They pulled the trigger: Owen Van Natta is now the CEO of MySpace and will report to Jonathan Miller, the new CEO of Digital Media for News Corp.
Van Natta is a former Facebook and Amazon executive who, until today, was the CEO of a decidedly unstable music startup called Playlist. He’s got the resume to run MySpace, but as we said yesterday there are some serious questions around whether he’s the right guy. He still owns a significant part of Facebook and he’s clearly leaving Playlist, and the executives and investors he brought on board, in a bad situation. He joined that company just a few months ago. The rumor is that they’ll now be forced to shut down, although Playlist announces in a separate release that board member John Sykes, a cofounder of MTV, will take over as CEO for now.
This has been a dramatic week for MySpace, and the situation probably couldn’t have been handled more poorly. One person close to the situation described the firing of DeWolfe and the hiring of Van Natta as resembling “retarded drunk people riding bumper cars.”
We broke the news that News Corp. was looking to replace founder and CEO Chris DeWolfe on Tuesday. Later that day we confirmed the news. On Wednesday News Corp. issued a short press release that DeWolfe was leaving and that cofounder and president Tom Anderson would be moving to a new role.
We published a short list of possible candidates for the new CEO, which included Van Natta. Negotiations were concluded yesterday, we’ve heard from a source close to News Corp.
During all this time very little news has made its way to MySpace, and even the executives were left completely in the dark. Yesterday an executive of the company asked me if I’d heard any news and whether he was on the list to be terminated. That’s a sad situation.
“The clowns have taken over the circus,” he said.
More. Much more, on this story later.
The full press releases of both announcements are below:
News Corporation Names Owen Van Natta Chief Executive Officer of MySpace
______________________
Los Angeles, CA, April 24, 2009 – News Corporation today announced the appointment of Owen Van Natta to the role of MySpace Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Mr. Van Natta will be based in Los Angeles and report directly to Jonathan Miller, News Corporation’s CEO of Digital Media and Chief Digital Officer.
A highly-regarded digital executive, Mr. Van Natta, 39, previously served as Chief Revenue Officer and Vice President of Operations for Facebook, where he helped negotiate Facebook’s $240 million investment from Microsoft. Earlier, he served as Vice President of Worldwide Business and Corporate Development for Amazon.com. Most recently, he was the CEO of Playlist, Inc., an online music company.
“Owen combines a deep understanding of social networking, a keen business sense and the operational experience to guide MySpace through its next phase of growth. I’m confident his leadership will be an invaluable asset,” said Mr. Miller. “I plan to work closely with Owen to shape our long-term vision around this vibrant community that already attracts more than 130 million users worldwide.”
“I’m thrilled to have the privilege to pilot MySpace in what is sure to be an incredibly exciting and rewarding next chapter for the business,” said Mr. Van Natta. “I feel honored to build upon the immeasurable achievements of the MySpace founders and look forward to working with Jon and the MySpace team to meet the challenges and make the most of the opportunities before us.”
While serving as Vice President of Operations and Chief Revenue Officer for Facebook, Van Natta focused on revenue operations, business development, strategic partnerships and technical operations. As Vice President of Worldwide Business and Corporate Development at Amazon.com, he managed global marketing programs and strategic partnerships. He was also part of the founding team of A9.com, the Amazon.com search company, and was responsible for site operations and sponsored-link advertising. Owen earned a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
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 – Playlist, the leading social media network where over 43 million music fans discover, create and share playlists, announced today that Board Member and industry veteran John Sykes has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer. As a Co-founder of MTV, President of VH1, and CEO of Infinity Broadcasting, Sykes brings extensive operating experience and industry relationships to the company as it partners with the music industry to provide advertising, subscription and e-commerce services to music consumers.
Owen Van Natta will serve as an Advisor to Playlist.
“John was a pioneer of the MTV revolution that forever changed the music industry landscape by giving fans a whole new way to discover and enjoy music,” said Bob Zangrillo, Chairman of Playlist. “Playlist looks forward to leveraging John’s tremendous track record operating media businesses and deep relationships in the music industry as it builds out the world’s premier social media service.”
“Creating and sharing playlists has become a phenomenon in our culture. With over 43 million registered users, Playlist is the number one site where fans go to discover, share and enjoy their favorite music,” said John Sykes, CEO of Playlist. “Leveraging our newly forged partnerships with the music community, we can now offer consumers deep access to their music and provide the industry with powerful new revenue streams.”
Playlist, one of the fastest growing sites on the Internet, continues to establish partnerships with the entertainment industry in an effort to offer a comprehensive collection of content that can be discovered, shared and monetized at www.playlist.com.
About Playlist
With over 43 million registered users, Playlist is the number one site in the nation where consumers discover, organize and share their favorite music across the social Web. The company leverages over 50 million user created playlists to help media companies and the record industry virally promote, distribute and monetize their content. The company is based in Palo Alto, CA. For more information, visit www.playlist.com.
you might want to spell check the name in the title
Considering where Van Natta came from, this is definitely a power move on News Corps part. Certainly justifies the quick action to drop DeWolf. 2009 will be a critical year for MySpace, no?
And it’s not like DeWolfe was this successful leader. MySpace has been overtaken and its losing altitude fast. Question is will Van Natta be better? For starters he’s contributed absolutely nothing to Playlist, other than indecisiveness.
A blind chimp banging on a keyboard could do a better job at MySpace, simply because the bar is so low.
dunno about that. he did get revenue to nearly a billion dollars in just a few years. only a handful of companies have ever done that.
wow…thee Michael Arrington
Aw, Mike don’t fret about losing a source. You’re replacing one big hair douche with another, and both use you for self promotion. All will be well.
When you say that DeWolfe generated $1billion in revenue – wrong. Ask some clients if he ever attended a sales meeting. That revenue was generated mostly by Google deal and the hard-working sales team with key players like Barrett before he left.
Well I was also eluding to the simple fact that he is ex-Facebook. I guess when someone offers you the CEO position, you go for it. This really completes the News Corps take over. I find it hard to believe that MySpace can turn the corner and get all of the 35-50 year olds I see connecting on Facebook to switch or divide their time between the two.
Michael,
He did make half a billion but how much are you expected to make with over 100 million members? Could any executive make that much money with so much attention from the public, media and userbase?
You land a deal with Google and a few mobile companies and there is half a billion.
It all starts from the top and goes to the bottom. They let Myspace become a follower
“I guess when someone offers you the CEO position, you go for it.” That’s kinda like bailing on your wife when a hotter girl offers herself to you. Lots of people do it, but it pretty much shows you what kind of character the person has.
good clowns can take over a circus any day of the week.
MyLocator.com – find yourself
agreed.. its the clown .. talking about the bigger clowns, that put myspace in the situation it in. Maybe a changing of the clowns is a good thing.
wonderful – congrats
MySpace maintains the lead over Facebook in the best looking exec team department!
Agreed. Myspace has always maintained a lead over Facebook in the looks department. Mark Zuckerberg is proof that a billion dollars cannot make you better-looking, which I actually found quite shocking.
It always angers me that Mark Zuckerberg is so fugly.
excellent move, looking forward to working with him and our other friends at MySpace / MyAds.
http://www.saysme.tv
Why do people feel the need to post advertising here?
Best move ever. I, and my team at flush buster plumbing, congratulate Mr. Van Natta and Murdoch. We are looking forward to working with him and his team, as we continue to keep their toilets flushing.
http://www.nocrapclogs.com
http://img523.i.../8247/whati.jpg ?????????
What is this guy’s claim to fame exactly? Zuckerberg pushed his ass to the curb?
Oh, yeah, he “negotiated a 250M deal with MSFT” — that’s BS. MSFT did the deal because Facebook was taking over / did take over the world. Peter Griffin could have negotiated that deal.
I think Myspace just brought a business guy to a product fight. oops.
i give this guy three months before he finds another job
so i’ve heard an email went out to MySpace and FIM staff. If you work there, please forward to tips@techcrunch.com
Any tips ensure that TechCrunch will promote you as the savior of company X (from which you will be leaking memos). One hand washes the other, baby.
For a change we got an email before your post. It’s ironic that executives are asking u about their fate in the company.
You got to be kidding about asking for the email.
Has the one who have forwarded all this while got fired?
Hey Michael,
Why didn’t you offer to take the position? You are more than qualified.
Seriously now. Why not? Oh yea, I forgot about the game of politics that occurs in these power struggles.
Constantine from Music.us
.MUSIC Domain Extension
Pfft complete nonsense. And since your in the gTLD biz you should be deadpooled ASAP.
Ah, just ask your friend Ms. Dudeck, Mike.
Internal email here: http://www.lala...yspace-bossman/
Was TechCrunch just scooped?
britney’s got nothing on owen
Van Natta spent 6 years at Amazon.com. He helped transform Amazon from a book seller to a place to buy anything. He started at Facebook when there were under 50 employees and hired a worldclass team to build that company from 50 to 600 in 3 years. He is widely respected by everyone at Facebook and those who have left. He is very technical and has more integrity than most. Myspace couldn’t be getting a better leader.
- A fan
Full of integrity to join playlist, draw salary, do nothing other than sip coffee with VCs and other douchebags, and now jump to the next rung having contributed nothing. Great leadership indeed.
Don’t forget hiring 2 VPs of engineering and indecisively letting the turf war fester for a few months. Oh and a CFO (and staff!), and a VP of HR for a company with 35 employees when he started. Can’t wait to see the magic Owen works at MySpace!
Why does facebook need 600 people?
His jumping from Playlist shows that he is not a high integrity leader. Given his past track record, he better hold on to his facebook stock.
I hear it a lot from athletes, rarely from executives: this was a business decision. There are plenty of streaming music sites out there, Playlist included. Owen was offered the chance to work for a billion dollar company with a record of returning revenues. Integrity aside, you’d be foolish not to jump at a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like becoming the CEO of MySpace.
He’s been at Facebook (social network)
He’s been at Amazon (e-commerce)
He’s been at Playlist (music)
He’s ready to lead MySpace (social network, music, and advertising platform).
Good for OVN, he’s in an enviable position.
Given his track record he could retire and not even bother with any of this. Besides, if you (not that you probably every, in your life, would be) were given the opportunity to take over one of the largest internet companies in the world, with the chance to make it a 1000% better, you are saying you would not? Eh, right, your full of shit! Get off your pretend hi moral ethics and welcome to reality, douchebags!
Van Natta spent 6 years at Amazon.com. He helped transform Amazon from a book seller to a place to buy anything. He started at Facebook when there were under 50 employees and hired a world class team to build that company from 50 to 600 in 3 years. He is widely respected by everyone at Facebook and those who have left. He is very technical and has more integrity than most. Myspace couldn’t be getting a better leader.
- A fan
I wonder which remaining myspace execs will be looking for work next?
Facebook, Twitter and MySpace will be playing something like musical chairs this year. Another way to look at it – Facebook may be chasing Twitter and, if smart, MySpace may occupy the void left by Facebook by creating a site that can be every individual’s “my space”.
You give them a lot of crap for how things are going down, but clearly the status quo isn’t working.
Maybe that guy that asked you if he was on the list to be terminated SHOULD be fired. Look at the crappy product he puts out…..
http://www.myspace.com/1237415
Why did myspace lose its touch? Because Facebook is better. Twitter, Facebook, and Google leading the smartist web 2.0 revolution. There is nothing that can save Myspace. http://iamned.com/blog/ the stock market keeps surging
really? “smartist”?
Owen is a good person and smart but this is a turn-around situation. I do not think he is well-suited to take this on based on personality.
Why does facebook need 600 people?
I wonder if they will take down the framed pictures/articles (from Newsweek, Fortune magazine etc.) of Tom and Chris from the hallway walls and the lobby!
oh c’mon it has to be friends2friends deal; how can you even consider hiring such a loose cannon that is jumping from competitor to competitor like a crazy frog?
I do understand that if you work for Coca-Cola for years and obtain some knowledge there, Pepsi will love to have you abroad knowing you going to bring some fresh news, know-how, certain knowledge that honestly if officially revealed, could get you in serious lawsuit-troubles with previous employee.
But how can you trust to bring a guy who worked in some many places and just jump here and there and even hope he will be trustworthy and reliable.
Like somoeone said yesterday: Myspace == Aol2.0
Like people in tech really stay anywhere for that long….
Oh myspace…how I loved thee.
babyholder jiggling..LOL
Unfortunately in this market, he has to move to advance his career. They guy spent many years at Amazon and did good work at Facebook. He had reached his ceiling in both organizations. To make it to CEO of a company with resources to survive, he has to move. Playlist is never going to survive the current climate. Cut him some slack
Hopefully Owen starts bringing in some smart people and throws out the dead weight at MySpace. Their marketing team is useless.
Good Luck Owen! Try and bring the focus back. I think myspace is starting to try and do everything right now. Drop the things that dont work fast!
Not Thin:
Quit censoring the fact I asked whether Van Otta was the new CEO or one of MySpace’s registered sex offenders?
It’s a serious question.
Was it the fact that his 1987 beard stubble scares little kids?
Rhethorical question, BTW.
he’s hot! good for him.
“He still owns a significant part of Facebook”
Seriously, this just screams conflict of interest. He either has to divest or move his facebook stock into a blind trust. It would be reckless for Van Natta to take the Myspace position without doing so.
I love this new trend of giving mid-level executives within a larger company like Fox the title of “CEO.” A friend of mine works at a bank where he and almost every other employee is a “VP.” I’m sure they’ll all be CEOs soon.
It will be very interesting to watch both Owen and Tim Armstrong to see how they do revitalizing two giants who have fallen out of fashion. Best of luck!
Hey man, forget all this biz talk. Do we still get a happy hour every Friday at Sharky’s in Manhattan? Yeah!
gud news, i kno this sounds kinda irrelevant, but would that mean myspaces design and innovation will be recieving major changes due to a new CEO?
Does Owne go Facebook utility strategy or social portal/niche content:
http://bit.ly/f2HzQ
And will Jeff Berman stay or go?
How much more fuel do they need to add to this fire? I guess Miller just wants FIM to completely melt down. Internal MySpacers already despise FIM, and now they are bringing in an x-facebook exec to run the ship, LOL! Thats like appointing satan as the pope of the Catholic church.
Are these decision makers that far removed from the rank and file that really run the ship?
First move, fire original founders.
Second move, hire a sworn enemy.
Drooling to see the next, cmon Miller, keep me entertained!
a little off topic … but what happened to the gushing editorial/praise/pr releases reprinted verbatim that TC used to give myspace … it was only a few months ago.
Wow! I’ve never seen such a thoroughly exciting collection of * in all my life. KUDOS, PEEPS!
*crap