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{{short description|American media executive (born 1956)}}
{{otheruses3|Thomas McGrath}}
{{Other uses|Thomas McGrath (disambiguation){{!}}Thomas McGrath}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Tom McGrath
| birth_name = Thomas Berard McGrath
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1956}}
| birth_place = [[Washington, DC]]
| occupation = [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of Crossroads Live
| genre =
| nationality = American
| education = [[Harvard University]]
| awards = [[Tony Award]], [[Drama Desk Award]], [[Olivier Award]]
| years_active = 1980–present
| website = {{URL|https://www.xroadslive.com}}}}
'''Thomas Berard McGrath''' (born 1956) is an American media executive. He is the chairman of Crossroads Media, a company which invests in live and location-based entertainment on a global scale. He was formerly the Chairman of [[Crossroads Live]], a global distributor of theatrical entertainment. Previously, the president and COO of [[STX Entertainment]]; executive chairman of [[Key Brand Entertainment]], a producer and distributor of live theatre in the United States and parent company of [[Broadway.com]]; president and [[chief operating officer|COO]] of [[Act III Communications]]; and executive vice president and COO of [[Viacom (original)|Viacom Entertainment Group]]. <ref name="LA">{{cite news |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2007/jul/23/acquisition-means-bug-music-becomes-top-publisher/ |title=Acquisition Means Bug Music Becomes Top Publisher|last=Los Angeles |first=Business Journal |date=23 July 2007 |work=Los Angeles Business Journal}}</ref> <ref name="broadway.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/154650/done-deal-key-brand-entertainment-acquires-leading-theater-website-broadwaycom/ |title=Done Deal! Key Brand Entertainment Acquires Leading Theater Website Broadway.com|last=Broadway.com |first=Staff |date=16 December 2010 |work=Broadway.com}}</ref> He is a nine-time [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]]-winning producer,<ref>
[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/thomas-b-mcgrath-495782 Internet Broadway Database]</ref> member of the [[chief executive officer|National Recording Academy]], and board member of the [[International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]].<ref name="wallmine">{{cite news |url=https://wallmine.com/tsx/wild/officer/2114171/thomas-mcgrath |title=Thomas McGrath New Worth|last=Wall |first=Mine |date=1 November 2020 |work=Wallmine}}</ref> He also serves as trustee of [[New England Conservatory of Music]]<ref>[https://necmusic.edu/trustees NEC Board of Trustees]</ref> and [[American Repertory Theater]] at [[Harvard]].<ref>[https://americanrepertorytheater.org/node/5996 A.R.T. Board of Trustees]</ref>


== Early life and education ==
[[Image:Tom_McGrath.jpg|thumb|300 px|right|Tom McGrath]]
McGrath was born and raised in [[Washington, DC]].<ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Thomas-B.-McGrath/ Thomas B. McGrath Broadway and Theatre Credits], Broadway World. Accessed February 14, 2018.</ref> He received his B.A. from [[Harvard University]] in 1976, where he was music director for [[Hasty Pudding Theatricals]] and conductor for the [[Harvard University Band]]. He earned his M.B.A. from [[Harvard Business School]] in 1980.<ref name="clambert">Craig Lambert, [https://harvardmagazine.com/2012/01/the-future-of-theater "The Future of Theater,"] ''[[Harvard Magazine]]'', January–February 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.xroadslive.com/tom-mcgrath Tom McGrath bio], Crossroads Live. Accessed February 14, 2018.</ref> While at business school, he wrote a thesis on the potential of home video distribution for film distribution.<ref name="mwolff">Michael Wolff, [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2004/12/wolff200412?currentPage=all&printable=true "Executive at the Gate,"] ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'', December 2004.</ref>


== Career ==
'''Thomas B. McGrath''' (born 1956, married) though little known outside [[Hollywood]], has been an important, behind-the-scenes player in reshaping modern media throughout his entertainment career. McGrath received his A.B. at 19 from [[Harvard]] and earned his M.B.A. there as well.
=== Columbia ===
{{Main Article|Columbia Pictures}}
McGrath began his career in entertainment at [[Columbia Pictures Industries]] in 1980. While at Columbia, McGrath established RCA Columbia Home Video and served as senior vice president of corporate development for [[Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]], following its acquisition of Columbia in 1982.<ref name="coke">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/23/business/coke-completes-columbia-merger.html |title=Coke Completes Columbia Merger|last=New York Times |first=AP |date=23 June 1982 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> McGrath also engineered the creation of [[TriStar Pictures]] through the conglomeration of Columbia, [[HBO]] and [[CBS]]. He led the acquisitions of [[Embassy Communications]] from TV producer [[Norman Lear]] and [[Merv Griffin Enterprises|Merv Griffin Productions]], producers of ''[[Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' and ''[[Jeopardy!]]''.<ref name="hpotkewitz">Hilary Potkewitz, [http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091230/free/912309986/media-mogul-builds-a-broadway-empire "Media mogul builds a Broadway empire,"] ''[[Crain's New York Business]]'', December 30, 2009.</ref><ref name="freelib">[https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Tom+McGrath+Named+President+of+Paramount+Enterprises.-a083090457 "Tom McGrath Named President of Paramount Enterprises,"] thefreelibrary.com, 2002.</ref>


=== Act III ===
After writing a thesis on the topic brought him to the attention of Columbia's then CEO, [[Fay Vincent]] (later the commissioner of [[Major League Baseball]]), McGrath was hired by [[Columbia Pictures]] in 1980 to start a home video distribution company at a time when few had even heard of videocassettes. McGrath had written an econometric paper on theater and video competition that contributed to the [[US Justice Department]] lifting a 30-year old prohibition on film companies owning movie theaters. McGrath also lead the formation of [[TriStar Pictures]], a partnership of Columbia, [[HBO]] and [[CBS]]—the first new movie studio in fifty years—which survives to this day as part of Sony Entertainment. With [[Warner Brothers]], Fox, [[Goldcrest Films]] and Thorn/EMI, McGrath formed Premiere International, Europe's first Pay TV service.
{{Main|Act III Communications}}
After serving two years as senior vice president,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Los Angeles County|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-12-fi-6601-story.html|date=December 12, 1987|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419000322/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-12-fi-6601-story.html|archive-date=April 19, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> McGrath was named president and COO of Norman Lear's entertainment company [[Act III Communications]] in December 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Executive Changes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/14/business/executive-changes-913987.html|date=December 14, 1987|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426215224/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/14/business/executive-changes-913987.html|archive-date=April 26, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref> He filled that role until 1990.<ref name="mwolff"/> While at Act III, McGrath expanded its broadcast, publishing, and exhibition operations, worked on television station acquisitions, and financed multiple films, including ''[[Stand by Me (film)|Stand By Me]]'', ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'', and ''[[Fried Green Tomatoes (film)|Fried Green Tomatoes]]''.<ref name="freelib"/>


=== Time Warner ===
After Columbia, McGrath started up Act III Communications in partnership with famed TV writer [[Norman Lear]], [[Bert Ellis]], [[Scott Wallace]] and [[Paul Schaeffer]]. Act III was the first non-industry player to acquire movie theaters in a move that subsequently led to virtually all the major movie theater chains being acquired by financial players. Act III also owned TV stations and trade magazines. McGrath moved on in 1990 to become President of Time Warner International Broadcasting, where he worked with the legendary Steve Ross and [[HBO]]'s Jeff Bewkes to take advantage of the de-regulation of media internationally by launching radio and TV channels such as [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]] in the UK, Channel Five (UK), [[VIVA]]-TV (Germany), the first major competitor to [[MTV]] and the only one to beat them in local ratings, [[N-TV]], a German language 24-hour news network in partnership with [[CNN]],[[VOX (TV)]] a national German TV network with Bertelsmann, and others.
In the 1990s, McGrath was named President International of [[Time Warner]] International Broadcasting.<ref name="hpotkewitz"/> At Time Warner, he created [[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]], a national radio network in the UK; [[n-tv]], a German-language national cable news channel; and [[VIVA (TV station)|VIVA]], a national German music video channel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Der V-Faktor |author=Hans-Jürgen Jakobs |url=https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B71DQtukc6v6aFlmQW1EODBHSk0/edit?pli=1 |newspaper=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] |date=10 January 2005 |accessdate=26 April 2012}}</ref>


=== Viacom ===
After Time Warner International, McGrath became chief operating officer of the [[Viacom]] Entertainment Group following Viacom's acquisition of [[Paramount Pictures]] in 1994. At Viacom McGrath headed up [[Famous Players]] Theaters which eventually obtained a 50% share of the[[Canada|Canadian]] market, and [[United Cinemas International]] which lead the effort to modernize international movie theaters by building almost 1,000 movie theater screens in 13 countries including Brazil, China, Italy, Japan, Germany and others. McGrath also lead up the build-up of the Paramount TV station group from 14 local independents to 27 stations for the launch of the [[UPN]] network, America's fifth major broadcast network. In new technology, Tom McGrath proposed the formation of Digital Cinema Initiatives, an all-movie studio effort to define standards for digital cinema projection, served on the committee for advanced DVD standards, formed the studio joint venture "[[Movielink]]" to offer internet downloading of major feature films, and lead industry efforts to both combat internet film piracy and create viable online alternatives.
{{Main Article|Paramount Pictures}}
McGrath led [[Viacom (original)|Viacom]]'s acquisition of [[Paramount Pictures]] in the 1990s.<ref name="hpotkewitz"/> He joined Viacom in 1994 as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Viacom Entertainment Group, where he served until 2004.<ref name="mwolff"/> While at Viacom, McGrath was involved in several musical adaptations of Paramount films, including ''[[White Christmas (musical)|White Christmas]]'', ''[[Footloose (musical)|Footloose]]'' and ''[[Saturday Night Fever (musical)|Saturday Night Fever]]''.<ref name="drooney">David Rooney, [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kevin-mccollum-john-davis-tom-583978 "Kevin McCollum, John Davis and Tom McGrath Pact With Fox on Theatrical Joint Venture,"] ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', July 11, 2013.</ref> In February 2002, McGrath was named President of Paramount Enterprises, Viacom's division for non-studio entertainment properties, including [[Paramount Parks]], Canadian cinema chain [[Famous Players]], and [[United Cinemas International]].<ref name="joppelaar">Justin Oppelaar, [https://variety.com/2002/scene/news/mcgrath-has-enterprises-1117860975/ "McGrath has Enterprises,"] ''Variety'', February 19, 2002.</ref>


=== Key Brand Entertainment ===
McGrath began his career as a musician, performing in the orchestra at the [[Wolftrap Center]] outside Washington, DC, while in college. After college he was a [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] press agent at the Kennedy Center, work that included the original production of [http://www.prigsbee.com/Musicals/shows/annie.htm ''Annie''] and the first national tour of ''[[A Chorus Line]]''. Other production credits for McGrath (principally as an executive) include the films ''[http://imdb.com/title/tt0101921/ Fried Green Tomatoes]'', [http://imdb.com/title/tt0092005/ ''Stand by Me''], [http://imdb.com/title/tt0093779/ ''The Princess Bride''] and the major theater productions of ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace]]'', ''Vacanza Romana'' (''[[Roman Holiday]]), [http://www.whitechristmasthemusical.com/intro.html Irving Berlin's ''White Christmas''], [http://www.prigsbee.com/Musicals/shows/footloose.htm Footloose], ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'' and the stage production of ''[[Happy Days]]'' with [[Gary Marshall]]. At Harvard he was music director of the [[Hasty Pudding Theatricals]] and conductor of both the Harvard Marching Band and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
{{Main|Key Brand Entertainment}}
From 2008 to 2013, McGrath served as chairman of [[Key Brand Entertainment]], later renamed The [[John Gore Organization]].<ref name="clambert"/><ref name="gcox">Gordon Cox, [https://variety.com/2008/legit/markets-festivals/live-nation-sells-off-theater-division-1117979556/ "Live Nation sells off theater division,"] ''Variety'', January 24, 2008.</ref> McGrath led the company's acquisition of [[Live Nation]]'s theater division in 2008, which included [[Broadway.com]], its group ticket sales division Theatre Direct, and its promotional branch [[Broadway Across America]].<ref name="hpotkewitz"/><ref name="gcox"/><ref>Campbell Robertson, [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/theater/25Live.html?ref=theater "Live Nation Finds a Buyer for Its Theater Business,"] ''New York Times'', January 25, 2008.</ref> Through Broadway Across America, McGrath produced several Broadway shows, including the revivals of ''[[Promises, Promises (musical)|Promises, Promises]]'' (2009),<ref>Dave Itzkoff, [https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/promises-promises-gets-its-first-broadway-revival/ "'Promises, Promises' Gets Its First Broadway Revival,"] ''New York Times'', October 26, 2009.</ref> ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' (2009),<ref>Dave Itzkoff, [https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/hair-extends-from-broadway-to-london/ "'Hair' Extends From Broadway to London,"] ''New York Times'', November 17, 2009.</ref> and ''[[How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (musical)|How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying]]'' (2011).<ref>Dave Itzkoff, [https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/daniel-radcliffe-to-star-in-how-to-succeed-revival-on-broadway/ "Daniel Radcliffe to Star in 'How to Succeed' Revival on Broadway,"] ''New York Times'', April 15, 2010.</ref> In 2013, McGrath joined with Broadway producer [[Kevin McCollum]] and film producer [[John Davis (producer)|John Davis]] on a development deal with [[20th Century Fox]], in which they would choose Fox film properties from its library to be adapted into theater productions.<ref name="drooney"/> Initial projects include ''[[Mrs. Doubtfire]]'' and ''[[The Devil Wears Prada (film)|The Devil Wears Prada]]''.<ref>Gordon Cox, [https://variety.com/2015/legit/news/fox-stage-productions-isaac-robert-hurwitz-1201549994/ "Fox Stage Prods. Shores Up Executive Suite as Studios Storm Stage,"] ''Variety'', July 28, 2015.</ref> McGrath has received nine [[Tony Awards]].<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/thomas-b-mcgrath-495782/#awards Thomas B. McGrath], [[IBDB]]. Accessed February 14, 2018.</ref>


=== Crossroads Media ===
McGrath is currently Senior Managing Director of [http://www.x-roadsmedia.com Crossroads Media], a private equity backed acquisition vehicle. Most recently Crossroads acquired a controlling interest in [http://www.bugmusic.com Bug Music] which manages the catalogs of Johnnie Cash, Willie Dixon, Annie Roboff, Harry Ruby, Stevie Ray Vaughn and others. McGrath also serves on the boards of [http://www.vmedia.net/ V-Media], [http://www.cineworld.co.uk/jahia/Jahia/pid/1 Cineworld Cinemas UK], [http://www.universalorlando.com/ Universal Studios Orlando]and [http://www.classicmedia.tv/ Classic Media TV].
McGrath serves as the Chairman of Crossroads Media,<ref name="dlieberman">David Lieberman, [https://deadline.com/2011/09/bmg-continues-music-publishing-buying-spree-with-bug-music-169947/ "BMG Continues Music Publishing Spree With Bug Music,"] ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'', September 12, 2011.</ref><ref name="abenyehuda">Ayala Ben-Yehuda, [https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/publishing/1303713/bug-music-secures-200m-credit-line "Bug Music Secures $200M Credit Line,"] ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', September 17, 2008.</ref> a private equity firm that acquires music publishing catalogues.<ref name="windswept">[https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/publishing/1323063/crossroads-bug-sweep-up-windswept "Crossroads, Bug Sweep Up Windswept,"] ''Billboard'', May 30, 2007.</ref> Working with [[Spectrum Equity Investors]], he led the acquisitions of independent music publishing companies, including [[Bug Music]] in 2006<ref name="dlieberman"/><ref>Ed Christman, [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bug-music-sale-again-213661 "Bug Music For Sale Again,"] ''The Hollywood Reporter'', July 20, 2011.</ref><ref>Michael Wolff, [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/05/wolff200705 "Serious Money,"] ''Vanity Fair'', May 2007.</ref> and Windswept Holdings in 2007.<ref name="windswept"/> McGrath served as chairman of Bug Music<ref name="abenyehuda"/> through its sale to [[BMG Rights Management|BMG]] in 2011.<ref name="dlieberman"/>
⚫
==References==

*[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] (various articles)
===STX Entertainment===
*[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] [http://www.vanityfair.com/commentary/content/articles/041109roco02 "Springtime of the Moguls"]
{{Main|STX Entertainment}}
*[[World Economic Forum]]
McGrath was the chief operating officer of media company [[STX Entertainment]] from its formation in 2014 until May 2019.<ref>[https://variety.com/2014/film/news/producers-robert-simonds-gigi-pritzker-pact-with-tpg-chinas-hony-capital-on-production-venture-1201128545/ "Robert Simonds, Gigi Pritzker Pact with TPG, China's Hony Capital on Production Venture,"] ''Variety'', March 10, 2014.</ref><ref>Michael J. de la Merced, [https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/new-movie-studio-is-planned-with-china-and-the-off-season-in-mind/ "New Movie Studio Is Formed, With China and Self-Distribution in Mind,"] ''New York Times'', March 10, 2014.</ref> The company specializes in financing, developing, producing, and distributing midtier-budget star-driven films.<ref>Brent Lang, [https://variety.com/2015/film/news/stx-entertainment-huayi-deal-1201464398/ "STX Entertainment Chief Says Huayi Deal 'Supercharges Our Business Plan',"] ''Variety'', April 1, 2015.</ref> STX has produced and distributed such films as ''[[The Gift (2015 American film)|The Gift]]'', ''[[Bad Moms]]'', ''[[The Edge of Seventeen]]'', ''[[The Foreigner (2017 film)|The Foreigner]]'', and ''[[Molly's Game]]''.
* Biographies of attendees and presenters, Digital Hollywood.

*[[Answers.com]] [http://www.fathom.com/contributors/4047.html]
In April 2018, STX filed for an initial public offering on the [[Hong Kong Stock Exchange]].<ref name="dng">David Ng, [https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-stx-hong-kong-20180426-story.html "STX Entertainment files for planned IPO in Hong Kong,"] ''Los Angeles Times'', April 26, 2018.</ref> This was originally reported in 2017 with an estimated market value as high as $3.5bn±.<ref>Wayne Ma and Julie Steinberg, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/independent-hollywood-studio-stx-entertainment-plans-hong-kong-ipo-1506536274 "'Bad Moms' Movie Studio Plans Hong Kong IPO,"] ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', September 27, 2017.</ref><ref name="abusch092717">Anita Busch, [https://deadline.com/2017/09/stx-entertainment-ipo-hong-kong-stock-exchange-first-quarter-2018-1202178526/ "STX To Launch IPO On Hong Kong Stock Exchange In 2018,"] Deadline.com, September 27, 2017.</ref>

=== Crossroads Live ===
McGrath was the CEO of Crossroads Live, which produces and tours Broadway musicals in international markets.<ref name="wallmine" /> Crossroads Live invests in multiple live entertainment ventures, including festivals, immersive attractions, musical theatre production and touring, and financial transactions with live entertainment companies and assets. The company also spans across film, television, music, and theme park industries. In 2019, Crossroads Live acquired [[David Ian]] Productions, and, in December 2020, the company also acquired the Gordon Frost Organization.<ref name="thestage">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/crossroads-live-acquires-australian-producer-gordon-frost-organisation |title=Crossroads Live acquires Australian producer Gordon Frost Organisation|last=Masso |first=Giverny |date=8 December 2020 |work=The Stage}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hershberg|first=Marc|title=Theatre Touring Company Expands Global Footprint With Australian Acquisition|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2021/01/04/theatre-touring-company-expands-global-footprint-with-australian-acquisition/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> Most recently, Crossroads Live has produced [[Mrs. Doubtfire (musical)|''Mrs. Doubtfire'']], [[Company (musical)|''Company'']] and [[Almost Famous]] the Musical.<ref name="playbillproduce">{{cite news |url=https://www.playbill.com/person/crossroads-live |title=Crossroads Live|last=Playbill |first=Playbill |date= 2020 |work=Playbill.com}}</ref>

⚫
== References ==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|2368846}}
*[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=52359 Internet Broadway Database entry]
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2251337/ Internet Movie Database entry]
*[http://www.famousplayers.com/Default.asp?&noredirect=true Famous Players Theaters]
*[http://x-roadsmedia.com/ Crossroads Media (McGrath)]
*[http://www.uci.co.uk/ United Cinemas International]
*[http://www.viva.tv/ VIVA TV (Deutsch und English)]
*[http://www.n-tv.de/ N-TV Nachrichten Fernsehen (auf Deutsch)]
*[http://www.paramount.com/ Paramount Pictures]
*[http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/L/htmlL/learnorman/learnorman.htm Norman Lear, Act III Communications]


[[Category:1956 births|McGrath, Tom]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGrath, Tom}}
[[Category:Media executives|McGrath, Tom]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people|McGrath, Tom]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American businesspeople|McGrath, Tom]]
[[Category:American media executives]]
[[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]]
[[Category:Hasty Pudding alumni]]
[[Category:American chief operating officers]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:American film studio executives]]
[[Category:American music industry executives]]
[[Category:STX Entertainment]]

Latest revision as of 06:25, 6 July 2024

For other uses, see Thomas McGrath.
Tom McGrath
BornThomas Berard McGrath
1956 (age 67–68)
Washington, DC
OccupationCEO of Crossroads Live
NationalityAmerican
EducationHarvard University
Years active1980–present
Notable awardsTony Award, Drama Desk Award, Olivier Award
Website
www.xroadslive.com

Thomas Berard McGrath (born 1956) is an American media executive. He is the chairman of Crossroads Media, a company which invests in live and location-based entertainment on a global scale. He was formerly the Chairman of Crossroads Live, a global distributor of theatrical entertainment. Previously, the president and COO of STX Entertainment; executive chairman of Key Brand Entertainment, a producer and distributor of live theatre in the United States and parent company of Broadway.com; president and COO of Act III Communications; and executive vice president and COO of Viacom Entertainment Group. [1] [2] He is a nine-time Tony Award-winning producer,[3] member of the National Recording Academy, and board member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.[4] He also serves as trustee of New England Conservatory of Music[5] and American Repertory Theater at Harvard.[6]

Early life and education

[edit]

McGrath was born and raised in Washington, DC.[7] He received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1976, where he was music director for Hasty Pudding Theatricals and conductor for the Harvard University Band. He earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1980.[8][9] While at business school, he wrote a thesis on the potential of home video distribution for film distribution.[10]

Career

[edit]

Columbia

[edit]
Main article: Columbia Pictures

McGrath began his career in entertainment at Columbia Pictures Industries in 1980. While at Columbia, McGrath established RCA Columbia Home Video and served as senior vice president of corporate development for Coca-Cola, following its acquisition of Columbia in 1982.[11] McGrath also engineered the creation of TriStar Pictures through the conglomeration of Columbia, HBO and CBS. He led the acquisitions of Embassy Communications from TV producer Norman Lear and Merv Griffin Productions, producers of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!.[12][13]

Act III

[edit]
Main article: Act III Communications

After serving two years as senior vice president,[14] McGrath was named president and COO of Norman Lear's entertainment company Act III Communications in December 1987.[15] He filled that role until 1990.[10] While at Act III, McGrath expanded its broadcast, publishing, and exhibition operations, worked on television station acquisitions, and financed multiple films, including Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, and Fried Green Tomatoes.[13]

Time Warner

[edit]

In the 1990s, McGrath was named President International of Time Warner International Broadcasting.[12] At Time Warner, he created Classic FM, a national radio network in the UK; n-tv, a German-language national cable news channel; and VIVA, a national German music video channel.[16]

Viacom

[edit]
Main article: Paramount Pictures

McGrath led Viacom's acquisition of Paramount Pictures in the 1990s.[12] He joined Viacom in 1994 as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Viacom Entertainment Group, where he served until 2004.[10] While at Viacom, McGrath was involved in several musical adaptations of Paramount films, including White Christmas, Footloose and Saturday Night Fever.[17] In February 2002, McGrath was named President of Paramount Enterprises, Viacom's division for non-studio entertainment properties, including Paramount Parks, Canadian cinema chain Famous Players, and United Cinemas International.[18]

Key Brand Entertainment

[edit]
Main article: Key Brand Entertainment

From 2008 to 2013, McGrath served as chairman of Key Brand Entertainment, later renamed The John Gore Organization.[8][19] McGrath led the company's acquisition of Live Nation's theater division in 2008, which included Broadway.com, its group ticket sales division Theatre Direct, and its promotional branch Broadway Across America.[12][19][20] Through Broadway Across America, McGrath produced several Broadway shows, including the revivals of Promises, Promises (2009),[21] Hair (2009),[22] and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011).[23] In 2013, McGrath joined with Broadway producer Kevin McCollum and film producer John Davis on a development deal with 20th Century Fox, in which they would choose Fox film properties from its library to be adapted into theater productions.[17] Initial projects include Mrs. Doubtfire and The Devil Wears Prada.[24] McGrath has received nine Tony Awards.[25]

Crossroads Media

[edit]

McGrath serves as the Chairman of Crossroads Media,[26][27] a private equity firm that acquires music publishing catalogues.[28] Working with Spectrum Equity Investors, he led the acquisitions of independent music publishing companies, including Bug Music in 2006[26][29][30] and Windswept Holdings in 2007.[28] McGrath served as chairman of Bug Music[27] through its sale to BMG in 2011.[26]

STX Entertainment

[edit]
Main article: STX Entertainment

McGrath was the chief operating officer of media company STX Entertainment from its formation in 2014 until May 2019.[31][32] The company specializes in financing, developing, producing, and distributing midtier-budget star-driven films.[33] STX has produced and distributed such films as The Gift, Bad Moms, The Edge of Seventeen, The Foreigner, and Molly's Game.

In April 2018, STX filed for an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.[34] This was originally reported in 2017 with an estimated market value as high as $3.5bn±.[35][36]

Crossroads Live

[edit]

McGrath was the CEO of Crossroads Live, which produces and tours Broadway musicals in international markets.[4] Crossroads Live invests in multiple live entertainment ventures, including festivals, immersive attractions, musical theatre production and touring, and financial transactions with live entertainment companies and assets. The company also spans across film, television, music, and theme park industries. In 2019, Crossroads Live acquired David Ian Productions, and, in December 2020, the company also acquired the Gordon Frost Organization.[37][38] Most recently, Crossroads Live has produced Mrs. Doubtfire, Company and Almost Famous the Musical.[39]

References

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  1. ^ Los Angeles, Business Journal (23 July 2007). "Acquisition Means Bug Music Becomes Top Publisher". Los Angeles Business Journal. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Broadway.com, Staff (16 December 2010). "Done Deal! Key Brand Entertainment Acquires Leading Theater Website Broadway.com". Broadway.com.
  3. ^ Internet Broadway Database
  4. ^ a b Wall, Mine (1 November 2020). "Thomas McGrath New Worth". Wallmine.
  5. ^ NEC Board of Trustees
  6. ^ A.R.T. Board of Trustees
  7. ^ Thomas B. McGrath Broadway and Theatre Credits, Broadway World. Accessed February 14, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Craig Lambert, "The Future of Theater," Harvard Magazine, January–February 2012.
  9. ^ Tom McGrath bio, Crossroads Live. Accessed February 14, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Michael Wolff, "Executive at the Gate," Vanity Fair, December 2004.
  11. ^ New York Times, AP (23 June 1982). "Coke Completes Columbia Merger". The New York Times.
  12. ^ a b c d Hilary Potkewitz, "Media mogul builds a Broadway empire," Crain's New York Business, December 30, 2009.
  13. ^ a b "Tom McGrath Named President of Paramount Enterprises," thefreelibrary.com, 2002.
  14. ^ "Los Angeles County". Los Angeles Times. December 12, 1987. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022.
  15. ^ "Executive Changes". The New York Times. December 14, 1987. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022.
  16. ^ Hans-Jürgen Jakobs (10 January 2005). "Der V-Faktor". Süddeutsche Zeitung. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  17. ^ a b David Rooney, "Kevin McCollum, John Davis and Tom McGrath Pact With Fox on Theatrical Joint Venture," The Hollywood Reporter, July 11, 2013.
  18. ^ Justin Oppelaar, "McGrath has Enterprises," Variety, February 19, 2002.
  19. ^ a b Gordon Cox, "Live Nation sells off theater division," Variety, January 24, 2008.
  20. ^ Campbell Robertson, "Live Nation Finds a Buyer for Its Theater Business," New York Times, January 25, 2008.
  21. ^ Dave Itzkoff, "'Promises, Promises' Gets Its First Broadway Revival," New York Times, October 26, 2009.
  22. ^ Dave Itzkoff, "'Hair' Extends From Broadway to London," New York Times, November 17, 2009.
  23. ^ Dave Itzkoff, "Daniel Radcliffe to Star in 'How to Succeed' Revival on Broadway," New York Times, April 15, 2010.
  24. ^ Gordon Cox, "Fox Stage Prods. Shores Up Executive Suite as Studios Storm Stage," Variety, July 28, 2015.
  25. ^ Thomas B. McGrath, IBDB. Accessed February 14, 2018.
  26. ^ a b c David Lieberman, "BMG Continues Music Publishing Spree With Bug Music," Deadline Hollywood, September 12, 2011.
  27. ^ a b Ayala Ben-Yehuda, "Bug Music Secures $200M Credit Line," Billboard, September 17, 2008.
  28. ^ a b "Crossroads, Bug Sweep Up Windswept," Billboard, May 30, 2007.
  29. ^ Ed Christman, "Bug Music For Sale Again," The Hollywood Reporter, July 20, 2011.
  30. ^ Michael Wolff, "Serious Money," Vanity Fair, May 2007.
  31. ^ "Robert Simonds, Gigi Pritzker Pact with TPG, China's Hony Capital on Production Venture," Variety, March 10, 2014.
  32. ^ Michael J. de la Merced, "New Movie Studio Is Formed, With China and Self-Distribution in Mind," New York Times, March 10, 2014.
  33. ^ Brent Lang, "STX Entertainment Chief Says Huayi Deal 'Supercharges Our Business Plan'," Variety, April 1, 2015.
  34. ^ David Ng, "STX Entertainment files for planned IPO in Hong Kong," Los Angeles Times, April 26, 2018.
  35. ^ Wayne Ma and Julie Steinberg, "'Bad Moms' Movie Studio Plans Hong Kong IPO," Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2017.
  36. ^ Anita Busch, "STX To Launch IPO On Hong Kong Stock Exchange In 2018," Deadline.com, September 27, 2017.
  37. ^ Masso, Giverny (8 December 2020). "Crossroads Live acquires Australian producer Gordon Frost Organisation". The Stage.
  38. ^ Hershberg, Marc. "Theatre Touring Company Expands Global Footprint With Australian Acquisition". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  39. ^ Playbill, Playbill (2020). "Crossroads Live". Playbill.com.
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