we are focused on delivering the most compelling products to consumers and business partners and the most powerful services to our artists. Rafael's background, experience and love of music make him the ideal person to lead our UK team managing brand partnerships, licensing and synchronisation business and I'm very pleased he's joining us".