SFX Entertainment has announced two key executive appointments. In the first, SFX chief executive officer has promoted Steve Smith to president of the SFX Network Group and named as president of SFX.com, Inc. Smith was co-founder and president of The Album Network, a subsidiary of SFX Entertainment. In the second, SFX Entertainment's president of marketing, Paula Balzer appointed Warren Benjamin as vice president of marketing for SFX Entertainment. Benjamin, who was executive vice president, director of client services for Saatchi & Saatchi in Los Angeles was most recently senior account director of corporate partnerships at Universal Studios, Inc.

Both appointments are effective immediately.

An SFX statement indicates that Smith will be developing a more comprehensive web site that will "fully showcase the company's vast portfolio of entertainment events," while managing nearly 100 facility and program web sites owned by SFX. In addition, SFX said its Based Network Group, operates trade publishing and research businesses of the ``Network Magazines,'' including seven music industry periodicals including the annual ``Yellow Pages of Rock.'' The SFX Network Group markets radio airplay and music retail sales research services, and develops customized software solutions on the web at www.musicbiz.com. Together with SFX Radio Network, the SFX Network Group also creates, produces and distributes network radio special events and live concert programming to over 700 music radio stations in the top 200 US radio markets.

According to a separate SFX company statement, Benjamin's areas of responsibility now include cross-divisional new business development, implementing and maintaining marketing programs across multiple SFX divisions, and securing local market naming and title rights to SFX theatrical venues.

Now in the midst of a prolonged acquisition program, SFX develops and manages touring Broadway shows, and sells Broadway subscription series and individual productions in 55 markets. An integrated franchise that promotes and produces a broad variety of live entertainment events locally, regionally and nationally, SFX has 120 venues overall, and owns or operates venues in 31 of the top 50 domestic markets. -- By Murdoch McBride