Google Inc.'s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Chief Information Officer Douglas Merrill is reportedly leaving the company to become the president of EMI's digital section. Google confirmed Merrill leaving the company yesterday, while EMI confirmed the rumors today. According to Billboard, Merrill officially joins EMI on April 28 in the brand new position, but will be based at legendary Capitol Tower in Los Angeles. Much of the business for the fourth-largest record label is conducted in London, which may signal that EMI heavily courted Merrill.

At a time when the music industry is in flux, Merrill's move from Google to EMI is inventive and should help the music company foster growth into a realm that all music companies have had trouble entering successfully: the digital world. Apart from limited success here and there, the music industry overall has not handled technology that makes many of their marketing and distributing schemes obsolete. The report that commented heavily on Merrill's move noted how his experience at Google can help EMI form a strategy to compete on the Internet.

For Merrill, the report comments, "the move will require either a huge mental exercise or a near religious conversion." The report also notes "it will be interesting to see what an executive from a company known for pushing the envelope on fair use can bring to an industry that has rabidly protected its copyrights." That's a nice sentiment, but any hopes that a quick or painless transition for EMI and Merrill seems impossible. Like the article says, "maybe he can help them use the Web to make money instead of trying to keep others from using it at EMI's expense."

Guy Hands, the chief at EMI, might be despised by some parties for taking a wrecking ball to expenses, but if this move does anything it should indicate that the Internet as a tool for growth is being taken seriously. At the same time, should it really take an Internet executive to reveal that vital piece of information? Either way, since the music industry is in flux, maybe this addition can add another level of change that will excite everyone involved.

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WEB SITES:

• The Silicon Alley Insider reported that Douglas Merrill, Google Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOG) CIO, is leaving the company to become the president of music company EMI.