New York Public Radio Board of Trustees Elects Three New Members

(New York, NY – June 30, 2016) – New York Public Radio today announced the addition of three new members to its Board of Trustees: drummer, producer, New York Times best-selling author, and culinary entrepreneur Questlove; businessman, angel investor, and co-founder of TechStars David Tisch; and entertainment lawyer Marc Chamlin. Billie Tisch, who has served on the New York Public Radio Board for over 30 years, has been elected to the Honorary Board. 

“When I’m not listening to music, I’m listening to WNYC,” said Questlove.  “It’s a place where all New Yorkers can come together as a community to feel like they belong.  I’m honored to join the board and be a part of it.”

“The New York Public Radio Board of Trustees is proud to welcome these three distinguished creative and business leaders to our Board,” said Cynthia King Vance, Chair, Board of Trustees, New York Public Radio. “Questlove, David, and Marc each bring a deep understanding of the value and potential of public radio, and a commitment to working with our highly engaged Board to advance our mission and help us reach our digital, content, and audience development goals. Their appointment broadens the base of expertise on the Board, and we are thrilled to have them. I’m also honored to recognize in a very special way the years of service by Billie Tisch. She championed the transition of WNYC from a city-owned station into an independent media company, making the way for New York Public Radio to become what it is today. The entire Board  is so grateful for her tireless support and shining example. ” 

“I’m delighted to have the chance to work with these three talented and esteemed New Yorkers who represent the best of their respective fields,” said Laura R. Walker, President and CEO, New York Public Radio. “Through an array of creative endeavors including serving as the musical director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and as co-founder of The Roots, Questlove has his finger on the pulse of popular culture and music. He knows how to create compelling content that deeply connects with audiences. David brings digital expertise to our Board of Trustees and will also serve on our Digital Task Force, which works to keep New York Public Radio at the forefront of digital innovation in the audio space. Marc’s deep experience structuring deals and working with talent is a huge asset as we enter more partnerships and produce more content with established artists from other fields. I look forward to collaborating with all of them to strengthen and expand New York Public Radio. I am also thrilled that Billie Tisch will continue her close involvement with New York Public Radio by joining our Honorary Board. Billie is one of the biggest advocates for public radio that New York has ever known. Her efforts over the years have ensured that radio for the perpetually curious is always here to serve New York.” 

Marc Chamlin is Chair of the Television group at Loeb and Loeb, LLC. His diverse practice includes the representation of television, film and digital media companies, as well as actors, directors, writers, book authors, and other high-level talent in the full spectrum of transactional entertainment matters. In addition, he structures and negotiates complex investments, joint ventures, corporate mergers and licensing transactions for iconic media personalities, privately-held television companies and legacy literary and intellectual properties, as well as for institutional media companies. Mr. Chamlin provides counsel for non-scripted/reality and scripted series development, production and distribution for cable and broadcast television; animation and live action original productions for cable and digital platforms, including multi-channel networks (MCNs); and documentary film production and distribution arrangements. He also advises institutional and talent clients in connection with branded entertainment matters, including advertiser-financed television programming, brand integration and product placement, merchandising and product licensing, sponsorship, and endorsement deals. Mr. Chamlin’s work regularly includes representation of C-suite executives in connection with long-term employment contracts in the entertainment and digital industries. Most recently, Mr. Chamlin’s unique breadth of experience was illustrated through his representation of Oprah Winfrey in connection with a groundbreaking strategic collaboration with Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Drummer, DJ, producer, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, and member of The Roots, Questlove is the unmistakable heartbeat of Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop group. He is the musical director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where his beloved Roots crew serves as house band. Beyond that, this four-time Grammy Award winning musician's indisputable reputation has landed him musical directing positions with everyone from D'Angelo to Eminem to Jay-Z. Questlove has also released three books including the New York Times bestseller Mo’ Meta Blues , Soul Train: The Music, Dance and Style of a Generation, and his latest book, somethingtofoodabout: exploring creativity with innovative chefs. He scored Chris Rock’s film, Top Five, and also worked as the music supervisor. He also recently co-produced the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hamilton alongside Alex Lacamoire, Bill Sherman, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tarik "Black Thought" Trotter. In addition, he served as the Executive Music Producer and Composer on the A&E Mini Series “Roots.”

Questlove made his way into the culinary world with his signature "Love's Drumstick.” Currently, he is hosting a series of Food Salons with world-renowned and innovative chefs at his Financial District apartment in the New York by Gehry building. Questlove has appeared as a guest judge on season 11 of Top Chef, and his interest in food and his own culinary endeavors have been featured on the cover of New York Magazine, in Food & Wine Magazine, Bon Appetit, and seen on The View, Watch What Happens Live, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He is a Celebrity Ambassador for Food Bank For New York City, is on the City Harvest Food Council, and a board member of Edible Schoolyard. Questlove is also a Founding Member of the CAPA Foundation in Philadelphia.

David Tisch is the Managing Partner of BoxGroup, a New York City based angel capital firm. BoxGroup is an investor in over 200 seed-stage companies, including Blue Apron, Stripe, Warby Parker, Harry’s, Oscar, Flexport, Classpass, Vine, and Handy, among others. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of Spring, a mobile marketplace where customers shop directly within the app from a curated community of brands, which was named by Apple as one of the Best Apps of 2014.  In 2014, Mr. Tisch was named Head of Startup Studio at Cornell Tech, the University’s NYC-based graduate campus focused on digital technologies and the information economy. He is also Entrepreneur in Residence for Wharton’s Entrepreneurship Program (University of Pennsylvania). Mr. Tisch is the co-founder of TechStars NYC and has served on numerous boards, including Mayor Bloomberg’s Advisory Council on Technology, the Investor Board of Venture for America, and the Entrepreneurship board at NYU. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and New York University School of Law. 

Billie Tisch was elected to the WNYC Foundation Board in 1985, when WNYC was still owned and operated by the City of New York.  Mrs. Tisch served as Chair of the Board from 1988 to 1993, leading the efforts for WNYC’s independence, culminating in the WNYC Foundation’s purchase of the licenses for WNYC-AM and WNYC-FM from the city in 1995.  More recently, she was a passionate supporter of New York Public Radio’s move from the New York City Municipal Building to its current home at 160 Varick Street, as well as its acquisition of classical music station WQXR from The New York Times.  In recognition of her leadership, advocacy and philanthropic efforts on behalf of New York Public Radio, she was elected to the Honorary Board in April.

As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, New York Public Radio is governed by an independent Board of Trustees that meets regularly throughout the year. Currently, there are 40 New York Public Radio Trustees. More information on the Board may be found here.

About New York Public Radio

With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, New York Public Radio produces innovative public radio programs, podcasts, and live events that touch a passionate community of over 20 million people monthly on air, online and in person.  From its state-of-the-art studios in New York City, New York Public Radio is reshaping radio for a new generation of listeners with groundbreaking, award-winning programs including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, On the Media, Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin and Carnegie Hall Live, among many others. New York Public Radio includes WNYC Studios, WNYC, WQXR, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New Jersey Public Radio.  Further information about programs, podcasts, and stations may be found at www.nypublicradio.org.

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