Artistdirect to Name Former Interscope Chairman as CEO

Artistdirect Inc., which offers music and news online, said it plans to name veteran entertainment executive Ted Field as its chairman and chief executive. Field, who left Vivendi Universal’s Interscope Geffen A&M; Records in February, entered into a preliminary agreement with Artistdirect to take the top spot, the company said. Artistdirect also said it will form a joint-venture record label with Field to be called Radar Records.

From 1990 to 2001, Field served as co-chairman of Interscope Records. Under the preliminary agreement with Artistdirect, Field will get a five-year contract with the Los Angeles-based company. The pact is nonbinding, and there is no assurance that Field will sign a definitive agreement, Artistdirect said.

* Warner Bros. Pictures in Burbank announced the appointment of Bob Brassel to senior vice president of production. Brassel rejoins Warner Bros. from DreamWorks SKG where he was vice president of production.

* John Ollen has been promoted to senior managing director of Insignia/ESG’s Western region in Los Angeles. He formerly was a vice president at Premisys Real Estate Services.