So, judging by the amount of views on the other thread (over 7000 in one day), there is great interest in the appointment.

Is it a good one?

On the negative side, Nick is very much an "old model" man, brought up to meet the standards of the industry we created in the 60's and 70's, which has dominated ever since.

His long, bleak patches have been airbrushed out of his CV.

On the plus side, he's had some success at Island and EMI needed a key person to save the company.

Or is the entire project simply moving deckchairs on a ship called Titanic?

Your thoughts.

As long as there is no corporate structure and no business model, even the best managers can't do very much to save EMI.

I think he will do a great job

Very limited success compared to the power and cash available to him over the years. Given those positions everywhere he's done just average.

Well, Barry Weiss is young enough to have learned about the new model and bright enough to know how to use it. I reckon he is the future of our industry. Suddenly BMG looks great to me.

Gatfield - same age about (I would guess), nowhere near the ability though.

Clive - a genius in the old model and a very good friend to me but I would worry that he, like Doug Morris - equally good - may be too old to adapt.

Because believe me taking over an existing company is not the way.

For me the real winner will be the twenty something kid who creates a You Tube or Google in music.