PHOENIX — Three veteran radio industry professionals have connected their brain power and years of experience and have launched a consulting venture “with big dreams, plenty of expertise, and a healthy appreciation for clichés.”
The venture takes the name Collective Heads, and it is spearheaded by Tim Richards, Jimmy Steal and Heidi McIvor-Allen.
Richards sees himself as the “Ring Leader” for Collective Heads. Based in Gilbert, Ariz., Richards has been an independent radio consultant since September 2020, following a run at Entercom (now Audacy Inc.) that saw him lead its Phoenix stations as VP/Programming, rising from Program Director of KOOL-FM. Prior to joining the group of radio properties in October 2014, he spent nearly a decade at iHeartMedia predecessor Clear Channel Media + Entertainment, leading the programming of KZZP in Phoenix while growing the presence of Johnjay and Rich, the morning duo who originally gained fame at KRQQ in Tucson. In fact, it was Richards who shepherded their move north, as he was Operations Manager of “KRQ” from September 2003-March 2011.
Steal envisions his role at Collective Heads as a “Talent Tutor,” while the consultancy sees him as a multiplatform “content wizard.” Steal enjoyed an 18-year career at Emmis, serving as a corporate VP of Programming and as the mastermind behind what came out of the speakers at pioneering hip-hop FM “Power 106” — KPWR in Los Angeles. From August 2017 to February 2019, he continued to lead Power 106 under Meruelo Media ownership, gaining similar duties for classic hip-hop KDAY. Steal then relocated to Chicago, taking the role of VP of Brand and Content for Hubbard Radio’s WTMX-FM and WTBC-FM “Throwback 100.3.”
Phoenix-based McIvor-Allen believes her best title is “Queen of Clicks,” as Collective Heads describes her as a “digital marketing genius who knows her way around SEO, social media ads, and getting businesses that elusive ROI.”
McIvor-Allen has a lengthy career steeped in marketing, including a 6 1/2 year stint at Local Marketing, Inc., where she was Director of Automotive Marketing before shifting to a role as an external digital marketing consultant. In Atlanta, she was the Integrated Marketing Sales Manager for Entercom (now Audacy) from June 2014-January 2016. Before that, she was with the now-defunct Digity LLC as a Saginaw, Mich.-focused Integrated Marketing Advisor, working with station now in the Alpha Media family.
The business website is now up at out CollectiveHeads.io.
In addition to creating “influencers on air,” Collective Heads seeks to expand their knowledge base into podcast curation and coaching.
