Lee Mergner is currently the Editor-in-Chief of JazzTimes magazine. He also contributes reviews, columns, news features and profiles to the magazine and oversees the magazine’s annual industry directories..
Mergner also was the Director of the JazzTimes Convention, an annual conference that brought together members of the music industry to discuss important issues and developments in jazz. Held every fall in New York City, the JazzTimes Convention included panels, workshops and showcase performances all dedicated to increasing the audience for jazz. In 2000 the JazzTimes Convention was folded into the International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE) conference and Mergner continued to organize industry panel and workshop sessions for that conference, which had an annual attendance of over 7,000.
In addition to his work with JazzTimes, Mergner appeared regularly as a guest and host on over 100 shows on the Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the BET on Jazz cable channels. He appeared regularly on the radio show "Favorite Things" on WDCU FM in Washington, DC as well as other regional and national radio shows, including Sirius, WCPN, WBGO, Public Radio East, CBC and many more. He has also appeared frequently as a moderator or panelist at several music industry conferences and seminars, including those sponsored by NAIRD/AFIM, NJSO, IAJE, WAMA, AMA and the New Music Seminar.
In addition to his deep-seated interest in the promotion of jazz and roots music, Mergner has a strong commitment to independent music. He was an active member of the Association for Independent Music (AFIM) and has served on that organization's Convention Planning and INDIE Awards committees and was a judge for its INDIE Awards. Mergner has served on the advisory board for numerous jazz and music industry organizations and radio stations.
Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Mergner obtained his BA in Psychology and Math from Dickinson College and an MBA in Marketing from Temple University.
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