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Guess What They’ll Say At Forecast?

By November 5, 2019Updates

Off The Record

Leaders Get Candid & Creative in a Conversation with Fred Jacobs

 

For 17 years, it’s been a Forecast tradition to close the conference with a Group Head Super Session. And over those 17 years, it’s been an ever-evolving, always fascinating “view from the top” at the industry’s future as seen by radio’s leadership. As the challenges and opportunities have changed, so, too, has the leadership over those years, reflecting consolidation as well as natural movement within the executive suite.

What distinguishes the Forecast group head session from other panels, however, is the audience. Many seated in the august North/Biddle Rooms of the Harvard Club are peers, while others are investors or analysts. That’s why this session is always off the record. You won’t know what’s been said or who has said it unless you are at Forecast in New York City on November 20.

And this year will again distinguish itself. Forecast has asked the well-respected Fred Jacobs to take us beyond the usual questions about the outlook for the coming year and the bottom line, and to also delve into the content side of the business with Mary Berner, president and CEO of Cumulus Media, and David Field, chairman, president, and CEO of Entercom Communications.

As president of Jacobs Media and a longtime consultant for all things audio, there is no one better to sit with two of the top leaders and discuss the transformative issues facing radio than Fred. He’ll share his – and your – creative curiosity by asking about things like what’s on tap to attract listeners to radio’s digital platforms. Not to mention maybe get a glimpse not of what keeps them awake at night — but what keeps them sane in their high-pressure world.

It’s a conversation that will fascinate and reveal the “idea” side of leadership. And it’s at Forecast. But you have to be there if you want to get the scoop.For 17 years, it’s been a Forecast tradition to close the conference with a Group Head Super Session. And over those 17 years, it’s been an ever-evolving, always fascinating “view from the top” at the industry’s future as seen by radio’s leadership. As the challenges and opportunities have changed, so, too, has the leadership over those years, reflecting consolidation as well as natural movement within the executive suite.

What distinguishes the Forecast group head session from other panels, however, is the audience. Many seated in the august North/Biddle Rooms of the Harvard Club are peers, while others are investors or analysts. That’s why this session is always off the record. You won’t know what’s been said or who has said it unless you are at Forecast in New York City on November 20.

And this year will again distinguish itself. Forecast has asked the well-respected Fred Jacobs to take us beyond the usual questions about the outlook for the coming year and the bottom line, and to also delve into the content side of the business with Mary Berner, president and CEO of Cumulus Media, and David Field, chairman, president, and CEO of Entercom Communications.

As president of Jacobs Media and a longtime consultant for all things audio, there is no one better to sit with two of the top leaders and discuss the transformative issues facing radio than Fred. He’ll share his – and your – creative curiosity by asking about things like what’s on tap to attract listeners to radio’s digital platforms. Not to mention maybe get a glimpse not of what keeps them awake at night — but what keeps them sane in their high-pressure world.

It’s a conversation that will fascinate and reveal the “idea” side of leadership. And it’s at Forecast. But you have to be there if you want to get the scoop.

Moderator:
Fred Jacobs has led the growth of Jacobs Media as a respected company and a brand throughout the industry. The company’s annual Techsurveys have been widely quoted inside radio — and out — providing fresh data about the “connected car,” smart speakers, podcasting, and other key challenges and opportunities facing radio. Fred and his brother, Paul, formed a mobile app development company, jācapps (JAKE-apps), 100 days after Apple opened its App Store. jācapps has been at the forefront of connecting radio with the mobile revolution, having developed more than 1,200 apps that have generated more than 25 million downloads. Jacobs continues to “walk the walk” of innovation and transformation. In 2013, Jacobs Media partnered with Radio Ink to create the DASH Conference, held in Detroit. Jacobs Media collaborates with Podcast Movement, the leading podcasting conference, to produce its “Broadcasters Meet Podcasters” track of sessions.

Panel:
Mary Berner was named president and CEO of Cumulus in October 2015 after having served on the company’s board for six months. Under her leadership, the company reversed four years of financial and listenership declines. Her previous experience includes serving as president and CEO of MPA — The Association of Magazine Media and as CEO of Reader’s Digest Association, the $2 billion global media and direct marketing company where she developed and executed a successful turnaround strategy that ultimately led to a doubling of the stock price. Prior to that, Berner led Fairchild Publications, Inc. for more than five years, first as president and CEO of the standalone company, and later when it became a division of Condé Nast Publications, at which time she served as president of Condé Nast. She joined Fairchild from a position as VP and publisher of Condé Nast’s Glamour, and was previously the Publisher of News Corp’s TV Guide. She began her career selling advertising for a neighborhood newspaper in Boston.

David Field is chairman, president, and CEO of Entercom Communications Corp., a leading media and entertainment company that reaches and engages over 100 million people each week across the nation’s top 50 markets through its premier collection of highly rated radio stations, digital platforms, and live events Field has served as Entercom’s CEO since 2002 and its president since 1998. Under his leadership, Entercom has grown from 15 stations with $35 million in revenues to over 235 stations with $1.6 billion in revenues and become the nation’s number one creator of live, original, local audio content. Before becoming Entercom’s president, Field served in a number of positions with the company, including COO and CFO. Before joining Entercom, he was an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York. In addition to chairing the Entercom board, Field serves on the board of the NAB.

About Forecast
Forecast brings together the best and brightest talent in broadcasting and advertising to forecast the coming year, and to discuss the trends and momentums that will affect ratings and revenue. From Washington to Wall Street, automobiles to mobile devices, Forecast focuses on what’s ahead in the broadcast community’s future and how to prepare for its opportunities and challenges. Join today’s industry leaders and be part of the discussions and debates about what’s ahead for radio in 2020 and beyond. Register today for Forecast 2020 before it sells out.