Tom Poleman
iHeartMedia has announced that widely respected radio and music industry veteran Tom Poleman has been named its Chief Programming Officer, effective immediately. Under a new long-term agreement, Poleman will also remain President of iHeartMedia’s National Programming Group. He will continue to report to Bob Pittman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of iHeartMedia, Inc.
In addition to co-producing iHeartMedia’s major national marque events including the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, the iHeartCountry Festival, iHeart80s Party, the iHeartSummer ’17 Weekend and iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, Poleman and his team will continue to oversee programming and music strategy, talent development and artist relations for iHeartMedia’s more than 850 radio stations, which reach more than a quarter of a billion listeners a month, and provide key support for its national team of programmers across the country. He will also continue to head up iHeartMedia’s music discovery and emerging artist initiatives, including the Artist Integration Program and the On the Verge program, which have championed artists like Sam Smith, Maren Morris, Fifth Harmony and James Bay, as well as Sam Hunt, Bleachers and Lukas Graham, early in their careers.
“No one understands the intricate relationship between programming, on-air talent, artist relationships and live music events like Tom Poleman,” said Pittman. “He has always been a key part of the team that has shaped iHeartMedia into a multiplatform company. Tom’s unique vision has turned our National Programing Group into what it is today, an innovative nationwide network of the most talented people working as a team to bring constant innovation to our company and our industry. I’m thrilled that he will remain a key contributor in our company’s continued evolution and success.”
Poleman was named President of iHeartMedia’s National Programming Group in August 2011, where he was tasked with unifying iHeartMedia’s programming initiatives and capabilities and magnifying the company’s size and scale. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia and oversaw programming and marketing for all iHeartMedia radio properties in New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Boston and Providence. Poleman’s extensive programming background includes overseeing Z100/New York, one of the most successful pop stations in the history of the medium. He has also led programming at Top 40 radio stations in New Haven, Connecticut and Houston, Texas and was named the youngest corporate programming executive for AMFM Broadcasting in 1999. Poleman has received numerous accolades throughout his 30-year career, including being inducted into the FMQB CHR Programmer Hall of Fame and being honored numerous times as Major Market Mainstream Top 40 Program Director of the Year at the Radio Music Awards. He has also made multiple appearances on Billboard Magazine’s Power 100 list, including being listed in the top 20 in 2017.
“From the moment I stepped foot into WVBR at Cornell University in 1983, I knew I’d found my passion,” said Poleman. “I’ve seen a lot in the ensuing thirty five years, but nothing has made me more excited for our industry’s future than iHeartMedia’s continued evolution as a leader in media and entertainment across multiple platforms. We have the best stations, events and media assets in the world, including our amazing personalities and programmers. It’s an honor to be part of this amazing team.”
