Fred Jacobs
president

Fred has emerged over the past two decades as one of radio’s leading visionaries. He founded Jacobs Media in 1983, when he had the notion that Album Rock could be fragmented by the creation of the Classic Rock format. Today, Classic Rock stands out as the most successful radio format in the last 20 years.

Prior to launching the company, Fred spent the majority of his time designing and managing research projects as the Director of Research for the Radio and Publishing divisions for Frank N. Magid Associates, a leading research and consulting firm. Later, Fred became Director of Radio Research for the ABC-FM Owned and Operated Radio Stations. From there, Fred gravitated to the station side, becoming program director for legendary WRIF-FM in Detroit, before forming Jacobs Media.

Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults Jacobs Media’s major market Classic, Mainstream, and Active Rock clients, while having input in every client relationship.

Fred has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, and a Master’s degree in Telecommunications from Michigan State University.

Paul Jacobs
general manager

Paul is the "suit" in the company, rising up through the sales ranks to become a General Manager of a major market radio station at age 28. After graduating from Michigan State University in 1976 with a BA in Advertising, Paul immediately went to work selling radio for WNIC-FM in Detroit, where he realized one could actually make money selling air.

After a brief stint working for the William A. Robinson marketing services agency in Chicago, where he created campaigns for Philip Morris and Seagram's, Paul struck gold when he was hired as an Account Executive at WRIF-FM in Detroit. This experience launched his sales management career, and four years later, he became the General Sales Manager for KZEW-FM in Dallas, and ultimately, the General Manager for KHYI-FM, also in Dallas. He was lured home to run WDFX-FM in Detroit, before joining Jacobs Media as its General Manager in 1991.

Along with overseeing the day-to-day operations of Jacobs Media, Paul’s main contribution has been the addition of sales consulting services. As an expert in all Rock formats, Paul has made Jacobs Media clients’ untold amounts of money by aiding them in their understanding of how to sell, market, and position their formats via sales training seminars. He has conducted hundreds of client presentations on behalf of Jacobs Media clients, and has aided the Ford Motor Company and Procter & Gamble in improving their understanding of the youth market. Paul is a true "format champion" – someone who believes in the power of branding, and developing radio’s inherent assets.

Bill Jacobs
consultant

For nearly two decades, Bill has quietly become one of Rock radio’s most respected radio programming professionals. He emerged from Michigan State University with a Master’s degree in Telecommunications, and then became a Research Analyst for the USA Television Network. He later joined Eastman Radio in a similar capacity.

Bill was lured back to radio and joined Jacobs Media as a consultant in 1987. Since then, he has designed the programming for countless radio stations, has contributed to the company’s most impactful radio promotions, and most importantly, has become an expert in the specific needs and challenges facing small and medium market radio stations.

Tim Davis
director of digital

Tim has been with Jacobs Media for more than fifteen years. During that time, he has evolved from a programming consultant to the company’s Digital specialist. Tim is a unique talent, by virtue of his radio programming expertise, a background in graphic design, and his superior skills with the Internet and all things technical.

He works with Jacobs Media clients on site design, Web content and strategy, Web promotions, and database and viral marketing. Tim is also the designer and manager of jacobsmedia.com and our other web properties, so you can judge his work for yourself.

He’s a 1991 graduate of Texas A&M with a BS in Journalism. Prior to joining Jacobs Media, Tim programmed KTBZ in Houston and other radio stations in Texas, as well as working as a graphic designer/art director for several ad agencies.

In addition to his commercial broadcasting accomplishments, Tim is a respected resource in the public radio community, working with stations to better develop their digital initiatives.

He has also been a major player in the development of jacAPPS, our mobile development arm as well as Jacobs Media’s research reputation, contributing to design, implementation, and analysis of projects.

Lori Lewis
digital and social media strategist.

Lori’s radio career spans over 20 years, starting as a disc jockey in Las Vegas, Mobile, and Tampa as a team member of “The Bubba the Love Sponge Show" on 98Rock.  She went on to program Clear Channel’s WSMJ/Baltimore, during which time the station received two nominations for "Smooth Jazz Station of the Year.”  She was named “Smooth Jazz Program Director of the Year” in 2007. 

In 2008, Lori moved back to her hometown of Green Bay to serve as Multimedia Content Manager for Midwest Communications, during which time she created a comprehensive digital and social program for the company. 

Lori joined Jacobs Media in 2011, filling a new position - Digital and Social Media Strategist.  In her new role, she collaborates and creates strategic and tactical digital programs, analyzes which digital channels will meet the goals of clients, and how these tools integrate with other brands.

She has served on the steering committee for the 2011 NAB/RAB Radio Show, and has been a speaker/presenter at the Worldwide Radio Summit, the Conclave, and the Public Radio Program Directors.  She also writes a weekly column for All Access – “Merge” – that specializes in social media.