Jacobs Media just celebrated its 40th anniversary last fall, providing research and consulting guidance to media brands and organizations throughout North America, including commercial and public radio, as well as digital strategic planning. President and co-founder Fred Jacobs is credited with the creation of the Classic Rock format in the early 80’s, which is still going strong today. Jacobs Media began its work with public radio in 2000, serving almost a decade as lead researchers and consultants for NPR centering on program and underwriting development, including “Morning Edition,” “Wait Wait . . Don’t Tell Me,” and others. Today, Jacobs Media continues to provide valuable research and guidance to the public radio system. In partnership with PMCC, the firm has produced its iconic Public Radio Techsurvey for the past 15 years, helping guide the digital strategy of hundreds of stations. The company has also provided research and consulting for numerous individual stations, including KQED, WFAE, LAist, Michigan Radio, and many others. The company hosted its DASH Conference for three years in partnership with Radio Ink, a mashup of automotive and radio professionals and today works with stations to ensure they are optimizing their presence in connected cars. And always with an eye toward the future, Fred and his brother Paul have led tours of broadcast executives at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for the past six years. Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018, the first researcher/consultant to receive that honor. In 2006, he was also inducted in the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame. And in 2022, Fred and Paul Jacobs were the co-recipients of the NAB’s prestigious National Radio Award.
Additional areas of expertise include managing format changes, analyzing audience data and digital metrics, “Stationality” and branding, on-air fundraising and sponsorships, communicating with senior leadership, board, and other key stakeholders.
“
