XM Chief Creative Officer Lee Abrams Resigns
The world of satellite radio was shaken up once again when it was announced on March 11, 2008 that the chief creative officer of XM radio, Lee Abrams, had resigned. Abrams joined XM in 1998 and has been credited with shaping much of the company’s success. Following the announcement of his resignation from XM, it was indicated that he will be returning to his hometown of Chicago in April in order to join the team of a new start-up company. That company is largely reported to be Tribune, where Abrams is expected to work as the Chief Innovation Officer. Tribute currently operates 23 television stations as well as the Superstation WGN.
The lead-up to XM’s success began in 1997 when two licenses for nationwide satellite radio broadcasting were issued by the federal government. Abrams reported later that he had been contacted by a headhunter who was looking for someone to fill the programming job at one of those new companies. Abrams leapt at the opportunity to join XM Satellite Radio and immediately set about designing a program that would practically blow AM and FM out of the water. Obviously, his efforts worked as XM is now considered to be a high successful organization. Over the past few years the Network has added a pool of impressive talent. Abrams is considered by many to be a radio veteran and is often given credit for creating the album rock format that is frequently used on FM stations even today. In his role at XM, Abrams was in charge of both programming and content.
Many are already speculating that Abrams’ move could be a strong indicator that the long-awaited merger of XM and Sirius could be finally about to happen. News of the merger was announced in the summer of 2007 and many have been anxiously awaiting completion of the merger; however, red tape from the Department of Justice involving the potential monopoly that such a merger could represent have held up completion of the deal. It is largely anticipated that the merger will happen sometime in 2008, especially following concessions made on the part of both XM and Sirius in order to placate various concerns.
The news of Abrams’ resignation falls not long after news broke last summer that the Chief Executive Officer of XM, Hugh Panero, would be stepping down in August of 2007. Rumors had swirled for some time that Panero would be leaving following the outcome of the merger; however, Panero’s resignation precipitated that event; leaving many to wonder when and how the merger would finally occur.
There has been no word yet who will fill the shoes that Lee Abrams has left behind in his role at XM. XM was initially launched in September of 2001 in the Dallas/Fort Worth and San Diego areas. Since that time, XM has become nationwide and has more than six million subscribers. Today XM boast 73 different music channels as well as 39 sports, news, entertainment and talk channels, 23 sports channels and 21 regional weather and traffic channels.