iHeartMedia has announced that Gator Harrison has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for the company’s Nashville stations.
Harrison transfers from the same position in Chattanooga and will have oversight over Country “The Big 98” 97.9 WSIX, Alternative “Alt 98.3/97.5” WNRQ-HD2, Urban “101.1 The Beat” WUBT, Classic Rock “105.9 The Rock” WNRQ, CHR “107.5 The River” WRVW, and News/Talk 1510 WLAC. He will also retain his position as Brand Coordinator for iHeartCountry. Harrison previously worked in Nashville at CHR “Y107” WYHY from 1990 to 1996.
He replaces Michael Bryan, who had served as SVP/Programming as well as OM/PD of WSIX and WRVW and Executive Producer of The Bobby Bones Show and Tige & Daniel. No word on his status with the company.
iHeartMedia announced today that Gator Harrison has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for the Nashville market, effective immediately. iHeartMedia Nashville has a strong cross-platform presence, massive consumer reach and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises — both broadcast and digital — encompassing radio station brands WSIX-FM, WUBT-FM, WNRQ-FM, WNRQ-HD, WRVW-FM and WLAC-AM.
Gator will work closely with program directors, on-air personalities and sales to oversee on-air, digital and music programming for the radio station brands and their local events. Gator will continue to serve as Brand Coordinator for the Nashville-based iHeartCountry team, which has more than 145 Country broadcast radio stations across the U.S. He will report to Rod Phillips, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Nashville Region and Brand Manager for iHeartCountry.
“We’re thrilled to have Gator join us and oversee programming in Nashville,” said Dan Endom, Region President for iHeartMedia Nashville. “Gator built his network and experience in the industry from the ground up and his proven track record makes him perfectly suited to lead our Nashville station brands’ programming.”
Gator previously worked as the Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Chattanooga where he oversaw all aspects of on-air and online programming for the market’s five radio station brands. Gator has received 26 awards recognizing his excellence in broadcasting from national organizations including: Academy of Country Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, CRB-Country Aircheck Awards and more.
“The Tennessee community has been great to me throughout my career, and I can’t wait to make them proud in Nashville,” said Gator. “iHeartMedia Nashville is home to six leading radio station brands that I can’t wait to work with and help them continue to connect with listeners every day.”
Gator succeeds Michael Bryan in this role.
iHeartMedia is a leading media outlet throughout the Nashville Region. Its radio brands and content are available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations; online via its branded digital sites; mobile; and social, with nationwide listening through iHeartRadio, the all-in-one streaming music and live radio service.