Music social networking/blogging site, MOG, announced yesterday that legendary producer and Columbia Records executive, Rick Rubin will be joining its board of directors. Seeing as how the site is financially backed by Sony BMG and Universal records, this does not come as much of a surprise.
According to Mog founder, David Hyman, Rubin’s role “…is taking a fairly active role in the development of MOG.” He then goes on to imply that Rubin is giving input on “user interface and information architecture” for the site.
Hmmmm.
This sounds suspiciously vague enough to be a “hire a big name to our company to do nothing but look good in a press release” manuever.
Listen, I have nothing but respect and admiration for Rick Rubin the music producer. Not so much for Rick Rubin the businessman or web architect. He’s accomplished nothing ostensibly in those two areas that would merit his appointment to high level positions. Bob Lefsetz had a great rant on Rick the businessman in one of his emails. As to Rick the web architect? Well let’s just say if his “information architcture” skills involve putting Google Adwords on the front page of his record label’s website, MOG is going to be fighting an uphill battle.