Christopher “Fred” Frederick leads iHeartMedia’s syndicated “The Fred Show.”
Based at 103.5 KISS FM WKSC, Chicago, the show was recently voted number five in Barrett Media’s Top 20 CHR/Top 40 Morning Shows as voted by its industry executives and programmers.
One thing I instantly noticed when talking to Fred, James Howard, his Program Director, and industry friends is the enthusiasm and positivity that comes with and for the show.
Fred told me that making the Top five was a pleasant surprise.
“The fact that we were even in that top five is still a little surreal to me, to be really honest. We could have been anywhere on that list, and I would have been really proud of that because there are so many great shows and great names in there.”
“To be in the top five among Seacrest and Elvis and Mojo and Dave Ryan, I mean, these are the very, very best to ever do it in the format. I know we were all really excited to have been considered among them.”
The excitement at making the list extended to the team as well as iHeart.
“The team was super excited internally; I think the iHeart folks were happy about it, too. All of the top five shows were iHeart. It just goes to show the investment that the company has made in talent, and I’m just proud to be among that group.”
The DNA of the show is set up to provide all team members with an equal voice on the air.
“We are a group of people who are diverse in our life experience, in our place in life, in our backgrounds, who actually like one another and spend time with one another outside of work and invest in each other’s families.”
“I hate to use the whole family cliche, but we are co-workers, plus. I would say you can hear it on the air. There’s just chemistry, there’s vulnerability, and we’re just trying to key in on that companionship element that I think people are seeking when they’re waking up or driving to work or whatever they’re doing.”
“I think we really benefited from everybody having a mic versus shows where you’ve got an A player and a B player and a C player; we don’t do that.”
Apart from the show, Fred has combined two passions: aviation and animal advocacy.
“I’ve been a pilot since I was 18. So that’s a long time. And I was looking for ways to keep flying and stay proficient. I’ve always been an animal lover and an advocate, and I work with a bunch of rescues in Chicago. Then I found out about Pilots N Paws, and we use the airplane, or I use the airplane to transport rescues all over the country from at-risk environments to either new forever homes or no-kill shelters where they’ll be placed.”
Fred said brand extension tools and the iHeartRadio app help the show build a following outside the traditional on-air times.
“I feel like in some ways everybody’s kind of syndicated now because of the iHeart app and all the different podcasting platforms; it’s a huge, huge component that extends our brand. The podcast, the social, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and the iHeart app extend our brand not only past 10 AM but all over the world.”
Fred credits his coaches with helping the show grow.
“He (PD James Howard) and Thea Mitchum (iHeart EVP Programming) have pretty much transformed the trajectory of the show and my career. We were doing well, and then James got here, and we were doing better.”
“Thea gets involved, and we do even better, and then the syndication and the rest of it. The belief that they have in us is tremendous. James is so positive. I’ve said this so many times, and I don’t know if it annoys him that I say it, but he treats me like a partner and not like someone who works for him.”
“He gives us so much leeway and really only seems to come around with support and creative ideas. I mean, the guy is so wildly creative. I’ve really never had a boss like him, and I think you can see in the results how effective he is as a leader.”
In closing, Fred offered a shoutout to his team.
“I hope everyone you talk to says this, but I have the best team. I’m so fortunate I’m really kind of just a conduit. If I’m doing it right, and I hope I’m doing it right, to elevate all the different personalities, creativity, and talent we have in the room. I think that’s the reason why this show is successful. It’s not one person. It’s not me. It’s not one individual player.”
“I’m just really grateful for that because a lot of shows aren’t being given that many weapons. A lot of shows aren’t being given as much time as we have been given. So, there’s just a lot to be grateful for.”
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