Nova appoints former Hit Network music head Irene Hulme as music director
Just weeks after Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) dropped its Hit Network music head Irene Hulme, Nova Entertainment has announced her appointment as music director for its network.
Hulme’s appointment precedes a new music structure for the network in 2020, which will see her work with Nova’s head of music Scott Baker-Smith.
Hulme will return to Nova in 2020
It’s a return to Nova for Hulme, who previously worked with Nova before her five years with SCA. She has held senior roles with the Hit Network, Triple M, 2Day FM, Kiis and Nova in multiple markets.
Nova’s chief programming and marketing officer, Paul Jackson, said the network was ecstatic to have Hulme back.
“We’re delighted to welcome Irene back to Nova. Her vast experience, musical knowledge and programming skills are renowned in the industry. Along with Scott, we have two of the most respected music programmers in the country working for Nova.”
Hulme described her return to the network as an ‘honour’.
“What an absolute honour it is to once again work for Nova Entertainment. Paul Jackson is an exceptional leader, and a bold programmer, who I have respected for many years. He has put together a dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate content team, who like me share a relentless desire to create incredible moments executed with energy, creativity and mutual respect. If home is where the heart is, I’m certainly home in 2020.”
Hulme and Baker-Smith will oversee Nova’s national music function, with Hulme commencing her new role on January 6 in Melbourne.
Hulme is thought to have been the most senior of 90 redundancies from SCA, which also affected Triple M programming. Nova has also seen redundancies, as has Australian Radio Network (ARN), with all three radio networks blaming tough market conditions.
