Lee Abrams

Lee Abrams’ Key Accomplishments Include . . .
Lee Abrams has been shaping the American media industry for over three decades. During the past 40 years, he has brought unparalleled ratings and economic success to radio stations in over 400 markets. As an influential media executive who has held a number of posts for large and influential companies, Abrams is generally credited with developing the “Album Oriented Rock” (AOR) format employed by hundreds of radio stations across the country. Recognized as the leader in re-inventing traditional media and marketing, Lee Abrams is a frequent keynote speaker and college lecturer.

Most recently, Lee Abrams was the Chief Innovation Officer for the Tribune Company. Prior to that, he founded XM Satellite Radio and served as its Chief Programming Officer until his departure in 2008. He also founded and ran notable radio consulting company Burkhart/Abrams, served as an internal consultant for ABC Radio, and helped develop nationwide radio formats such as Z- Rock and Radio Disney.

Additionally, Lee Abrams was actively involved in the recording side of the music industry, producing for guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson and appearing on several Alan Parsons Project albums. He was also involved in consulting and even managing such notable acts such as Yes, The Moody Blues, Steve Winwood, Iron Maiden, and Bob Seger.

In 1993, Newsweek magazine listed Lee Abrams as one of their "100 Cultural Elite" and was cited by industry publication Radio Ink as one of the “75 most important radio figures of all time.”

Lee Abrams has also been the subject of feature articles in hundreds of publications including Playboy, Esquire, the New York Times, People, and The Wall Street Journal, and appeared as a guest on The Apprentice TV series with Donald Trump.

Lee Abrams’ corporate clients have included every major broadcast group. His other media projects have included the redesign of Rolling Stone magazine, the launch of TNT Cable Network, MTV, marketing consultant to Swatch, Disney and advisor to dozens of entertainment companies.

While at XM Satellite Radio, Lee Abrams was also responsible for creating and bringing timeless icons such as Bob Dylan, Quincy Jones, BB King, Wynton Marsalis, Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Tom Petty and others into the XM fold to create passionate original programming.

More About Speaker, Lee Abrams . . .
As the Chief Innovation Officer at the Tribune Company, Lee Abrams was responsible for helping reinvent scores of Tribune TV stations, cable channels and newspapers as well as creating a new and modern innovation focused culture. While at Tribune, Abrams re-named and re-branded cable station WGN-AMERICA, re-structured and energized the creative departments for the TV group, and oversaw the redesigning and restructuring of newspapers including The Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun and The Orlando Sentinel. A dramatically different TV morning show and PM news concept was created and built by Abrams and launched in early 2011.

Prior to 2008, Lee Abrams was XM Satellite Radio’s Chief Programming Officer. Abrams joined XM as the first employee in 1998 to create satellite radio, designing the programming and overseeing and training a staff with the mandate to re-invent the sound of radio. With 150 stations to develop and program, Abrams was once again challenged to reinvigorate the radio landscape.

In 1989, Lee Abrams joined ABC Radio Networks as an internal consultant and oversaw the revolutionary Z-Rock format, which was the first satellite delivered Superstation, as well as being the first “Active Rock” format, and was instrumental in the launch of Radio Disney. While at Satellite Music Network (Now ABC), Abrams oversaw the satellite delivered programming to over 1,000 stations.