Founder, AfterPlay Entertainment, Inc. 

Les Garland’s celebrated career has been driven by a lifelong passion for music and entertainment, a passion that continues to shape his path forward. As the co-founder of groundbreaking networks such as MTV Music Television, VH1, The Box Television Network, and College Television Networks, his influence spans across every facet of the entertainment industry. His distinctive DJ voice, heard by millions worldwide, became a hallmark on the global smash hit "We Built This City on Rock & Roll," further solidifying his cultural impact. Over the course of his decades-long career, Garland has amassed a diverse array of accomplishments, earning recognition with the prestigious Emmy Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement, presented by his close friend, the late Glenn Frey, of the Eagles. Garland has held countless roles throughout his career, including Radio Personality, Program Director, Record Executive, Event Producer, Music Talent Manager, Executive Producer, Brand Marketer, Public Speaker, and Entertainment Consultant. A multi-award-winning figure whose work has graced magazines, newspapers, radio, television, and the web, Garland has been at the heart of pop culture since day one. His legacy is deeply embedded in radio, television, music, and advertising, where his innovative approach to consumer engagement has left an undeniable mark.

Prior to his years as a cable television pioneer during the golden era of contemporary music, Les Garland honed his skills as Program Director of historic major market radio stations including K-100 Los Angeles, CKLW Detroit, WRKO Boston, and the infamous KFRC San Francisco. Discovered by radio legends Bill Drake and Paul Drew, Garland’s storied radio career landed him in Rolling Stone magazine’s coveted list of the “Music Industry Heavy 100.”

As Garland often says, “the audience always comes first.” At KFRC in San Francisco, he revolutionized the radio landscape, propelling the station to the top of the Northern California market. Under his leadership, the legendary KFRC was named Radio Station of the Year four times, while Garland himself was honored as Program Director of the Year by his peers. Channeling the spirit of Orson Welles, he created the now-iconic KFRC promotional spot “Close Encounters,” which went on to become a part of radio history and earned him a Clio Award. The groundbreaking promo stunned listeners with its dramatic announcement that the station would go silent to communicate with extraterrestrials.

Following his standout career in radio, Les Garland was personally selected by legendary label founder Ahmet Ertegun and label chief Doug Morris to transition from radio to the music industry, taking on the role of managing West Coast operations for the iconic Atlantic Records. Home to some of the most influential artists in music history, including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, ABBA, Aretha Franklin, Foreigner, The Spinners, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and AC/DC, Atlantic was the perfect place for Garland to continue making his mark

Les Garland was a key figure in the evolution of 80s pop culture, driving the groundbreaking rise of music television as a co-founder of MTV Music Television, and VH1. MTV Music Television, the first-ever 24-hour music channel, became a cultural juggernaut, fueled by the iconic “I Want My MTV” campaign, which Garland played a pivotal role in creating.

As Senior Executive Vice President of MTV Networks, alongside co-founder Robert Pittman, Garland not only executive produced the first six MTV Video Music Awards but also shaped the channel’s forward-thinking programming, as the Senior Vice President of Programming. He was instrumental in taking MTV global, expanding its reach into the UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia. During his tenure, Garland’s signature humor and creativity also landed him a memorable role as the DJ voice on Jefferson Starship’s hit “We Built This City on Rock & Roll.” This impromptu cameo became a defining moment in his career, with a smile on his face, Garland humorously calls it “his first #1 hit song.”

Following his extremely successful and innovative MTV Music Television & VH-1 years, Garland and Pittman co-founded Quantum Media, launching popular television shows “The Morton Downey Jr. Show,” “Streets” (TV’s first reality cop show), and the legendary Marvin Hagler / Sugar Ray Leonard title fight. 

After his time with Quantum Media, Garland returned to the world of music on television, spearheading the national launch of The Box Television Network (Music Television You Control) – the first-ever interactive, on-demand music channel. Garland foresaw the rise of an "when YOU want it" culture, recognizing that audiences would crave control over their viewing experience. This vision led The Box to become the first network to give viewers what they wanted, when they wanted it, with the channel’s slogan capturing this idea: “The Box: Music Television YOU control.” As Senior Executive Vice President, Garland played a crucial role in the channel’s domestic and global expansion, overseeing programming, promotion, sales, and marketing, while growing The Box to reach over 50 million homes worldwide.

Garland's entertainment journey continued with his work on Pepsi’s multi-format radio campaign, where he assembled an impressive roster of stars, including Naughty by Nature, Luscious Jackson, Notorious B.I.G., PM Dawn, Digable Planets, and The Rembrandts. At the same time, he played a key role in launching and expanding the College Television Network (CTN), which was eventually acquired by MTV Networks and transformed into mtvU. Following CTN, Garland co-founded the digital music platform Sputnik7.com with music legend Chris Blackwell. As the company’s President, Garland helped lead the channel to multiple accolades, including a Webby Award for digital innovation.

Today, Les Garland continues to lead mass media entertainment at the helm of his company AfterPlay Entertainment, a boutique, multi-disciplinary consulting practice. Internationally, AfterPlay has contributed to the development of music initiatives for Bacardi International. He also orchestrated a unique relationship between superstar artist Pitbull and Zumba Fitness. Garland executive produced and was the voice of the 2011 Tom Petty Tour radio, television, and media commercials, along with national commercial campaigns for Krystal restaurants.

Despite his success in other arenas, music and screens remain Garland’s passion. Recently, Garland co-founded and participated in the international launch of a new influencer marketing platform and programming service, called QYou, with longtime friend, award-winning music video producer, and former President of Lionsgate Digital, Curt Marvis. Best recognized as the CEO of an LA-based production company known as The Company, Marvis was the king of music video production, having produced MTV’s most popular rock videos between 1984 and 1994 with artists such as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Bon Jovi.

Garland has held multiple executive roles in the music, radio, music television, and new media industries, making him a highly sought-after speaker. He’s been featured at various prestigious events, including college symposia such as Brown University with Hunter S. Thompson and Walter Cronkite, as well as the Billboard International Music Conference, Montreux Jazz Festival, Australian Radio Broadcasters Conference, New Music Seminar, International Music & Media Conference, and Austin's SXSW. Garland also keynoted the ESPN Sports Radio Convention and was a guest lecturer at the Electronic Arts worldwide marketing conference. He’s received four invitations to speak on “Sex, Race, and Rock in the USA” in a special internet lecture led by Professor Rebecca Sheehan at the University of Sydney.

Garland has appeared in numerous publications including Vanity Fair, Time Magazine, GQ, People, USA Today, The New, Thrillist. and was featured in Billboard Magazine’s Power 100 List. Television exposure has included The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Morning News, Entertainment Tonight, and even a humorous cameo with Eddie Murphy on the Late Show with David Letterman.

With over four decades of experience in music and entertainment, Garland has remained at the forefront of multiple industries, collaborating with iconic artists from Aretha Franklin to ZZ Top. In a heartfelt tribute to the power of family, he supports entrepreneur and author Rebecca Wilson Macsovits and her children's book and song Guion The Lion, which raises awareness for diversity and Down syndrome. Garland is actively helping expand the reach of this story and song across a variety of platforms, sharing it with audiences worldwide.

Personally, Garland’s passion for golf is a close rival to his love for music. With seven amateur hole-in-ones under his belt, his connection to the game extends beyond the course to his community involvement. He’s been a guest celebrity for several years at the Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament in Palm Springs, hosted by actor Patrick Warburton, helping raise record-breaking funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Additionally, Garland participates as a celebrity guest at Michael Phelps’ annual golf tournament, which supports Adult Drowning Awareness and Mental Health through The Michael Phelps Foundation.

Garland has appeared on Golf Channel’s Travel Insider with golf expert Matt Ginella, where he showcased the top golf courses in the Ozarks, owned by Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops and Big Cedar Lodge. Purely for fun, Garland caddied briefly on the PGA Tour for Tommy Armour III. For the Miami Beach community, he helped oversee the renovation of the city’s two public courses, Miami Beach Golf Club and Normandy Shores, a project he was appointed to by the City of Miami Beach in the early 2000s; and two courses which he still enjoy’s today.