If we’ve learned anything from just 30 days of Trump 2.0, big, bold moves are what get noticed. Today’s post looks at well-known brands that have stepped up the energy and are proactively taking risks. They might not all pay off, but they’re sure getting noticed. From Delta Airlines to Guitar Center, more and more companies and brands seem willing to throw the dice and THINK BIG!
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Our founder, Fred Jacobs, discusses the issues facing broadcasters today.
Why Small Businesses Matter…To Radio
Back in 2016, a small independent coffee company rocked the world with a powerful TV commercial in Super Bowl 50 they managed to get for FREE. The powerful story of Death Wish Coffee Company endures nine years later. Hopefully, it’s inspirational to all those small broadcasters, fighting the good fight year after year over the AM and FM airwaves.
Read MoreWill Consumers Ever Embrace AI?
One of the Super Bowl ads that had its work cut out for it was the ChatGPT commercial. It was designed to demystify AI and make this new technology the logical next phase in the time-honored history of technological progress. Whether you saw it or not, today’s post discusses the challenge of making new tech feel comfortable for consumers rather than making them fearful and angst-ridden. Was it effective and could it be the foundation for AI acceptability OR like so many other Super Bowl ads, was it too obtuse and conceptual? You be the judge.
Read More2025 By The Numbers (So Far)
Thanks to our data-driven world, there’s no shortage of numbers in our lives. And so far in 2025, numbers have told important stories about current tendencies and coming trends. I’ve picked out a handful of the most fascinating numbers I’ve seen in recent weeks, and what they may portend for later in the year. Today’s blog post features stories about “connected cars,” celebrity deaths, selfish Baby Boomers, Walmart, Amazon, and the “New York Times” – plenty to talk about on a frigid Winter week. So, dig in!
Read MoreRadio On Presidents’ Day
Welcome to Presidents’ Day 2025. While many have the day off, JacoBLOG (and its author) rarely sleep. Today’s blog post is thankfully very short and hopefully on-brand for this celebratory day in America. I hope you enjoy it and the day as we celebrate great leadership and our remarkable, resilient history.
Read MoreThe Marketer’s Quest For Attention And Clarity
Super Bowl LIX has come and gone. Except for Eagles and Chiefs fans, the rest of us have moved on. But marketers are still debating those $8 million ads that generated more than $800 million in revenue. What does it take to produce a winning ad that all those viewers will pay attention to, understand, and perhaps even act on? And what can radio marketers learn from the wins and losses?
Read MoreShould Radio Believe in “Yesterday?”
Back in 2019, a research team at NYU concluded that Millennials are more likely to remember classic songs from decades ago than contemporary hits from just the past few years. That tells us a lot about the staying power of older music – a phenomenon that continually repeats itself each time a themed biopic is released, based on the life and times of classic superstars. Today’s #TBT post was written seven years ago this month, but the recent released Dylan biopic and a highly anticipated new Led Zeppelin film in theaters right now sustain what has become a music and cultural trend. So, is radio paying attention?
Read MoreA Thousand Words
“Less talk” has become something of a go-to positioner for a lot of radio stations over the decades, amplified during the “PPM Era.” Yet, broadcast radio might be better served by having MORE conversations with an audience that seems to be saying less and spending more time apart from friends, family, and co-workers. Sure, technology should shoulder some of the blame but the real culprits are alienation and isolation especially among younger consumers. How can radio break through this wall while building better connections at the same time? Here are my ideas.
Read MoreRadio’s Missing Link(edIn)?
When it comes to social media, radio broadcasters have many tools in their utility belts. But one of the most overlooked is LinkedIn, a site that many are on but few can master. Today’s blog post talks about how LinkedIn can work for any station that puts strategy behind it.
Read MorePlaying Radio’s “Big Game”
Are you a “gamer” or are you someone who wonders what all the fuss is about? In either case, the video gaming industry is larger than the film and music businesses – combined. And now, there’s an indication games can have therapeutic benefits that match meditation. In fact, “cozy games” can help people deal with their angst and stress levels. And that got me wondering whether radio stations couldn’t rethink their “deliverables” to help their audiences cope with the pressures of the day. 2025 is already shaping up to be a challenging year, and this might be a way to “meet the audience where they are mentally.”
Read MoreThe Quest(love) For Production Perfection
It’s been said that “perfect is the enemy of good.” But sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with seeking true perfection in our work, especially when it comes to the art of producing and editing video and audio. Late last month, we were treated to a great example of this when the trailer for “SNL’s” 50th anniversary music special was being promoted. Whether you’ve seen the video or not, today’s blog post gives you the story behind this amazing piece of production…that is, perfection.
Read MoreWho Loves Short-Shorts?
Any time we discuss the “ideal lengths” of content, whether it’s videos, podcasts, or on-air breaks, we’re dealing with a lot of opinion and subjectivity. But a look at content trends over the past decade or more tells us that in general, short is good. And shorter is better. Today’s #TBT blog post walks you through how content has evolved, and what that means to how we advise our talent to create better, and more mainstream radio.
Read MoreThe Digital Twins Of Audience Research
The gap between statistically driven research (quantitative) and focus groups (qualitative) has long been a point of debate among analysts who specialize in audience behavior and perceptions. And now, along comes AI and the promise it can inexpensively replace the traditional process with “synthetic respondents,” creating the research version of “digital twins.” But AI has a higher value and more reliable purpose when utilized strategically and sensibly.
Read MoreHow Radio Can Create Its Own “TUDUMS”
In yesterday’s post, we talked about how Netflix’s “TUDUM” initiative is helping to differentiate themselves from their many video streaming competitors. Radio can use some of these same techniques. And today’s post provides prescribed action steps successful stations can employ to create their own “TUDUM Tactics.”
Read MoreWhat’s Your Radio Station’s “TUDUM?”
The world of media and entertainment continues to get more crowded and competitive, forcing brands not to just excel this quarter but differentiate themselves with smart and savvy strategies and tactics. While radio broadcasters may be feeling the heat from digital distribution, the need for emphasizing the industry’s unique differences has never been greater. Even independently owned radio stations can learn a thing or two from major media behemoths, including Netflix, a brand leader that continues to innovate and blaze new trails. In a word, TUDUM!
Read MoreAppreciating What We Have (When Our Lives Aren’t In Jeopardy)
Media personalities often live conflicted lives – loved and adored, but also insecure and guarded. Today’s #TBT is about a “brush with fame” encounter I had back in 2018 with Jeopardy’s iconic host, Alex Trebek. At the time, Trebek was undergoing a life-shattering experience – a stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis and an unprecedented outpouring of emotion from his fans. There are lessons here for media personalities, including those behind the mic on the radio. It’s about appreciating what you have, something we can all afford to experience.
Read MoreAI: Oh, The Humanity!
AI and humanity. If that sounds oxymoronic to you, you’re not alone. Many are concerned Artificial Intelligence will leave creativity, empathy, and warmth on the cutting room floor. But, in fact, most companies displaying their AI wares at CES this year went out of their way to explain the role humanity plays in this fast-moving technology. I’ve got it all packaged for you, along with an introduction to one of the most powerful execs at Spotify charged with “picking the hits.”
Read MoreApparently, You DO Need A Local Weatherman (Or Woman) To Know Which Way The Wind Blows
Want to get a good radio debate going? Just bring up the true value of “local” topic and watch the fun. But when it comes to local WEATHER, there is no debate. That’s because most people place great value on weather information that covers where they live and work. Recently a broadcaster heard that message loud and clear when they fired their entire team of 100 meteorologists across their group of television changes. They started a whole different type of storm. Radio can most definitely learn a lesson or two from this corporate debacle.
Read MoreHey Barrett Media, Isn’t HE The Best Program Director In America?
Programming a radio station has never been a simple task, made more challenging by today’s environment where staff and budgets are at a premium. Right now, Barrett Media is in the process of handing out awards to the best program directors in America, a worthy endeavor. Problem is, IMHO they have missed the best one. He’s the subject of today’s post.
Read MoreWhy Every CEO Needs A Solid Tech IQ
One of our CES tour attendees referred to the event like drinking out of a tech firehose, an apt description of the experience – especially for first-timers. As we continue to learn, it is an essential skill for CEOs in the media business to acquire a passable Tech IQ. The alternative could be dire, for both executives and their companies. Earlier this month, a long-time corporate chieftain lost his coveted job in a high-profile company because the release of their new app turned out to be a debacle. I’ll tell you that story and why a “continuing education” in technology for CEOs isn’t just a good idea. It’s a prerequisite.
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