Vinyl Group has announced the appointment of Tahlia Phillips as Head of Publishing at Vinyl Media, in a move that signals the company’s ambition to build one of Australia’s most influential cultural media portfolios.
Phillips steps into the newly created role after nearly a decade at Concrete Playground, where she served as General Manager. She joined Vinyl Media following the group’s acquisition of the leading digital city guide earlier in 2025.
Bringing more than 15 years of experience spanning commercial and creative leadership across major Australian media brands, Phillips’ remit includes driving original storytelling across music, lifestyle, and entertainment and more.
Next era of publishing
“It’s a privilege to lead the exceptional editorial and content teams at Vinyl Media, home to some of Australia’s, and the world’s, most iconic media brands,” said Phillips.
“As a tech business with a rapidly expanding media portfolio, we are uniquely positioned to lead the next era of publishing. In 2025, Vinyl Media will deliver ambitious audience growth, bold new content franchises, and unforgettable real-world experiences that deepen our connection with audiences in powerful, personal ways.”
Vinyl Media has also appointed Chantelle Schmidt as Editorial Director for Refinery29 Australia, marking the platform’s return to the local market.
Schmidt brings more than 15 years of experience across publishing, branded content, social, podcasting, and affiliate strategy. She has worked with brands including Elle, Popsugar, Netflix, and Mamamia, and previously led branded and e-commerce content across Pedestrian Group’s suite of titles. She also worked on Refinery29 during its previous Australian iteration.
Vinyl Group’s licensing and representation deal with Refinery29 sees the women-focused lifestyle media brand return to the ANZ market with a locally driven edition, along with representation of its international inventory across the region.
Josh Simons
CEO of Vinyl Group, Josh Simons, said of both appointments, “Tahlia has played a significant part in growing the Concrete Playground brand to where it is today, and her work with the business over many years speaks for itself. Her experience and leadership will be key as we grow our publishing footprint and deliver premium content that speaks to the passions of our audiences and the needs of our partners.”
He added, “Chantelle returns to Refinery29 with a deep understanding of the publication and its audience, and as part of our commitment to growing the title in Australia since our recent relaunch.”
Vinyl Media was launched in February 2025 as Vinyl Group’s new publishing division with a mission to turn brands into cultural icons.
The publishing house now includes Concrete Playground, The Music Network, Tone Deaf, and Mediaweek, and represents major international titles and platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd, Crunchyroll, and Bluesfest Byron Bay.