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10 Questions with ... Tom Jacobsen
November 29, 2005
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NAME:Tom JacobsenTITLE:OM and PD/MD for WFRGSTATIONS:WFRG (Country)STATIONS:WLZW (AC)STATIONS:WIBX-AM (News-Talk)STATIONS:WODZ (Oldies)MARKET:Utica-Rome, NYCOMPANY:Regent CommunicationsBORN:Glens Falls, New York 12/07/1966RAISED:All Over. Fort Ann, New York Panama City, Florida and Dothan,Alabama
Please outline your radio career so far:
WFRG, WLZW, WODZ, WIBX Utica, NY 3/03 to Present
WFRY,WNER - Watertown, NY 11/99-3/03
WCKM,WCQL - Glens Falls, NY 4/96-11/99
WWSC,WYLR - Glens Falls, NY 10/86-4/96
WNIQ, WBZA - Queensbury, NY 9/84-10/861) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I was a board operator for Adirondack Red Wing Hockey, and manually programming commercial logs into a 4 reel, 3 go-cart Harris Automation System on WBZA, WNIQ in Queensbury, NY. My first passion for radio was reading the Billy Sol Hargus book by Don Imus, and listening to the Greaseman. (What a talent!)
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
I used to have a sense of humor and my friends told me I should be on the radio. I was a good basketball player in my day, and I wanted to play in the NBA, but after I blew my knees out I heard that radio had a NAB. That was as close as I could get.
3) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
Politics - for sure.
4) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?
I see the industry in two states. New Mexico and Montana to be specific. I see myself somewhere warmer, and with one hell of a short game.
5) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
I like WQDR, I listen to it a lot when I go visit my Dad in Rocky Mount, NC.
6) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
Talent. Bringing up new talent and figuring out where to train them when you don't have overnights, 7-midnights and [there is] very little weekend room to wiggle. It's awful hard for me to say, "Hey kid. I know you've never seen the inside of a real radio station before. Oh, by the way you're doing morning drive next week".
7) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
The first thing is that radio competes with everything. Knowing this and always keeping your eye on the competitive landscape, it should shock nobody that satellite radio is a competitor. I was competing and bulletproofing the kind of radio I like to do via localism, outreach and visibility two months before the XM IPO. It makes us "that have the tools" research our city of license, and become local legislators of our constituents (the listeners).
8) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?
Family. Work is always good, and you don't get into radio for the "time off" especially in a capacity like the one I chose to pursue here in Utica for Regent. I handle it by knowing I can see the fruits of my labor. I know that when I'm not home, I'm paying for the things my kids and wife enjoy [like] the house, the Jag, the Play-Station games etc. I've never been good at treating myself to anything, but I like to make sure everyone else is happy and taken care of.
9) How is the relationship between programmer and record label changing? For better or worse?
Better in my mind, but you'll get a different answer everywhere you go. Consolidation has made music calls and promotional inquiries easier because you can get to three labels with one call instead of three.
10) Describe your weekly music meeting ... a) what is the process when you listen to new music? b) Approximately how important by percentage is gut, research, sales, video play, and chart position when determining the status of a record?
I sit in a room with myself. I assume the role of the MD, and I use a sock puppet to assume the role of me. But it is tough to load the CD player with the damn sock puppet on. Video play helps me make tough calls between two records that are close. I also like Big Champagne. That is a chart that shows true passion for songs. I listen to every record twice, and about 20% is gut. After this, I fold the sock puppet and put it in the drawer until next week.
Bonus Questions
How did you get your on-air name?
"Beanpole." I'm 6'6" and I'm green. You figure it out.
Do you have any good stalker stories? Misty requests? "Fatal Attractions?"
I had a woman follow me from my car to the theater one time. She then sat next to me, and started telling me that she "needed me in her life." I then cut my ex wife the check and she left.
Name the artist/act (living or dead) you'd love to meet and why?
George Jones. He's the man. In my world he's Elvis..
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