jacoBLOG

We see it all the time – broadcast professionals who could do a better job prepping their shows. Whether it’s making an appearance at an event in a town or speaking in front of a group, some basic research can make all the difference in the world when it comes to making an effective personal connection. And […]

Read More

We see it all the time – broadcast professionals who could do a better job prepping their shows. Whether it’s making an appearance at an event in a town or speaking in front of a group, some basic research can make all the difference in the world when it comes to making an effective personal connection. And […]

Read More

You have to feel a little sorry for brands trying to make a major impact in the mobile space. First, it costs a lot of money to develop an app, and as we know, there are two platforms that really matter: Android and Apple’s iOS. But the biggest challenge facing companies, personalities, and brands of […]

Read More

Sadly, we’ve seen the iceberg off in the distance.  If we’re not careful, we’re going to hit it. Radio’s relationship with car dealers continues to be complex, concerning, and worthy of broadcasters’ collective attention.  It’s something we tackled head-on at DASH this past October.  And you can count on even more coverage and discussion at DASH […]

Read More

You’ve heard the new conventional wisdom: Millennials aren’t interested in buying cars – they want public or shared transportation. Young people are putting off getting their driver’s licenses. The automakers are in trouble because Gen Y would rather have a smartphone than a car. (Actually, that last one about phones being on the same level […]

Read More

Tamar Charney is Program Director of Michigan Radio, one of the biggest and best public radio stations, covering a large chunk of the Great Lakes State. In today’s guest post, Tamar explores the other side of algorithms, and just what we may be missing when we let technology make our content choices. By the way, […]

Read More

You have to hand it to SoundExchange.  They always seem to come up with creative, inventive, and imaginative ways to try to extract money from the broadcast radio industry. As opposed to trying to innovate their way out of their mess through creative solutions that would be good for their artists, radio, and the American public, they […]

Read More

Whenever one company buys another, you typically hear terms like “efficiencies” or “economies of scale.”  Translation: “Downsizing,” because that’s what often happens when one company buys another. The workforce often goes into a panic, job slashing is imminent, and the cultures will inevitably clash. Or pieces will be sold off because they are “redundant” to the good […]

Read More

Whenever one company buys another, you typically hear terms like “efficiencies” or “economies of scale.”  Translation: “Downsizing,” because that’s what often happens when one company buys another. The workforce often goes into a panic, job slashing is imminent, and the cultures will inevitably clash. Or pieces will be sold off because they are “redundant” to the good […]

Read More

I hope you had a nice three-day respite this past weekend.  Memorial Day signals all kinds of things – the beginning of summer to be sure, but also a precipitous drop in radio listening. Routines are shattered as people plan and take vacations.  Morning radio is hurt by altered routines, too, including no school during the […]

Read More

There’s nothing more disconcerting than being a leader and then having to go through the anguish of being deposed – especially at the hands of a younger, less experienced upstart. But if you’re a Baby Boomer, that’s what’s happening right now – for the first time in your life.  That’s because for going on six decades, […]

Read More

The statistics continue to scream about how agencies are shifting dollars to digital, and the epicenter of that change revolves around mobile devices and the car. That’s one of the reasons why I’m excited to make the trek to Silicon Valley next month to participate in ConVergence, a conference I’ve grown to appreciate over the years.  Eric […]

Read More

Where is the year going?  I don’t know about you, but it’s hard to believe we’re already at Memorial Day. So as we head into the weekend, our thoughts turn to those who have given their lives to service for our country, along with those who are serving today. Over the years, radio has done […]

Read More

What happens when you have an active fan base and a great feeling about turning the spotlight on them – all the while highlighting your brand? For inspiration, look for the most social brand of them all – Coca-Cola.  They “get” what it means to showcase the fans, and they’ve produced a great example of UGC, […]

Read More

Another quarter goes by and radio revenues are flat…again. This is the fifth straight quarter where Erica Farber has had to release unhappy news, something that no one in sales – from your GSM to the CEO of the RAB – ever enjoys doing. Broadcasters can blame Mother Nature for part of Q1’s tepid performance, […]

Read More

Radio has taken its share of knocks over the past decade or so.  The good news is that there’s more attention, time, and resources being devoted to audio at this point than at any other time in our modern history. So it’s a positive that audio content and programming are a major focus by so […]

Read More

A few weeks ago, we put together a couple of posts that talked about the power of video for radio, featuring data about the importance of videos as well as a profile on Fort Wayne’s Phil Becker whose Hot 107.9 is doing some pretty innovative things with visual and social tools. At the same time, […]

Read More

A big story in both radio and automotive circles this week surrounds GM’s announcement that they’re equipping more than 30 vehicles in their 2015 lineup with 4G LTE connectivity. This is the biggest OEM commitment to WiFi and includes entry level vehicles like the Chevy Malibu. Of course, GM vehicles were the first to be “connected” with the […]

Read More

Most programmers have experience and solid instincts. But the great programmers have both of those, along with a wealth of data they can use to guide their thinking and their strategies. CNN’s obsession with Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 has been ridiculed by many in the serious world of journalism, as well as by pundits throughout the […]

Read More

Last month, I had the pleasure of presenting Techsurvey10 to an enthusiastic crowd at the Worldwide Radio Summit in Los Angeles.  One of the best features of this massive study of more than 37,000 respondents is the format distinctions that help programmers better understand their discreet audiences. Later in the afternoon, RCS/Media Monitor CEO Philippe Generali […]

Read More