Google's CIO leaves search giant for job at EMI (via CNet news)

Congrats to EMI: Google's CIO leaves search giant for job at EMI va - CNET News.com.

Good move.

Says CNet: "Merrill's experience at Google, considered along with Apple as one of the most innovative technology companies ever, can help EMI navigate the digital waters better. Traditionally, record labels have been slow to adopt technology and have completely missed the boat on e-commerce. Merrill will be crucial to evaluating technology and helping EMI create an Internet strategy. For EMI to hire someone from Silicon Valley will offer them a huge advantage over the label next door," says Hab Haddad, vice president of business development at music management firm McGhee Entertainment, which represents rock band Kiss. "It's a digital world and if they (music companies) can't pull the heavyweights in that have been successful in other industries they're never going to get it right for their industry," Haddad says. "

Innovation in the music industry will come from outsiders, no doubt.

and 'seeing things coming' is a new skill to acquire for the music industry, that's for sure - 'took me by surprise rules', by and large,

 

and here is a video with Douglas Merrill