Ken Ehrlich

Ken Ehrlich
Name	Ken Ehrlich
Birth date	1943
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Television producer, concert producer, music executive
Years active	1960s–present

Ken Ehrlich is an American television and concert producer known for long-running stewardship of the Grammy Awards telecast and for producing large-scale music programs and documentaries. He has worked with prominent performers, record labels, broadcasters, and cultural institutions across the United States, Canada, and international venues. Ehrlich's career intersects with broadcast networks, recording industry organizations, and major music festivals.

Early life and education

Ehrlich was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised amid the city's music and media scene, attending local schools and engaging with institutions such as the Mann Center for the Performing Arts and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts while influenced by nearby universities like University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. He pursued higher education that connected him to media hubs in Los Angeles and New York City, interacting with alumni networks from UCLA, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Columbia University School of the Arts. Early associations included internships or entry-level roles tied to organizations like NBC, CBS, ABC, and music industry entities such as Capitol Records and Columbia Records.

Career

Ehrlich's professional trajectory moved from local concert promotion to national television production, collaborating with networks and production companies including NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, MTV, VH1, and Showtime. He produced specials featuring artists from labels such as Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and Universal Music Group, and engaged with trade groups such as the Recording Academy and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. His role bridged venues like Madison Square Garden, Hollywood Bowl, Staples Center, and festivals such as Montreux Jazz Festival and Newport Jazz Festival. Collaborations encompassed artists and personalities including Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Prince (musician), David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Adele, Nat King Cole, and Johnny Cash.

Work on the Grammy Awards

Ehrlich served as a long-time producer of the Grammy Awards telecast, working with the Recording Academy and productions teams to stage ceremonies at venues such as Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), Madison Square Garden, and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. His tenure involved coordination with broadcast partners like CBS and ABC, musical directors, stage designers, and talent representatives for artists including Alicia Keys, Kanye West, U2, Lady Gaga, Paul Simon, Pearl Jam, Jay-Z, Katy Perry, John Legend, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Diana Ross, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. Productions under his oversight featured tributes to figures such as David Bowie, Prince (musician), Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Bernstein, Quincy Jones, and George Harrison. He navigated broadcast standards, union rules with SAG-AFTRA and IATSE, and sponsorship/commercial relationships with corporations like PepsiCo, AT&T, and Samsung while integrating staging, choreography, and live television direction teams drawn from professionals with credits on programs like Saturday Night Live, Late Show with David Letterman, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Other television and film productions

Beyond the Grammy Awards, Ehrlich produced specials and documentaries for PBS's Great Performances, concert films shown at festivals including Telluride Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival, and television events tied to cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He worked on projects featuring partnerships with broadcasters and studios such as A&E, HBO, Netflix, Warner Bros. Television, and Paramount Pictures. Productions included collaborations with directors and producers connected to Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, and Quincy Jones on music-focused documentaries and televised concerts that showcased artists from Blue Note Records, Motown Records, Atlantic Records, and Def Jam Recordings.

Awards and recognition

Ehrlich received multiple industry accolades including nominations and awards from the Emmy Awards and honors from the Recording Academy, reflecting recognition from peers in television and music production. He has been acknowledged by institutions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Paley Center for Media, and the Clio Awards for excellence in live television and event production. His work earned commendations from arts organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, ASCAP, BMI, and trade publications such as Billboard and Variety.

Personal life

Ehrlich's personal life has included residence in Los Angeles and ties to the music communities of New York City and Philadelphia. He has engaged with philanthropic and educational organizations, serving on boards or supporting programs affiliated with the Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, GRAMMY Museum, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Interests and affiliations extend to professional associations such as the Producers Guild of America and participation in industry events like the Midem conference, NAMM Show, and the South by Southwest festival.

Category:American television producers Category:People from Philadelphia