Brian Philips is the new Executive Vice President, Content and Audience, replacing Mike McVay. Here’s what CEO Mary Berner said about McVay…
“Three and a half years ago and two days into my tenure at Cumulus, I made my first trip to Nashville with Mike McVay. It was clear from the initial and abundant feedback from our programmers that our corporate programming effort needed a reboot. Mike agreed. So as we headed to the office from the airport, I asked him, ‘What would you do if you were me?’ For the rest of the ride, he outlined a broad plan for change and by the time we reached our destination, I was convinced that Mike was the perfect guy to lead our programming organization. It’s always nice to be right but, given how much was at stake, it was especially great to be right about Mike.
“Mike’s accomplishments since his appointment as EVP, Content and Programming in 2015 are too numerous to count. To name just a few, under Mike’s leadership of the Office of Programming, we reversed four years of ratings share declines, and saw years of ratings share growth. We are currently posting the best ratings since 2011 on some of our biggest and most important stations. Mike has helped to expand Westwood One’s programming, participating in the launch of several new shows, including the very successful The Ben Shapiro Show. Mike has also led us in increasing our reach beyond over-the-air listening to include smart speakers and all online listening. The ‘collective contests’ he initiated have greatly benefited our markets from small to large. And perhaps most importantly, his commitment to our FORCE values has driven a significant improvement in our programming culture. A reboot, indeed.
“Last summer, Mike told me he wanted to return to the flexibility of his highly successful consulting career. I asked, and he agreed to stay on to ensure a smooth transition and to lead the search for his replacement.”
Philips will report to CEO Mary Berner. He previously served as President of Viacom/MTV Network’s CMT channel. Prior to that, Philips enjoyed an award-winning radio career, with more than 15 years leading radio programming at a number of major-market stations.
Berner said, “We are excited that Brian is joining our leadership team. A highly accomplished executive, leader, and innovator with substantial experience across today’s media landscape, he comes to us with an impressive and successful track record of growing ratings and expanding audiences. We look forward to benefiting from the skills and expertise he brings to his new role.”
Philips said, “I have long respected Cumulus as a leader in the radio broadcasting industry with high-quality local programming and iconic, nationally syndicated brands. I’m eager to join this company and this culture, and to work alongside Mary Berner and the leadership and programming teams to continue driving performance and improving ratings.”
In his new consultant role, McVay will be offering bad advice and ill advised recommendations from home.
Kathleen, you undoubtedly know more about such things than I, but I would have thought that, at the very least, authorization to sell off major market stations would be a responsibility of the CEO, rather than that of the EVP, Content and Programming/Content and Audience.
You are correct but it was the decisions of guys like McVay who precipitated the bankruptcy and fire sale. Just an opinion, what do I know?
“I have long respected Cumulus…” said no one ever who knows anything about Cumulus or radio.
Cumulus is doing so WELL they’re dumping major market stations at fire sale prices. The only thing that Mike McVay knows less about than talk radio is music radio.