As we head into the weekend where thankfulness is front and center on all of our minds, I was thinking back to a recent conversation I had with my son. He wanted to hear stories from the “old days” – about the beginnings of Rock Radio, the origins of Classic Rock, and the mainstreaming of what has become known as Alternative.

In the process of looking back, it occurred to me how fortunate I’ve been over the years to have been mentored, supported, and helped along the way by so many people.

It’s impossible to single them all out by name, but suffice it to say from my early years at Michigan State’s Department of TV & Radio (as it was called back in the ‘70s) to my first big boy job at Frank Magid’s research shop in Marion, Iowa, to my entry into ABC Radio and WRIF, all these moves were made possible by people who saw something in me: potential, passion, and of course, desperation.

Thanks to all of you.

And since starting Jacobs Media in ’83, and then jācapps 25 years later, there have been hundreds of clients – owners, managers, and programmers – who believed in my companies to provide value to theirs.

Thanks to all of you.

I’ve been blessed with great staffs throughout the years who have helped me build our companies and our brands. I have always sought to hire people who aren’t like me – who complement my skills and personality. That hasn’t always made for the smoothest of sailing, but overall, it has worked out well these past 3+ decades. I appreciate those who have invested chunks of their careers to work alongside me.

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Thanks to all of you.

And of course, where would I be without my family that has supported me throughout, from my dad who urged me to pursue a career path that I would enjoy (even though he didn’t always understand what the hell I was doing), to my mom who encourages me to this day, to my wife and kids who have put up with a husband/father who has spent more time in airports, hotels, and the backseats of cabs than I care to admit. And my two brothers who I have worked with for decades, and we somehow still talk to each other.

Thanks to all of you.

In thinking about my early years spent trying to define my place in the radio business, it occurs to me how much the process has changed. Today we have LinkedIn, web-based job search sites, and other tools that make it easy to network and learn about new openings and new opportunities. But even with the technology that makes it possible to connect with companies, potential employers and thought leaders, the process of getting that foot in the door hasn’t changed all that much.

It is still about hard work, passion, persistence, who you know, right place right time, and of course, luck.

It has probably never been more difficult for young people to break into radio, paradoxically at a time when radio needs all the Millennials it can get.

If you have the opportunity to hire a young person, mentor them, or steer them in the right direction, take the time to do so while remembering your own path to success in the radio industry.

Finally, writing this blog every day has been both a joy and a burden, but it has mostly been a fascinating process where I have learned a great deal from many of you.

For those of you who read it occasionally or habitually, I hope it continues to be worthy of your time.

Thanks to all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

JacoBLOG will be back Monday morning with a fresh post.

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Fred Jacobs

President & Founder at Jacobs Media

Fred Jacobs founded Jacobs Media in 1983, and quickly became known for the creation of the Classic Rock radio format.

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.

Latest posts by Fred Jacobs (see all)

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