Phillips Fills iHeartCountry Leadership Vacancy

iHeartMedia has announced Rod Phillips as leader of its Nashville-based iHeartCountry team after the departure of Clay Hunnicutt to Big Loud Records.

With more than 20 years experience, Phillips previously served as iHeartMedia’s Senior Vice President of Programming for the Southeast Region. Additionally, he has been the Program Director and on-air personality for KISS 103.5 in Chicago, and Operations Manager for iHeartMedia’s Miami-Ft. Lauderdale cluster. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky.

The iHeartCountry team also includes Brand Coordinators Doug Montgomery, Steve Geoffries, Gregg Swedberg and Chad Heritage. Personalities and shows including Tige and Daniel; The Crook and Chase Countdown; CMT After Midnight With Cody Alan; and The Bobby Bones Show, which Phillips helped develop.

The brand hosts its iHeartRadio Country Festival and original programing like Artists On The Verge, Artist Integration Programs, iHeartRadio Album Release Parties, its Country Music Summit. There are more than 140 country broadcast radio stations signed onto the brand across the U.S., reaching more than 97 million listeners per month.

“Because country is also one of the closest-knit music and radio communities, it’s important that iHeartCountry has a leader like Rod who knows both the people behind the music and the nuances of the format,” said Tom Poleman, President of National Programming Platforms, iHeartMedia. “Given his programming experience with more than 40 Country stations, Rod is the right person to lead the iHeartCountry team and continue to build our Country platform for the benefit of our listeners, advertisers and the country music community.”

“I’m thrilled to have this amazing opportunity; country music is truly my passion and being able to collaborate with all of our incredible country brands, and the country music community directly, will be a privilege,” said Phillips.