Fred Jacobs Stepping Back at End of the Year

Jacobs Media founder and President Fred Jacobs will step down as President at the end of 2026. His brother, Paul Jacobs, will succeed him. Fred will become Chairman and remain involved in select areas of the business.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of years now, and I’m ready for a change,” said Fred Jacobs. “I appreciate all the opportunities I’ve had over the years, and the people, organizations, and companies we’ve worked for and collaborated with. From theearly days of the company and the birth of the Classic Rock format to our focus on technology in the 2000s, it’s been quite a journey.”

Jacobs Media to Focus on Strategy and Digital Revenue

“The core of the company will remain intact, but true to the Jacobs Media tradition, we’ll be making some changes to ensure we’re aligned with client and industry needs,” said Paul Jacobs. “Director of Digital Revenue Chris Brunt and Bill Jacobs will remain in their roles, and we’re still working through some additional changes. Our primary focus will be helping clients with their overall strategies, including digital transformation and building profitable digital revenue programs. That’s what broadcasters need in 2026 and beyond, and that’s where we’ll focus.”

Jacobs Media will continue its Techsurveys for commercial, public, and Christian music radio, with Fred participating in the design and implementation of those studies. Registration for Techsurvey 2027, conducted in collaboration with Inside Radio, opens this week. The study will field in January and February 2027 and will be the company’s 22nd survey of commercial radio listeners.

Fred Jacobs’ Legacy

Under Fred’s leadership, Jacobs Media introduced numerous innovations, several of which changed the direction of the radio industry. These include jacapps, launched in 2008 as radio’s first mobile app developer; the Techsurveys; the DASH Conferences; and executive tours of CES in Las Vegas.

Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2022, he and Paul received the NAB National Radio Award. He has also received numerous other industry honors in Michigan and beyond.

“It’s been an amazing run, and I’m feeling nothing but gratitude,” Fred said. “Starting next year, my day-to-day life will change, but I’ll still be reading the trades, checking the ratings, offering suggestions to Paul, talking strategy with select clients, giving the occasional speech or presentation, and working on the Techsurveys. But after nearly 4 million miles on Delta (mostly domestic), it’s time.”