Cox Media Group has named Phil Becker VP of Audience & Content Growth. He starts July 20 in a newly created role.
What We Know: Becker will lead CMG Radio’s audience growth strategy across broadcast, streaming, podcasting, social media, and emerging platforms. He’ll work closely with programming leaders and market managers. His focus includes expanding reach, strengthening content performance, and elevating on-air talent. Notably, Becker has served as a weekly columnist for Barrett Media since October 2025, with his final column set to appear on the site this Wednesday.
What They Said: CMG Radio President Rob Babin welcomed the hire enthusiastically. “Phil brings a strong and unique combination of audience expertise, content leadership, and a passion for developing talent,” Babin said. “His experience and audience-first approach will help strengthen our brands and position CMG Radio for continued growth.”
What Remains Unclear: It’s not yet known how this role will integrate with existing programming leadership. Furthermore, specific markets or brands targeted for early audience growth initiatives haven’t been identified. The reporting structure beyond Babin also remains undefined publicly.
What It Means: CMG Radio is making a deliberate bet on centralized audience strategy. Becker’s background at Alpha Media — overseeing content across 42 markets and 200-plus brands — gives him rare operational scale. Moreover, this hire signals that CMG views multi-platform growth as a C-suite priority.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.