Cumulus Media Appoints Brian Philips as Executive Vice President, Content and Audience

ATLANTA, May 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cumulus Media Inc. CMLS (the "Company," "Cumulus," "we," "us," or "our") today announced that it has appointed Brian Philips as Executive Vice President, Content and Audience, effective May 6, 2019. Mr. Philips will report to Mary G. Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media. He succeeds Michael McVay, who is returning to full-time consulting, with Cumulus as his first client.

Mr. Philips brings to Cumulus Media more than 30 years of leadership and programming experience across a range of media. Mr. Philips previously served as President of Viacom/MTV Network's CMT channel, where he led the music network's successful forays into long-form script series, tentpole awards shows, concert specials, and feature films. He also developed CMT's successful national radio network. Under his stewardship, the channel grew from 36 million to a peak of 90 million homes, and set the record for the longest documented ratings growth streak among ad-supported cable networks.

Before his work in television and film production, Mr. Philips enjoyed an award-winning radio career, with more than 15 years leading radio programming at a number of major market stations, including Cumulus stations WNNX-FM and WWWQ-FM (Atlanta), and KPLX-FM (Dallas-Ft. Worth).

Ms. 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."

Ms. Berner added, "I would also like to thank Mike for his significant contributions to Cumulus and for being such a great partner to me. Under his leadership, we saw years of ratings share growth and we are currently posting the best ratings since 2011 on some of our biggest and most important stations."

Mr. 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."

About CUMULUS MEDIA

A leader in the radio broadcasting industry, CUMULUS MEDIA CMLS combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports, and entertainment brands to deliver premium content choices to the more than 250 million people reached each month through its 434 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 87 U.S. media markets (including eight of the top 10), approximately 8,000 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels. Together, the Cumulus Radio Station Group and Westwood One platforms make CUMULUS MEDIA one of the few media companies that can provide advertisers with national reach and local impact. The Cumulus Radio Station Group and Westwood One are the exclusive radio broadcast partners to some of the largest brands in sports, entertainment, news, and talk, including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, the Olympics, the GRAMMYs, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and more. Additionally, it is the nation's leading provider of country music and lifestyle content through its NASH brand, which serves country fans nationwide through radio programming, exclusive digital content, and live events. For more information, visit www.cumulusmedia.com.

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