John Shaker grew up in Darien. He graduated from Berkshire School. He earned a B.S. degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
He moved to Los Angeles where he held positions at CBS TV Network, KTTV (now a FOX station), and created a 90-minute ABC Network Television special, “The World Championship of Trivia” airing in 1976.
He returned to NY to join the founding management team at MTV. He became SVP Affiliate Sales/Marketing and co-ran MTVN ’s distribution division representing the MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Night, TV Land, VH-1, Comedy Central and The Movie Channel cable networks.
He went on to lead BMI/Broadcast Music’s licensing, sales and marketing division as SVP, Licensing. BMI represents the public performance rights of 12 million musical works of songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Over his 13 years, BMI grew into the world’s largest revenue producing performing rights organization. In 1995, he signed the internet’s first ever commercial music license.
Following BMI, he formed his own media and music consulting firm working with AT&T Interactive, USA Networks, Discovery Networks, Comedy Central, ASCAP, and many early/mid-stage companies. He has served on the non-profit boards of the IRTS/International Radio & Television Society, Radio Mercury Awards, AWRT/American Women of Radio & Television, Person to Person and as a volunteer at Future 5. He enjoys traveling, theater, art, hiking, skiing, and loves ice hockey. He’s a member of the Darien Winter Club, the CT Olde Crabs Hockey Club, Darien Boat Club and Silvermine Golf Club. His two children live on the west coast.
Sponsors: Bob McGroarty and Ed Sweeney
