Jacobs Media
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Jacobs Media is a suburban Detroit media consulting firm. The company, founded by Fred Jacobs, is linked to the growth of Classic Rock radio (Jacobs is cited as the syndicator of the format and its strongest proponent), as well as "The Edge" radio format (the most common slogan for Alternative and New Rock radio stations during the 90's). The actual Classic Rock format itself had begun in the winter of 1981 at WYSP in Philadelphia. From there, it spread to KQRS in Minneapolis later that same year...and to a handful of other FM and the odd AM station in a few markets across America...primarily San Francisco and Dallas and Lansing, Michigan (WMMQ). Jacobs Media and Fred Jacobs established their consulting firm in 1985 and then rolled out their own proprietary classic rock format (of which there had been at least two prior ones by other consultants, primarily radio pioneer Lee Abrams, in that period between 1981 and Jacobs Media's official inception in '85).
Jacobs Media and Fred Jacobs were the primary syndicators of Classic Rock radio, and still continue to be the largest consulting firm for all Rock-based radio formats in general in the United States.
While not the inventors of Alternative Radio, Jacobs Media held a significant roll in its development as a viable commercial radio format with the creation of its Edge service mark. Under the initial guidance of Fred Jacobs, Bill Jacobs, and Tom Calderone, (later with Dave Beasing and Tim Davis), Jacobs became the leading consulting firm for alternative radio.
More recent additions to the Jacobs Media portfolio included Modern AC (80's flashback-type music mixed with modern Alternative tracks), and NeoRadio.
NeoRadio is described by Jacobs as more of a "movement," rather than a format. A response to the "corporatization" of radio, this movement espouses to bring the airwaves back to the listeners by being more focused on what the audience wants, as opposed to strictly controlled commercial loads, tight and narrow playlists, and lack of audience involvement in general presentation.
Jacobs Media is also a research company doing work for various non-radio entities and has a working relationship with National Public Radio (NPR).
