fred jacobs

ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST:

Fred Jacobs is the Founder and President of Jacobs Media Strategies, providing research, consulting, and strategic guidance to radio broadcasters, television networks, digital media, and podcasters. One of radio’s leading visionaries, Jacobs became the first radio consultant to be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.

ABOUT THE PODCAST:

Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry. 

PEOPLE MENTIONED:

Lori Lewis

Vin Scully

Ernie Harwell

Paul Jacobs

Bill Jacobs

Tom Bender

Sheila Rushlow

Rick Sklar

Frank Magid

John Guerin

Larry Berger

Tommy Hadges

John Lennon

Marty Greenberg

Jimmy “J.J.” Johnson

Ken Calvert

Arthur Penhallow

Karen Savelly

Steve Kostan

Carl Coffey

Halston

Ewan McGregor

Ed Christian

R Dub!

Steve Goldstein

Steve Seidman

Tim Davis

Joel Denver

Scott Jameson

Justin Chase

Peter Smyth

Buzz Knight

ABOUT BENZTOWN:

Benztown is a leading international radio imaging, production library, programming, podcasts, jingles, and voiceover services company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. In 2017, Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for the fifth consecutive year as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles, New York, and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging workparts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Urban, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Daily Dees Show, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Audio Architecture, Incentive Sales Rewards, BMG Production Music, Top 10 Now and Then, Tough Love With Siri, Ask Alexa and Flashback.

Web: benztown.com

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Part One:   (Running Time: 14:57)

The host of Night Call and one of the original WRIF DJs Peter Werbe talks about the change over from WXYZ-FM to WRIF. The self-described anarchist, atheist and vegetarian talk show host talks about the early days with Dick Kernen, Russ Gibb, John Sinclair the 1968 riots and their connection to 2020.

 Part Two:   (Running Time: 27:40)

• Peter talks about the changing culture and how Night Call survived over the years as WRIF’s ownership changed multiple times. Being terminated at what was probably the right time and the evolution of owners becoming less conservative over the years while the air personalities became more conservative. 

Part Three:   (Running Time: (53:21)

• From 1973-1976 Peter did a full time talk show and later he and Juline Jordan took the Night Call format into syndication. Peter also explores the changes that have been driven by social media and technology.   

Part Four:   (Running Time: (72:06)

• Peter looks back at the different decades and personalities like Arthur P., Drew and Mike, Jerry Lubin, Barba Holiday, Lee Abrams and the shifting of rock genres as WRIF is approaching the 50 year mark.