Nearly 4 million Delta miles later, Fred Jacobs says it is time to land. The Jacobs Media founder is leaving the president’s chair at year’s end, handing the keys over to a familiar face with a renewed push on strategy and revenue, while not straying too far.
Fred will become Chairman and remain involved in select areas of the business, including its Techsurveys for commercial, public, and Christian music radio, after leading the company for 43 years. Fred’s brother, VP/GM Paul Jacobs, takes over as President on January 1. The brothers have co-operated the firm since the mid-1990s.
Under Fred’s leadership, Jacobs Media launched jacapps in 2008, the Techsurveys, the DASH Conferences, and executive tours of CES in Las Vegas. Fred was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2022, he and Paul received the NAB National Radio Award.
The news comes more than a year after Fred publicly shared that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he had managed privately for about two years while continuing to lead the company, conduct research, and speak at industry events.
Jacobs said, “I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of years now, and I’m ready for a change. 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 the early 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.”
Fred Jacobs commented, “It’s been an amazing run, and I’m feeling nothing but gratitude. 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.”
Paul Jacobs stated, “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.”
Paul Jacobs added, “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.”
