Conroy named AOL music man
Conroy will supervise the newly created unit AOL Music, coordinate all of AOL's (aol) online music initiatives, which include Spinner, Winamp, and the AOL Music Channel, as well as direct relationships with major record labels and launch a new subscription music service, the company said in a statement.
The former BMG Entertainment executive stepped down from his job as world wide chief marketing officer and president of new technology. Before joining BMG Entertainment in 1995, Conroy was vice president of marketing for CBS/Fox Video responsible for that company's sports and fitness video business.
AOL is looking to Conroy to bring together the disparate pieces of the AOL music business. The position will not include supervising the Warner Music Group.
Since last October, top executives at AOL have been voicing interest in creating an online music subscription service on AOL's proprietary online service. In its attempt to make money off of the MP3 revolution, AOL plans to provide a menu of music for a flat monthly fee.
Conroy will have his hands full. The merger brought a music publishing titan under the same umbrella as AOL online music subsidiary Nullsoft, which created the Winamp MP3 player.
Conroy will report to AOL's senior vice president and general manager Jonathan Sacks.