BBC Appoints Head of Pop Music, TV

BBC has named Jonathan Rothery, currently commissioning editor at Channel 4, as head of pop music, TV, effective September 12.

Rothery will focus on pop-music commissions across TV, BBC iPlayer and digital, while collaborating with radio and BBC Sounds. He will report to Lorna Clarke, director of music.

Rothery has been at Channel 4 since 2012, when he joined as commissioning editor to oversee programming from live music events such as V Festival, Mercury Music Prize and iTunes Festival. Since 2018, he has also commissioned popular-entertainment programs, overseeing shows including Sunday Brunch, Tattoo Fixers and 8 out of 10 Cats.

Prior to joining Channel 4, Rothery was commissioning editor for music and entertainment at Sky, where he oversaw Isle of Wight, Latitude and Cambridge Folk Festivals and produced shows such as Popworld, 4 Music Presents and Big Brother’s Little Brother. Before that, he worked at BBC Music Entertainment on series including Top of the Pops, Later… with Jools Holland and Glastonbury Festival.

“With over 20 years working in television, Jonathan now brings his incredible skills and experience as a hugely respected program-maker, executive producer and commissioner to the BBC’s music team,” Clarke said. “Having worked at a senior level on a vast range of content and formats, I’m looking forward to him bringing his genuine love for music and creativity and vision as he joins the BBC to deliver our world-class programming across all our platforms.”

Rothery added, “I feel very privileged to have spent ten years commissioning such a broad range of shows and working with such amazing people at Channel 4. The opportunity to set my sights back on music TV and, more specifically, help build on the amazing slate of shows the BBC has to offer is a dream role for me.”