Michael Jay Solomon
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Michael Jay Solomon (born January 20, 1938) is an American businessman, and entertainment executive. Solomon's career spans more than 55 years in the media and content distribution business. He is the founder, chairman and president of several publicly and privately held companies. Solomon has founded or sits on the board of philanthropic organizations benefiting education, public health, and the arts.


Early life and education

Solomon is the son of Mildred Rickmann & Leroy Solomon. He has a sister named Susan Goldberg, born in 1935. He was born in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, where his family has resided for 4 generations. Mr. Solomon was educated at the Milford Prep School, in Milford, Connecticut, the
New York University Stern School of Business The Leonard N. Stern School of Business (also NYU Stern, Stern School of Business, or simply Stern) is the business school of New York University, a private research university based in New York City. Founded as the School of Commerce, Accounts ...
, where he later served on NYU's board of overseers (33 years), and also at
Emerson College Emerson College is a private college in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It also maintains campuses in Los Angeles and Well, Limburg, Netherlands (Kasteel Well). Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of Public Speaking, o ...
in
Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
where he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law degree in May 1991, and in October 2019 he was appointed to their board of advisors. He is a member of the international honor society
Beta Gamma Sigma Beta Gamma Sigma () is an international business honor society. Founded in 1913 at the University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois and the University of California, it has over 980,000 members, selected from more than 600 collegiate chapters i ...
.


Career


United Artists United Artists (UA) is an American film production and film distribution, distribution company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, it was founded in February 1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford an ...

Solomon began his career in film distribution with
United Artists United Artists (UA) is an American film production and film distribution, distribution company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, it was founded in February 1919 by Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford an ...
(UA) in 1956 at the age of 18, loading films on trucks destined for theatres in New York and New Jersey, while attending the NYU School of Commerce (now Stern School of Business). In January 1960 at age 21, UA sent him to Panama to open the Central American territory for American films, traveling to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Salvador. A year later he was assigned to Bogota, Colombia and when he was 24 he became manager of Peru and Bolivia, where he lived for two years.


MCA (now

NBCUniversal NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and Trade name, doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media and Show business, entertainment conglomerate (comp ...
)

After 8 years with United Artists, MCA (now
Comcast Comcast Corporation, formerly known as Comcast Holdings,Before the AT&T Broadband, AT&T merger in 2001, the parent company was Comcast Holdings Corporation. Comcast Holdings Corporation now refers to a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, not th ...
,
Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company that is a subsidiary of Comcast ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of N ...
, and
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
) hired Solomon to start their Latin American TV division. He opened their offices while residing in Mexico City and Brazil, and put most of the TV stations on the air in Latin America. After several years, he moved back to New York and conducted international business in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa as well as Latin America. He became a vice president at MCA at 30 years old. He spent 14 years at MCA.


Telepictures Telepictures (also known as Telepictures Productions; formerly known as Telepictures Distribution and Telepictures Corporation) is an American television show and filmmaking company, currently operating as a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainmen ...

In 1978 Solomon co-founded
Telepictures Telepictures (also known as Telepictures Productions; formerly known as Telepictures Distribution and Telepictures Corporation) is an American television show and filmmaking company, currently operating as a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainmen ...
Corporation and served as its chairman and CEO. Telepictures grew to become one of the largest U.S. television syndication companies at that time, and one of the largest international distribution companies. The company created television syndication with the series ''
The People’s Court ''The People's Court'' is an American arbitration-based reality court show, featuring an arbitrator handling small claims disputes in a simulated courtroom set. Within the court show genre, it is the first of all arbitration-based reality-sty ...
'', which is still on the air after 35 years. Telepictures was the owner and operator of six television stations in the U.S. (one in Puerto Rico), and the publisher of six magazines, including ''US'' magazine (now ''
US Weekly ''Us Weekly'' is an American weekly celebrity and entertainment magazine based in New York City. ''Us Weekly'' was founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, which sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986, and sold to Ameri ...
''), which they bought out of bankruptcy with
Jann Wenner Jann Simon Wenner ( ; born January 7, 1946) is an American businessman who co-founded the popular culture magazine ''Rolling Stone'' with Ralph J. Gleason and is the former owner of '' Men's Journal'' magazine. He participated in the Free S ...
, co-founder of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
''. He was also the first international distributor of
The Grammys ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
,
MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
, and
E! Entertainment Television E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable television network. It is owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The channel focuses primarily on pop culture, celebrity based reality shows and movie ...
(more commonly known as E!).


Lorimar-Telepictures Lorimar-Telepictures Corporation, Inc. was an entertainment company established on February 19, 1986 with the merger of Lorimar Productions, Inc. and Telepictures Corporation. Headquartered at the former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (now Sony Pi ...

In 1985 Telepictures merged with
Lorimar Lorimar may refer to: * Lorimar Television, previously Lorimar Productions and later Lorimar Distribution, an American film and television production and marketing company from 1969 to 1986 * Lorimar-Telepictures, formed in 1986 after the merger of ...
to form Lorimar-Telepictures Corporation. Solomon became the new company's president and served on its board of directors. During his tenure, Lorimar-Telepictures became the largest television production and distribution company in the U.S., producing major television series such as ''
Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
'', ''
Falcon Crest ''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera created by Earl Hamner Jr. that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Cha ...
'', ''
Knots Landing ''Knots Landing'' is an American primetime television soap opera that aired on CBS from December 27, 1979, to May 13, 1993. A spin-off of ''Dallas (TV series), Dallas'', it was set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles and initially cente ...
'', and ''ALF'' among others. These series were produced at the Lorimar-Telepictures Studios, (formerly
MGM Studios Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American film and television production and distribution company headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. Metro ...
), which is now
Sony Pictures Entertainment Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, acquires, and distributes filmed entertainment (theatrical motion pictures, television programs, and rec ...
.


Warner Bros. Television Warner Bros. Television Studios, operating under the name Warner Bros. Television (abbreviated as WBTV; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division), is an American television production and distribution studio and the flagship studio o ...

In 1989,
Lorimar-Telepictures Lorimar-Telepictures Corporation, Inc. was an entertainment company established on February 19, 1986 with the merger of Lorimar Productions, Inc. and Telepictures Corporation. Headquartered at the former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (now Sony Pi ...
was acquired by
Warner Bros Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American film studio, filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and th ...
. Solomon became President of Warner Bros. International Television, where he oversaw sales and marketing operations for television cable and satellite companies outside of the U.S. Solomon expanded international telecommunications interests by opening up China, Russia, India and other third world countries to American produced content. Solomon is a co-founder of HBO OLE (now Ole Communications). He also co-founded the first satellite-delivered station in Scandinavia (SF Succe).


Solomon International Enterprises

In 1994, following his tenure at Warner Bros., Solomon began his own television communications company, Solomon Entertainment Enterprises. He distributed independent TV product to the international market and formed a partnership with Canal +,
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
and UFA,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
to produce TV movies. Solomon also partnered with Shanghai Media Group Broadband(SMGBB) to introduce Chinese content to the U.S.


Truli Media Group

In 2010, Truli Media Group Inc. was founded by Solomon. Truli is a digital aggregator of content focusing on family and faith. The company was acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment in May, 2018.


Digital Content International

In June 2017, Solomon founded Digital Content International (DCI).  DCI is a global aggregator of original and licensed video content that is distributed to terrestrial and digital networks worldwide.


Involvy AB

Solomon has been a founder and chairman of Involvy AB since January 2018.  It is an advisory firm based in Sweden with consultants in different European countries and in the U.S., and partners with developing companies to nurture growth and support expansion.  Involvy AB contributes with its professional skills and international network, working on projects involving partnerships and investments to push growth and sustainability.


Back to Space

Solomon has joined the board of advisors of a new venture, Back to Space. The goal of the company is to inspire and enhance an interest in science, engineering and space, by constructing a high-tech lunar landscape experience facility in Texas.  This facility will have the ability to simulate riding in a rocket, landing on the Moon, and experiencing a walk on the Moon's surface.


Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment

In 2021, Solomon became a senior advisor to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc., one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks. Mr. Solomon assisted Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment in various business functions, including program library and company acquisitions, co-production financing, as well as sales and other activities, with a focus on assisting the company with respect to its global AVOD rollout.


Foton Ventures

Appointed Senior Advisor to Foton Ventures, an investment and asset management company focused on content, intellectual property and tech, offering their partners a unique opportunity for commercial success in media and entertainment.


V Channels

Appointed Senior Advisor to V Channels, a Los Angeles based company, distributing films in AVOD and YouTube platforms, currently exploring potential acquisitions.


GFM Animation

Appointed senior advisor to GFM Animation. This UK company has a successful virtual studio where high-quality animation content is co-produced and distributed. In April 2024 Solomon was instrumental in the formation of a partnership between GFM and Kartoon Studios, Inc. (now a senior advisor), the controlling partner of Stan Lee Universe, LLC., to develop, finance and produce five animated feature films featuring stories and characters created by comic-book legend Stan Lee.  GFM has assembled a team of LA-based writers with previous experience of Marvel projects to develop scripts while working alongside Kartoon Studios and the GFM team in London, for presentation to distributors.


Phantom Space Corporation

In 2024, Michael Solomon was appointed Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Advisors to Phantom Space, a company founded in 2019.  It became the first 100% U.S. based satellite supply chain, in an effort to mass produce rockets on a large scale.  In March 2024 the company began building a two-stage rocket named Daytona.  The first launch scheduled for 2025, will take Daytona into low Earth orbit.


Additional media interests

Solomon was founder and owner of Prime Time Communications in Spain and Romania, and a co-owner of Iguana Productions in Peru. Later he co-owned a TV and feature film production company in India (Armitraj-Solomon) and France, Spain and Romania.  He also owned a TV network in Peru.


Professional honors and awards

Solomon was presented the Jerusalem Award in 1989, by the Honorable Howard L. Berman, a member of the US House of Representatives. He received this award for work with the Shaare Zedek Medical Center's Pediatric department, where he raised one million dollars at a dinner honoring him. The center's charter is to provide medical care to the people of Israel regardless of race, religion, color, age or ability to pay. Solomon served on the board of overseers of
New York University Stern School of Business The Leonard N. Stern School of Business (also NYU Stern, Stern School of Business, or simply Stern) is the business school of New York University, a private research university based in New York City. Founded as the School of Commerce, Accounts ...
for 33 years, was a special advisor to the president of
Emerson College Emerson College is a private college in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It also maintains campuses in Los Angeles and Well, Limburg, Netherlands (Kasteel Well). Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of Public Speaking, o ...
in Boston and is on their board of advisors. He is a founder of The Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem, and was founding chairman of The Jerusalem Foundation of the West Coast of the United States, raising millions of dollars for the City of Jerusalem. He is also the honorary chairman of the Actors Equity of China, being the first American to ever hold this post. Solomon served on the Entertainment Business & Management Advisory Board at UCLA. He also served on the board of the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and the group that awards International
Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
, and on the board of the USC Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism/London School of Economics Communication Degree Program. Solomon is a founder of the
American Film Market The American Film Market (AFM) is a film industry event held annually in early November. Historically, more than 7,000 people attend the eight-day annual event to network and to sell, finance, and acquire films. Participants come from more than 7 ...
Association (AFM). AFM is a network of acquisition and development executives from more than 70 countries that meet once a year to sell, finance and acquire films. In March 2013 he was nominated to receive the annual
Ellis Island Medal of Honor The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is an American award founded by the Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) (formerly known as the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO)), which is presented annually to American citizens, both native-born ...
.


Personal life

Solomon was married to Barbara Gottlieb from 1968 to 1976 and they had one son, Lee, born in 1972. In 1979, Solomon married Luciana Paluzzi. Paluzzi is an Italian actress who is best known for playing Fiona Volpe, a
SPECTRE Spectre, specter or the spectre may refer to: Religion and spirituality * Vision (spirituality) * Apparitional experience * Ghost Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Spectre'' (1977 film), a made-for-television film produced and writt ...
operative and the villainess in the 1965 James Bond film '' Thunderball''. The two reside in Los Angeles, CA, where they have been living for over 40 years. Paluzzi has a son, Christian, from her previous marriage, who Solomon adopted, and together they have five grandchildren.


Philanthropic activities

Solomon is a member of the executive committee of Working Nation (https://www.WorkingNation.org).  This is a nonprofit media company focused on the future of work and how corporations, governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions are working to close the job skills jap that is threatening to disrupt our economy. Solomon co-founded and was chairman of The Careyes Clinic in Jalisco, Mexico. The clinic serves approximately 7000 people in the local community and other surrounding areas. He has also been on the board of The Jeffrey Modell Foundation in New York for the past 30 years.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solomon, Michael Jay American mass media owners American technology company founders American businesspeople in the online media industry 20th-century American Jews 1938 births American film studio executives Living people 21st-century American Jews