Clear Channel Radio Announces New National Programming Platforms Team
10/27/2011 | 09:10am
Clear Channel Radio, the leading media company in America with a greater
reach in the U.S. than any radio or television company, today announced
the following appointments to its new National Programming Platforms
division: Dennis Clark, Vice President, Talent Development; Guy
Zapoleon, Vice President, Digital Music Programming; Zena Burns, Vice
President, Digital Programming Platforms; Darren Pfeffer, Vice
President, Music & Entertainment Marketing and Alissa Pollack, Executive
Vice President, Integrated Music Marketing. All positions are effective
immediately.
Tom Poleman, who was recently appointed President of National
Programming Platforms, leads the division, which focuses on developing
on-air and digital programming content as well as live events for Clear
Channel's 850 stations. The division also includes Clear Channel's
Programming Operations Center and the company's highly effective Premium
Choice network, which imports and exports programming innovation and
excellence from region to region, market to market and station to
station. These efforts are led by Darren Davis, Senior Vice
President and General Manager of National Programming Platforms.
Guy Zapoleon joins Clear Channel as the Vice President of Digital
Music Programming. He will contribute to the programming of the New
iHeartRadio with a major focus on the product's more than 80
digital-only stations and will collaborate with the Clear Channel
Digital team to combine the company's custom radio algorithm with the
expertise of its radio programmers. Zapoleon is regarded as one of the
preeminent radio consultants in the business and has been widely
recognized as one of the industry's foremost minds for more than 30
years. He began his career in Los Angeles at Oldies KRTH as the
station's first music director. His next steps included programming
stations, including KRQQ in Tucson and B94 in Pittsburgh. He then joined
Nationwide Communications at KZZP in Phoenix and soon became the
National Program Director. Zapoleon was also responsible for creating
America's First Hot AC at Mix 96.5, KHMX Houston. In 1992, he founded
Zapoleon Media Strategies and quickly became one of the most respected
names in consulting, helping to launch great radio stations, such as KTU
in New York. Since then Zapoleon has worked with legendary stations
across the world to develop innovative programming tools and strategies
that have been recognized throughout the industry. Zapoleon will be
based out of Boston.
Dennis Clark's new position as Vice President of Talent
Development reflects the company's continued commitment to investing in
and growing personalities. He will oversee talent development, working
directly with key personalities, while creating a company-wide strategy
to develop future talent. He also will contribute improvement
initiatives across the company. Clark started his radio career at KIIS
FM Los Angeles in 1986 as a Staff Producer for "Rick Dees in the
Morning" and "Rick Dees' Weekly Top 40." In 1995, he joined The Research
Group where he became a Strategic Research Consultant based in Europe.
In 1999, he launched Dennis Clark Consulting, specializing in talent
development and personality training within the U.S., as well as
broadcast groups in Europe, Asia and Australia. Clark returned to KIIS
FM Los Angeles in 2005 as Executive Producer for the "On Air With Ryan
Seacrest," morning show, which in 2008 became a nationally syndicated
daily radio show that airs in the U.S. and internationally.
In her new role as Vice President of Digital Programming Platforms
Zena Burns will oversee national digital programming content and
social content integration, including editorial, artist interviews,
syndicated features, artist integration programs and exclusive
iHeartRadio Music Festival content. Since 2006, Burns has served Clear
Channel Radio New York as the Online Program Director, where she was
responsible for content, social and digital development for Z100,
Q104.3, 103.5 KTU, 106.7 Lite fm and Power 105.1. She was also the first
digital Program Director in the country. Prior to joining Clear Channel,
Burns was the Entertainment Director for TEEN People Magazine and
the Managing Editor of TeenPeople.com at Time Inc. Burns will remain
based out of New York.
Darren Pfeffer, who has been with Clear Channel for more than 15
years, takes on a new role as Vice President of Music & Entertainment
Marketing, where he will be responsible for company-wide promotions
and events, such as the iHeartRadio Music Festival, and will create best
practices and synergies around local station concerts, such as Z100's
Jingle Ball in New York. Pfeffer and Poleman were the Executive
Producers for the recent inaugural iHeartRadio Music Festival, a two-day
music event hosted by Ryan Seacrest that marked the biggest live concert
festival in radio history. Pfeffer previously served Clear Channel Radio
New York as the Director of Marketing for its five radio stations. He
began working at Clear Channel in 1995 as an intern in the promotions
department at WHTZ/ Z100 New York. Pfeffer will remain based out of New
York.
Alissa Pollack, currently Executive Vice President of Integrated
Music Marketing at Mediabase, will expand her role to include National
Programming Platforms. Pollack will work more closely with the executive
Programming team on linking Clear Channel's unique capabilities with
artist and advertiser relationships. Pollack will also retain her
current responsibility of overseeing label business for Mediabase, Rate
the Music and M-score. She will continue to contribute to Clear
Channel's commitment to maintain and create key label, artist and
advertiser relationships with artist promotion and advertising
opportunities using integrated music marketing. In 1991, Pollack began
her radio career as an intern at Z100 in New York, which led her to
become a producer for the nationally syndicated call-in advice show
"Love Phones." In 1997, Pollack joined Premiere Radio as a Regional
Marketing Director and quickly ascended through the ranks. Pollack will
remain based out of New York.
Other appointments within the National Programming Platforms division
include:
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Marissa Morris, Manager, Artist Relations and Promotions.
Morris will coordinate artist integration programs, promotions and
events.
-
Melissa Webb, Senior Director. Webb will be
responsible for high-level project management and analysis across the
National Programming Platforms department.
"Clear Channel already has unmatched scale and promotional power. Our
competitive advantage is strengthened by our mission to be everywhere
our listeners are with the products and services they want and expect,"
said Tom Poleman. "Now, I'm proud to say that we've assembled an equally
unmatched group of talent to lead our new National Programming Platforms
division. This division will enable us to be even more relevant and
effective for our audiences, partners and advertisers, and build our
national scale and reach by putting together products, events and
relationships that nobody else can."
About Clear Channel Radio
With 238 million monthly listeners in the U.S., Clear Channel Radio has
the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. Clear
Channel Radio serves 150 cities through 850 owned radio stations. The
company's radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD
digital radio channels, Sirius/XM satellite, on the Internet at
iHeartRadio.com, on the iHeartRadio mobile application on iPads and
smartphones, and used via navigation systems from TomTom, Garmin and
others. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, online and
mobile services and products, syndication, music research services and
independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of
CC Media Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: CCMO), a leading global media and
entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at www.clearchannel.com
and www.ccmediaholdings.com.
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Clear Channel
Angel Aristone, 212-377-7802
AngelAristone@clearchannel.com
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