Delicately showcasing brands and personalities in a positive media spotlight, Pam Lewis, the music industry icon, stands out as a trailblazer among the remarkable women making waves in the business world. A native of upstate New York, Pam has achieved well deserved success by becoming a distinguished fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) because of her unwavering commitment and outstanding achievements. Spearheading the business operations at PLA Media as President, the leading lady has created an indelible mark in the marketing and promotion landscape.
Pam Lewis is an alumna of the prestigious Wells College, where she earned a B.A. in Economics/Marketing and a minor in French and Communications. Lewis studied at Sorbonne University’s Center of Overseas Undergraduate Program (COUP) in Paris for a year. She took additional graduate coursework at Fordham University, the New York School for Social Research, and the Publicity Club of New York when she was in New York City. Lewis worked with MTV’s sister cable channels, Nickelodeon, The Movie Channel, and The Arts & Entertainment Network, in addition to being a member of the initial publicity and marketing team that introduced MTV to the world in 1980–1984. She departed from Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC), a joint venture between American Express and Warner Communications, in 1984, holding the position of National Media Director.
Eventually, RCA Records relocated her to Nashville from New York City to help launch the careers of several prominent country musicians, including Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and The Judds. After leaving RCA, she founded her own PR/marketing and artist development company, serving clients like the CMA, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, MCA Records, and Patty Loveless. In 1985, Lewis formed a team and started award-winning PLA Media. As a highly-regarded woman entrepreneur who has tasted resounding success in her professional endeavors, Pam Lewis takes immense pride in her first endeavor and formed Doyle/Lewis Management with partner Bob Doyle in 1987 while continuing to operate PLA Media. The first client Lewis agreed to represent was an unknown Oklahoma crooner named Garth Brooks. She not only helped him become a superstar but also co-managed Trisha Yearwood’s early, prosperous career, landing her an MCA record deal and her first gold and platinum records.
In 2003, Lewis made her first foray into politics, running for office as alderman-at-large in Franklin, Tennessee. She was elected to a four-year term, serving as vice mayor for a year and as the sole female member of the board for two years.
PLA Media: At a Glance
The creative vision of Pam Lewis, PLA Media is a fullservice, award-winning public relations and marketing firm headquartered in Nashville. The company’s mission is to attract and maintain good media attention for its customers. Campaigns and creative projects involving big-name and independent musicians, celebrities, best-selling writers, special events, TV and radio personalities, businesses, eateries, and more have been organized by PLA. They have planned well-executed, high-profile local, regional, and national campaigns, including radio, print, cable, major networks, syndicated websites, and radio spots.
Jewels in the Crown
Pam Lewis’s entrepreneurial journey is evidence of her innovative thinking and unwavering quest for excellence. In 2023, during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration year, she was made a distinguished fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in recognition of her natural ability to spot market gaps and come up with ground-breaking solutions. The Royal Society of Arts was established in 1768, and among its colleagues are Margret Thatcher, Stephen Hawkins, Charles Dickens, Benjamin Franklin, and Hellen Keller. Lewis is a member of the Churchill Society and serves as the United States Ambassador for the Unity of Faiths Foundation (TUFF). She co-spoke as a guest keynote speaker at the MTSU annual Professional Learning Conference in June 2013 alongside TUFF co-founder Dr. Shamender Talwar.
Giving Back to the Community
Pam Lewis embodies the power of contribution and is a phenomenal leader. In addition to her commercial personality, she engages actively in social welfare initiatives. The Tennessee State Museum, You Have the Power by Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte, Bridges Domestic Violence Center, Nashville City The cemetery board, Belmont Mansion, Nashville’s Historic Battlefield Commission, Tennessee Preservation Trust, the mayor-appointed Franklin Housing Commission, and the Franklin Civil War Historical Commission are just a few of the notable charitable boards she has served on.
Her additional community service projects include lobbying for women’s and children’s rights, fair housing and environmental protection, historic preservation, global green space causes, and animal rights protection. Over the past ten years, her foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to various causes. In addition, she is the author of “A Tennessee Yankee.”