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Viacom’s Colin Blake is the new boss of Rdio

Colin BlakeMusic streamer Rdio has hired former General Pants and Viacom marketer Colin Blake to run its Australian operation.

Blake replaces ex-Virgin Mobile marketer Dave Cain, who was the first executive to work for Rdio in Australia, who left after less than a year.

Blake will be based at the head office of dmg Radio Australia, with which Rdio struck an alliance in August last year.

He is Rdio’s only locally-based employee, with the rest based in San Francisco HQ.

The Canadian, who moved from Vancouver to Sydney in 2001, joins from MTV-owner Viacom, where he was VP of commercial marketing and brand partnerships at Viacom International Media Networks Australia and New Zealand. He was previously head of marketing at General Pants.

Blake said in a press release: “Rdio is on the cutting edge of the music industry, enabling people to access music in a bigger and bolder way. As a music lover, I am obsessed with the Rdio service and as a business person I have the utmost admiration for the proven talent of the teams at Rdio International and dmg Radio Australia.”

Scott Bagby, VP international and strategic partnerships at Rdio, added: “With the appetite for digital music among Australians continuing unabated, Colin will play a crucial role in expanding the musical footprint of the company through Rdio’s joint venture with dmg Radio as well as additional marketing and partnership opportunities.”

“Colin has a wealth of experience working with some of Australia’s most iconic music and lifestyle brands, which made him an obvious choice to lead the Rdio operation in Australia,” he said.

Dave Cain left to set up his own company, Rickshaw Pics.

Rdio was launched in Australia in January 2012.

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