• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, November 3, 2011

In a move which likely foreshadows further consolidation of programming responsibilities under central, corporate control, Clear Channel Radio announced dozens of new appointments to its newly created Brand Management Team, which is focused on developing on-air and digital programming content as well as live events for Clear Channel's 850 stations, affiliated Web sites, and the New iHeartRadio platform.

CCR is positioning the Brand Management Team as a team of “in house format experts” for its Premium Choice Network, a national clearinghouse which transfers programming and talent between regions, markets and stations.

The new Brand Management Team consists of a brand manager and brand coordinator for each format, who will consult with stations and advise CCR’s various senior vice presidents of programming throughout the country, sharing format-specific content and information to inform programming decisions.

The brand managers and coordinators will also participate in research and major marketing initiatives. The team will be led by Darren Davis, senior vice president and general manager of CCR’s National Programming Platforms, and will report to Tom Poleman, President of National Programming Platforms.

Respective appointments to brand manager and brand coordinator, by category, are as follows: Mainstream AC (Adult Contemporary), Chris Conley and Rob Miller; Hot AC, Tony Coles and Brian Check; Classic Hits/Oldies, Bill Cahill and Keith Abrams; Mainstream CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio), John Ivey and Alex Tear; Rhythmic CHR, Cat Collins and Dylan Sprague; Country, Clay Hunnicutt and Doug Montgomery (with an additional brand coordinator for Classic Country, Chad Heritage); Active Rock/Alt, Brad Hardin and Chris Williams (with an additional brand coordinator for Alt, Julie Pilat); Classic Rock, Eric Wellman and Joe Bonadonna; Spanish, Jim Lawson (no brand coordinator); Urban/Urban AC, Doc Wynter and Kris Kelley (with an additional brand coordinator for UAC, Derrick Brown); and Talk, Darryl Parks and Ken Charles.

Last week CCR dismissed a large (but undisclosed) number of DJs from radio stations in small and mid-sized markets across the country. The move was widely seen as a prelude to implementing more automated or national syndicated programming. Although the company doesn’t discuss personnel changes, estimates of the number of Clear Channel personnel let go ranged from “dozens” to “hundreds.” As part of the general reorganization, Clear Channel Radio also combined Metro Networks Traffic, acquired from Westwood One in April, with its own Total Traffic Network.

These moves come one month after the appointment of Bob Pittman as CEO of CC Media Holdings, and the subsequent appointment of Brian Lakamp as president of Clear Channel Digital. They also come amid a major strategic reorganization as Clear Channel Radio and Clear Channel Outdoor transition to new digital platforms.