iHEART UPS PHILLIPS

iHeartMedia has upped SVP Rod Phillips to the newly created position of EVP/Country Programming Strategy.

In his new role, Phillips will continue to lead the Nashville-based iHeartCountry team in overseeing iHeartMedia’s Country formats, and further extend the company’s Country brands across multiple platforms including broadcast, digital, social and live events. He will continue to guide and develop the company’s roster of Country programmers and on-air talent, as well as book artists and produce events for iHeartMedia including the iHeartCountry Music Festival.

He will also continue to head up iHeartCountry’s music discovery and emerging artist initiatives, including the Artist Integration Program and the On the Verge program, which has played a key role in breaking artists like Maren Morris, Luke Combs and others.

In addition, under Phillips’ leadership, iHeartCountry recently launched "Women of iHeartCountry,” an hour-long, weekend program devoted exclusively to female artists.

Chief Programming Officer Tom Poleman said, "He’s been the key force in our continued success in the format. … We’re excited that he’ll be taking an even larger role here to help further guide our Country programming in over 150 markets.”

Phillips, who has more than 20 years of programming experience, has led the iHeartCountry team since 2015. He was previously SVP, Programming, for the Southeast, and an on-air personality for KISS 103.5 in Chicago. He also helped develop “The Bobby Bones Show.”

“As Country music continues to increase in popularity with audiences across America, iHeartMedia has more Country brands than ever before, and our station ratings are on the rise,” Phillips said.