MTV’s Got a New President…

MTV has just named a new president, Stephen Friedman.  According to details shared Wednesday, Friedman will oversee MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV.com, MTV Hits and MTVJams, and has been a GM at the group since 2008.

  “His instincts and thinking have always led us to tap into exactly what the audience is looking for, resulting in great creative and business success,” praised MTV Networks Music & Logo group president Van Toffler.      

Friedman helmed mtvU prior to being a GM, so he knows the internal map.  But what’s the external roadmap at MTV, especially as it relates to music?  This is a huge challenge: the network is one of the largest music sites online (and often the largest, depending on the month and monitoring source), and routinely elbowing with the likes of Yahoo Music and AOL Music.  

It’s also one of the most recognized media properties.  But maybe that size is a hindrance: the broader strategy is often tough to pick apart, and initiatives often bear the markings of a huge, over-complicated organization.  

And what does MTV mean to music fans these days, exactly?  A long legacy adds to the challenge, and the answer probably depends on the person.  Most can remember when MTV played music videos instead of ‘Jersey Shore,’ but this is now a media sprawl that lacks the luxury of a simplified description.  Others – whether Rdio, Pitchfork, Vevo, or even YouTube – have far simpler sales pitches.  

Source: Digital Music news