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Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters conference on behalf of old client and friend, Vance Harrison, the president of this group.  I always enjoy these get-togethers because while we're all racing to help connect the new and old media dots, these conferences are reminders of why most […]

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Over the past couple of days, we've talked about this whole concept of local, and how radio stations should be focusing their efforts and resources in a changing media environment. If you're buying what I'm selling, you have hopefully reached the conclusion that local market radio stations need to be victorious in the battle they […]

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In yesterday’s post, we began a discussion about the value of radio stations focusing budget and personnel on the local space, especially given the preponderance of global media competition. The local question is mitigated by the reality that so many local market radio stations are shadows of their former selves, ravaged by the impact of […]

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One of the joys of writing a blog is that there is no shortage of opportunity to weigh in on the burning issues of the day.  Or to occasionally be a little frivolous and light-hearted, particularly in contrast to some of the difficulties and challenges the many media professionals are facing. But today, it's a […]

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You hear this all the time: "We do all these cool things on our website but we just can't seem to monetize them." There are two key elements in play: having great digital content and developing and training a staff that can create and market it to advertisers.  We know from every article about where […]

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While conducting some focus groups last month, a number of respondents talked about a local station that had surveyed its listeners a number of years ago.  This station actually published some of the key findings of this study on its website, and then made the suggested changes on the air.  And it was effective.  These respondents gave […]

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I'll bet you sometimes get into debates with friends and co-workers about just how hot or popular a TV show, a video game, or a celebrity may be at any point in time.  We all have a sense of buzz from our "anecdotal research" – what we read, who we talk to, and what we […]

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A topic that is frequently discussed in online blogs and the many emails about technology we receive every day revolves around the role of the employee in today's media companies.  That was why the story that Bob Feder broke last week involving Randy Michaels' memo about the "119 dirty words" that WGN Radio news staffers […]

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I was privileged last week to be on the “radio stimulus panel” at the Canadian Music Week conference in Toronto, a passionately attended event, now in its 28th year.  Organizer Neill Dixon puts this mega-event together every year, and it is truly a global media and music conference. If you saw the “radio stimulus czar” […]

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Oxymorons that you just have to love: Taped live Definite maybe Soft rock New Hendrix CD

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As more and more markets become part of the PPM measured world, we continue to grapple with the impact of the methodology on radio formats.  Clearly, there are many morning personalities getting less sleep, not to mention radio pros who have labored away in Smooth Jazz formats over the past many years only to find […]

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No, not the band.  In this post, we're talking about some of the gadgets and utilities that may be replaced by mobile gadgets. We've watched our smartphone apps division, jacAPPS, grow by leaps and bounds.  As I write today's post, we have now designed and launched more than 140 apps that have now generated more […]

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I had the pleasure last week to keynote at the Michigan Association of Broadcasters "Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference & Expo." The topic was social media.  Besides mobile, there is more talk about Facebook, Twitter, and other social media than any phenomenon I can recall.  Of course, part of this is motivated by advertisers moving their […]

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OK, "recession" aside, perhaps the three most oft-mentioned words in business and communications circles last year (and now this year) are "mobile," and "social media.'  We've discussed both phenomena in this space, and I can promise some powerful data from our Tech Poll VI which we're wrapping up as this blog posts.  Social media has […]

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This morning's post comes from Mike Stern, former Jacobs Media consultant, and all-round great radio guy.  Here is Mike's "take" on another auto/technology breakthrough – and what it could mean for broadcast radio: It’s always the fine print that gets you; that one line at the end of a big announcement that seems innocuous but isn’t.  […]

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This morning's post comes from Mike Stern, former Jacobs Media consultant, and all-round great radio guy.  Here is Mike's "take" on another auto/technology breakthrough – and what it could mean for broadcast radio: It’s always the fine print that gets you; that one line at the end of a big announcement that seems innocuous but isn’t.  […]

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The recession has taken a toll on many aspects of the media business.  But you could make the case that brands  have suffered the most. You can see this by expanding your view to consumer products.  Many venerable brands have taken a beating due to a variety of factors, ranging from neglect, a lack of […]

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Do you remember that old story about the snake?    A little kid is walking home from school, and sees a snake.  The snake looks up and says, "Hey, would you play with me?  It's lonely here just lying in the grass.  Don't worry – I won't bite you."  The kid thinks about it.  The snake looks […]

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Is it any wonder that the record industry is in deep trouble?  Like other "old media" sectors, the establishment music industry has made one lame decision after another.  And it continues to lay the blame for its troubles in all the wrong places. On this blog, we have devoted considerable space to questioning the logic […]

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A funny thing happened on an investor/analyst call recently.  CBS head honcho Les Moonves was effusive about his company's revenue forecast.  But even more interesting was this statement about the company's radio division: “Radio’s steady improvement is not only a result of an improving economy, but our focus on programming is instrumental as well.”  Tack that […]

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