Writer Jon Jacob is the author behind the Thoroughly Good Classical Music Blog. He’s been writing the blog for 20 years on various platforms. He works as a copywriter, digital content strategist, podcaster, and leadership coach.

The Blog started in 2005 when a digitally savvy friend of Jon Jacob invited him to make use of an experimental social networking site called Yahoo 360.

Around about the same time, Jon was invited to test out a blogging platform developed by Movable Type. He began writing about his experience working at the BBC where he’d started employment in 2005.

There were two subjects which seemed to dominate Jon’s writing at the time: the BBC Proms and Eurovision.

In the years to come Eurovision lost out, and the blog now on WordPress focussed solely on classical music.  

One of Jon’s first jobs was an orchestral manager working for an organisation that sought out arts graduates to work demanding hours in return for very little pay.

As an orchestral manager Jon booked players who were making their first moves in the music world. The stresses and strains of the job were often the source of quite dark humour between him and his work pal Helen.

At particular difficult moments when self-doubt would dominate Helen would reassure Jon that ‘really none of what you’re working on is a disaster Jon, you really are thoroughly good, you know’. The phrase became synonymous with warm hugs and happy memories.

Years later when Jon started a side hustle as a web designer, Thoroughly Good Web Designs seemed like the right name to make use of.

Later, after radio production training, calling his esoteric radio packages Thoroughly Good Podcasts, seemed like a no-brainer.

Later still when he started signing up for social media, Thoroughly Good seemed like the obvious profile name. 

From time to time I’ve written for other publications. Classical Music Magazine, Opera, the Catford Newsshopper, and way back when, Refresh Magazine. Whether you can still see that work is an entirely different matter. Depends on how good your research skills are. 

Jon Jacob has been contracted to write copy and manage social media for Wigmore Hall, Warner Classics, Bauer Media, Ulster Orchestra, and English Concert. 

He also provides consultancy and training on social media management, personal branding, copywriting, and digital content strategy for arts organisations including ABO, Young People in the Arts, Royal Philharmonic Society, Bath Festival Orchestra, and PRS for Music. 

Jon Jacob has trained international journalists in digital content strategy in Ukraine, Turkey, Serbia and Bulgaria.

Get in touch by emailing thoroughlygood [at] gmail.com if you would like to work with Jon Jacob in some way.  

Thoroughly Good is content written from a personal perspective, primarily reflecting the author’s ongoing interest in writing, and specifically his love of classical music.

The genre has remained a constant in writer Jon Jacob’s life, at various points playing a significant part in his personal and professional development. Classical music has been a soundtrack for ongoing study and reflection, in addition to consistently driving discovery.

Thoroughly Good reflects the joy derived from the ongoing exploration of classical music by promoting the values of curiosity, learning and discovery. Most important of all is the simple message: classical music isn’t difficult, it’s just music. 

Thoroughly Good is open to reflecting on all aspects of classical music.

Thoroughly Good’s review strategy is to be honest and clear. Reviews are a reflection of the author’s personal thoughts and feelings, and draw on a background of degree-level musical study. Thoroughly Good sometimes includes all elements of a concert programme, but often won’t preferring instead to reflect on those elements of the event which most resonated with the author. 

If your event doesn’t get reviewed it may well be because of one of two reasons: Thoroughly Good wasn’t invited, or after attending the event there was very little to say that was helpful or positive. 

Thoroughly Good advocates the ongoing importance of fearless independent voices in their candid assessments. At the same time, Thoroughly Good resists personal attack or abuse, reporting on the listening experience and events on stage. Reviews are subjective. No offence is intended.

Whatever you’re looking to promote or get coverage for needs to pique Thoroughly Good’s interest in some way. Stuff that’s off the beaten track is often a good place to start.

Contemporary, modern, niche, out-of-London, international, specialist – its all worth sending an email with the project you’re working on.

If there’s audio or video supporting the project pitch then send it through too. Anything that is unusual, has something that would appeal to the curious or open-minded is always worth considering.

Bottom line, if you’re getting the impression that the mainstream aren’t bite, then you’ll probably get a more attentive listening ear from Thoroughly Good. 

Just don’t start your email with ‘Hope you’re well.’ There’s really no need. 

From time to time Thoroughly Good publishes news articles but that’s, by and large, only for those stories that tap into arts organisations or projects that are important to Jon Jacob (you’ll know what they are already – if you don’t, take a look at existing blog posts). 

By and large though, you’re not going to get news coverage from Thoroughly Good. If you’re making a small announcement about stuff, you might be better to go to Robert Hugill or Norman. Or Classic FM. News announcements are still worth sending to Thoroughly Good however, as they can form the basis of articles in the future. 

Thoroughly Good thrives on profiles – audio and written. First-person pieces reflecting on experiences are always rather nice too. If the experience is distinctive or unusual all the better. 

Interviews are a good bet. These will normally be done in audio with the intention of publishing a podcast version. If the interview doesn’t spark, then the text might be better suited to an article or a blog-based Q and A. 

Thoroughly Good does publish reviews of albums, concerts, festivals or books. Bear in mind that the platform is independent and prides itself on being candid.

Aside from one or two necessary campaigns to save a performing group or two, Thoroughly Good is generally nice. Jon Jacob writes for an audience who are circumspect, reticent, but curious. As such what’s written will seek to be positive. As it’s an independent platform it will always be honest. 

Thoroughly Good does from time to time publish thought pieces which tend to focus on digital, marketing and audiences. 

Oh dear. 

Thoroughly Good is hopeless on email. So, if you’re wondering whether to follow up, please do so. Two or three times is probably a good rule of thumb. 

The failure to respond isn’t personal, it’s simply a reflection of how other daytime work (leadership coaching) has dominated Jon Jacob’s thinking. Sometimes emails get lost in a sea of other incoming messages. So, a follow-up is always very much appreciated.  

Be prepared to have a conversation about your art, your work, or your process. The podcast is of course a vehicle for individuals to sell their wares be it a book, a concert, an album or a festival.

The podcast is, by and large, recorded in one take and not edited. Best approaches are made via PRs. However, if you’re not working with a PR email direct at thoroughlygood [at] gmail.com. 

Jon Jacob is often asked by quite well-off musicians (there are some) how he earns his money. The response here is the same given to them: that’s a rather nosey question. If you take a look at some of the other answers you’ll probably be able to work it out. 

Email thoroughlygood [at] gmail.com. Don’t start your email with ‘Hope you are well’.

Follow Thoroughly Good on Facebook, Instagram or X. You’re most likely to get a response on X. 

You can also find Jon Jacob on LinkedIn. 

Consider buying Thoroughly Good a coffee.