We’ve been talking about the Jack session at the R&R convention. Here’s the third basic observation from that session:
It was great to hear from Bob Sinclair who has launched successful "Bob" stations in both Norfolk and Austin with the programming help of Joel Folger. Bob was self-effacing, honest, and very compelling in his assessment of what’s working and what isn’t.
But one of his comments took me back to the Little Steven session we presented the day before. Bob noted that the DJs on his stations talk just twice an hour, and their main function is to be brief and fulfill sales commitments and promotions. Fortunately, Little Steven was back on the set of "The Sopranos" during this panel, because he would have gone ballistic had he been there.
Radio has dumbed down DJs to this type of role at many stations, but imagine how much more fun and compelling Jack stations could be with jocks who are engaged, enthusiastic, and local. While Jack is truly a phenomenon, is an automated, virtually jock-less presentation the "secret sauce" that will jumpstart radio? Given all that new competition – from iPods to satellite to Internet – isn’t a great music station hosted by fun, hometown, and entertaining DJs part of what’s missing?
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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