Bill Werde Named Editorial Director for Billboard

Werde to Oversee all Editorial Operations and Strategy for the Iconic Music Industry Brand

Nielsen Business Media today announced that Bill Werde, Executive Editor of Billboard, has been promoted to Editorial Director for the brand, effective immediately. In his new role, Werde has full responsibility for leading the editorial strategy and vision for the Billboard brand, which includes the weekly publication, websites (Billboard.com and Billboard.biz) and other digital content offerings, as well as industry-leading conferences and events. Werde is based in Billboard’s New York office and will oversee the brand’s staff of 20 editors and reporters worldwide. He reports to Billboard Publisher Howard Appelbaum.

“Bill’s editorial integrity, news savvy, management expertise, and vision make him the perfect choice to lead Billboard,” said Appelbaum. “This is an exciting time for Billboard, and I’m thrilled to have Bill in this new role. Under his direction, I have no doubt that we will continue to broaden the strategic and editorial direction for the Billboard brand, and play a meaningful role in our future growth.”

“I’m honored to be taking on this new role at Billboard leading our high-caliber team of editors and reporters, particularly at such an important time in the brand’s evolution,” said Werde. “I’m looking forward to continuing our leadership position as the go-to source for the latest music industry news, insights and data, and developing new integrated opportunities across our portfolio to capitalize on the value of our iconic brand.”

Werde succeeds Tamara Conniff, the previous Editorial Director of Billboard, who recently left the company to join Front Line Management Group as President of Music Services. Werde joined Billboard in July 2005 as Senior News Editor and has steadily climbed the ranks of the organization, having been promoted to Deputy Editor and later Executive Editor of the brand. Prior to Billboard, Werde was the Associate Editor for Rolling Stone. Before that he worked as a freelance journalist for a number of publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Village Voice and Wired Magazine on matters of culture, politics and technology. He began his career as the Associate Editor for the music industry publication CMJ. Werde is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in English.

About Billboard

Now in its 114th year, Billboard is the world’s premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events, brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile entertainment issues and trends. Billboard magazine is the flagship property for the brand, which also consists of Billboard.biz, Billboard.com, Billboard en Español, Billboard Chart Alert, Billboard Information Network (BIN), Billboard Directories, Billboard Books, and Billboard Licensing & Events. Billboard’s many strategic partners include Microsoft, Reuters, Sirius Satellite Radio, Telemundo, Univision Radio, ABC Radio Networks, Azteca America, Cyloop and Billboard sister companies Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. These partnerships leverage Billboard’s proprietary data, charts and information resources to develop broadcast entertainment, digital and mobile platforms and contextual commerce applications that expand Billboard’s franchise and consumer reach. Billboard is published by the Entertainment Group at Nielsen Business Media, a part of The Nielsen Company, a global information and media company.

Contacts

For Nielsen Business Media
Lee Rothchild, 212-981-5124
lee_rothchild {at} dkcnews(.)com