My ear worm today, strangely and appropriately enough, is “Isn’t Life Strange?” by ELO. After all, this is a strange moment in time, is it not?
Come to think of it, we’ve had more than a few of these, starting with this new millennium. It got off with a bang with Y2K, which turned out to be much ado about not a whole lot. But if you were around for the one-year lead-off into this very strange wrinkle in time, it was more than a little queaseworthy.
Then came 9/11 and the changes in the world order, and how the U.S. envisions its place in the big scheme of things. Then, the Great Recession and it reverberations, many of which are still being taught today. We can’t forget COVID and the off-the-charts weird feeling of the world shutting down, including images of an empty Time Square and just an occasional car now and then on the always bustling 405 in L.A.
And here we are NOW in a moment that may not be easy to describe. But no matter how you line up politically, you can’t ignore the very big changes that have occurred in just the past 90 days. This second Trump go-round is altering relationships, partnerships, and governmental agencies. Whether you’re celebratory about all these changes or you’re beside yourself, you can’t deny it isn’t happening. And similar to these aforementioned “moments” over the last quarter century, we don’t know the ending of this movie that we’re watching – or in some cases, playing a role in.
That’s why today on #TBT, I decided to go back into the JacoBLOGosphere to exactly this time four years ago. The pandemic was cooling down – a bit – but still flaring up and reminding us that in life could be both perilous and tenuous.
And strange.
When you read it, you’ll run across several radio names. Their life changes these past few years are in some cases, mind blowing. And of course, some are no longer with us. So, my humble advice? You just never know, do you? It may be just that moment to take a shot at something big and meaningful while you still can.
Or maybe better yet, wait, and let’ see how this plays out. 🙂
April 2021
Yesterday’s post about Netflix hitting a speed bump came up on one of my many Zoom calls yesterday. A friend scoffed that while Netflix, in fact, had its worst first quarter in memory, we shouldn’t be shedding tears anytime soon over the fortunes of this SVOD giant. As he admonished me, “They’ll be around forever.”
Will they?
If you believe that, you perhaps were skipping class all last year, because 2020 was a cruel object lesson for nearly all of us that life, careers, fortunes, businesses, industries, and entire countries are, in fact, transitory.
For millions of us, the demise of Blockbuster Video in just a few short years is a harsh reminder that in the world of media and entertainment, success is fleeting. Many of us remember those “Blockbuster Nights,” perusing VHS videos (and later, DVDs) trying to find the perfect movies for the kids, date night, or killing a long weekend.
Lori Lewis sent me one of those dynamic Twitter videos that graphically shows the rise and fall of Blockbuster, from one store in 1986 to up to nearly six thousand – and now back to one.
Ironically, there’s a new documentary, The Last Blockbuster, that is getting strong reviews, celebrating that last remaining store. It’s a Kevin Smith film, and the irony is that it’s showing on (wait for it…)
Netflix
In a recent interview, director Taylor Morden had this to say about Blockbuster’s fortunes, as well as all the other “things that would never go away.”
“I never thought Blockbuster would go away, or Toys R Us, or Circuit City. After making a movie about how one of the biggest companies in the world went away, I am fairly convinced it could happen to any company. Nothing lasts forever.”
I thought about all this yesterday while watching session after session at the All Access Audio Summit. It was one of the best conferences – virtual or otherwise – I’ve had the pleasure of attending.
Why?
Because it put the spotlight on the zeitgeist of the moment: survival in 2020.
Whether it was Perry Michael Simon’s survival guide for podcasters, Joel Raab’s session featuring Country star, Jason Aldean, or Steve Reynolds/Steve Oshin’s session about life after getting fired, the conference touched on issues virtually everyone in radio has been thinking and feeling.
But perhaps none was better than “Light at the End of the Tunnel,” a one-on-one conversation with Lynn McDonnell – former record exec and now life counselor – and Kevin Ryder, ex-cohost of the “Kevin & Bean Show,” an institution in L.A. radio for decades.
For any personality who believes they’ve gotten a rough deal – or even screwed – by broadcast radio (and doesn’t that cover just about everybody?) – McDonnell’s tête-á-tête with Ryder was revealing, riveting, and honest through and through.
As you probably know, Ryder isn’t just an accomplished air talent. On KROQ, he was one of the most successful in the history of Southern California radio, inducted in the Radio Hall of Fame in 2019. But when Bean left the show that same year, a reformed show was unceremoniously let go precisely when the COVID lockdown began.
After a year of wandering round the desert during the Year of COVID, an old friend – Doug “Sluggo” Roberts – introduced him to KLOS PD, Keith Cunningham. The two debuted last month on KLOS, and this chapter has a happy ending.
But Kevin’s story of being crushed, regrouping, and ultimately, redemption is a more important psychology session than anything else you’ll see in radio. Why? Because it’s a reminder it can happen to anybody at anytime without warning.
But life is like that, global pandemic or not.
Maybe we all just needed a year like 2020 to remind us what’s truly important.
Postscript: Or “What became of all these people and institutions in just the past 4 years?
Taylor Morden – Still making independent films and docs
AllAccess – Shuttered in early 2024, and with it, the AllAccess Audio Summit
Lori Lewis – Still providing smart and savvy social media counsel and strategy
Perry Michael Simon – Now writing for Barrett Media
Joel Raab – Still providing expert consulting to Country radio
Jason Aldean – Still making Country hit records
Steve Reynolds – Still making morning shows sound great
Steve Oshin – Sadly passed away in 2022
Lynn McDonnell – Still providing sound advice as a life coach
Kevin Ryder – Hired by KLOS in 2021, fired by KLOS in 2024, re-hired by his former station, KROQ in 2025.
Doug “Sluggo” Roberts – Paired with Kevin in Ryder in 2021, fired by KLOS in 2024, Now doing a podcast with Ryder and former KLOS midday personality, Marci Wiser. Still hosting mornings on SXM’s “1st Wave,” rehired by former station Jack-FM (KCBS-FM) in 2025.
Keith Cunningham – Still the programming mastermind at KLOS, hired by Barrett Media
Blockbuster – Still owns the one store in Bend, Oregon. But you never know.
One final thought: Appreciate what you have…while you still have it. – FJ
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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Ain’t it the truth!
Mike
P. S.
Don’t you men The Moody Blues?
The only constant in our biz is constant change.
Eventually, we all learn the same is true about life.
Thanks for this motivational post, Fred.
Everything seems to have a bell curve, some with a sharper cone than others. My govt teacher way back in HS always reminded us about “buggy whip” makers and what did they do with the advent of the horseless carriage? I suspect those who loved Teslas a few years ago would’ve been hard pressed to see a quarter where sales revenue was down 71% (like q1 25) or Bud Light being knocked off their perch by a “seemingly” harmless social campaign…or society not needing their best friend am/fm radio any longer…Life in an always “on” 24/7 society can be tough.