Industry Moves: MTV Vet John Sykes Replaces Van Natta At Project Playlist

imageMusic-sharing site Project Playlist just got an instant dose of credibility in the music industry with its new CEO: *MTV Networks* veteran (and MTV co-founder) John Sykes. Sykes is replacing Owen Van Natta, who has joined MySpace. Van Natta will continue as an advisor to Playlist.

Sykes spent more than 25 years with *MTV Networks* — he started in programming, served as president at VH1, and most recently, worked on a number of broadband projects (including a co-branded cable service with *Comcast*). But he left last year after parent company Viacom (NYSE: VIA) shifted resources away from those initiatives.

With Playlist, Sykes gets to “go digital” in a more concrete, meaningful way; his ties to record label execs could help the music-sharing site broker better track licensing deals, and also help smooth negotiations with the RIAA, Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG) and Universal (they’ve been suing Playlist since last April). The release is embedded after the jump.

Photo Credit: BreakthroughTV

Playlist Names Board Member and Veteran Media Executive John Sykes as CEO

MTV Co-founder and Former VH-1 President Replaces Owen Van Natta

Palo Alto, Calif., April 24, 2009

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