The drumbeat for digital revenue gets louder for radio companies with each passing quarter. But as 2023 has taught us – often the hard way – generating serious, sustainable digital revenue can be a diffiicult and painful task. For some organizations, it has resulted in staff layoffs and massive losses. But today, we’re going to point to a template of success that can work for any media team willing to do a minimum of due diligence and brainstorming. It’s about learning how to play a new game.
Read MorejacoBLOG
Our founder, Fred Jacobs, discusses the issues facing broadcasters today.
The Debate Over AM Radio In EVs
With Congress facing another government shutdown one week from today, you may be wondering what’s going on with that AM For Every Vehicle Act that was in the news a few months ago. After a quiet time, we’re seeing signs that it has once again become a topic of conversation. In fact, the issue of what it costs to install AM radio in electric vehicles is the subject of debate. A static-free look at who’s saying what is just a click away.
Read MoreWhy Radio Should Be The Best Algorithm
Algorithms are getting smarter with each passing year. Or are they? If your experience with recommendation software leaves something to be desired, you’re not alone. There was a day when a recommendation from a savvy DJ and smart radio station was dependable and helpful. In this over-techified environment, could humans (that is, DJs) make a bold comeback? Today’s #TBT post from 2019 came before the A.I. craze dominated our conversations. But the moral of the story may indeed be the same.
Read MoreWhere Did All Those P4s And P5s Go?
When was the last time you checked the most important metric on your station – cume or reach? How is it holding up versus a decade ago? You might be surprised by what the data is telling us in our post-pandemic radio reality. And to help us understand eroding cumes and what radio can do about it, I’ve enlisted a celebrity guest blogger to explain this phenomenon, showing up in market after market in the U.S. It’s another “radio reality check” on JacoBLOG this week.
Read MoreMore Radio Reality Checks
Yesterday’s post teed up today’s look at Techsurvey data in the hope of gleaning insights about the rapidly changing worlds of media – and broadcast radio. As we know, research is in the eye of the beholder; in this case, the interpreter. And we can’t help but notice in the growing onslaught of political polls, […]
Read MoreA Reality Check For Radio
We’re heading toward the shaky finish of another challenging year for the radio broadcasting industry. And as budget season commences, tough decisions await. Reliable audience research has never been more critically important, but it doesn’t come cheap. Here’s the good news: the research is right in front of our faces, IF we are prescient and courageous enough to face it. So, let’s kick off the week with a “reality check.” Always good advice? Buckle up.
Read MoreWe’re In A Tough News Cycle
If you work in public or commercial radio news, you know the reality: we’re in a vicious news cycle. Even so-called “news junkies” are taking hiatuses, trying to escape all the bad news. Is there an antidote – counter-programming that can provide much-needed relief for the audience as we head into another politically charged year? Maybe. Please click through to read our “take.”
Read MoreRadio’s Short Attention Span Challenge
Consumer attention spans are shortening, making it even more imperative that content is to-the-point and “snackable.” But along the way, being “bite-sized” has become more important than making it great. In today’s blog post, we look at the challenge of attracting audiences in a sea of virtually infinite content and distribution choices.
Read More“Ladies And Gentlemen, THE BEATLES!”
The last time the Beatles and Stones had new music out at the same time was in 1969. Now, more than half a century later, it’s happening again this week when “the last Beatles song” is released tomorrow. So, how will radio play this event? Will it low-key or even ignore it? Will it squander it and give it away to Spotify and Amazon Music? Or will radio treat it like the real moment that it is? Today’s blog post puts this rare occurrence into perspective for you. Enoy.
Read More“Radio’s Honestly The Last Thing We Talk About”
In yesterday’s post, it was an interesting look at Universal Music Group’s artist-centric philosophy favoring Taylor Swift and the Beatles over up-and-comers. Today, we turn the conversation over to Big Loud Country, a marketing juggernaut with a great track record for developing new artists and songs. They still use radio, but there’s nothing “old school” about their marketing strategy. In fact, radio now comes LAST in the promotional sequence. Here’s why and what it means to radio AND records.
Read MoreThe Case For Artist-Centricity (And The Pushback Against “Merchants Of Garbage”)
Perhaps the most powerful music executive in the world gave analysts (and the rest of us) both barrels during his company’s recent quarterly earnings call. The music business – like all of media and entertainment – has changed drastically in recent years, and the message from on high was clear. To the labels, it’s about the biggest and best bands – the ones with great track records, sterling resumes, and proven sustainability. It IS a Mt. Rushmore world.
Read MoreWhy Radio Can Benefit From High School And College Prep
Where’s the farm team? That’s the question finally being asked in radio circles. The next generation of radio broadcasters is the focus because not enough listen to the medium in the first place. It starts with middle/high schools as well as colleges. And more broadcasters than you might think are already making a difference. Check out what’s being done and could be in your plans for 2024.
Read MoreWhy Isn’t Mascot Mania Sweeping Radio?
Mascots have been connected with brands for more than a century. And these days, they’re bigger and more ubiquitous then ever. When Game 1 of the World Series starts tonight, you’ll meet the “Captain,” the horse mascot for the Texas Rangers. And you mght hear the weird story of why the D’backs have a bobcast mascot named “Bob.” In radio, mascots have long been part of the medium’s history, but in recent years, many have been RIFed, victims of the same cutbacks that impact staff members. Yet, in a world turbocharged by video, social media, and even street presence, these cute, furry, clever brand symbols can positively differentiate and grab attention for radio stations that want to stand out.
Read MoreRadio: No Surprises!
New radio programmers have a lot to learn – how to schedule music, conduct an aircheck session, read a rating book, and build a brand. But one thing they don’t teach you in PD School is how to pull off a bona fide surprise. So, think of today’s post as Surprise 101 – a crash course in creating that element of surprise on the radio.
Read MoreCan Radio Learn To Walk And Chew Gum At The Same Time?
As many in radio have learned – mostly the hard way – the industry has attempted a high-risk balancing act between broadcast and digital, linear and on-demand, It’s a delicate dance – like walking and chewing gum at the same time. And as today’s story tells us, it’s gotten harder than ever. It’s a cautionary tale from the worlds of broadcasting and podcasting.
Read MoreHow (Music) Radio Can Redefine “Local”
Last week’s post on redefining “local” was very public radio-centric. I promised a post on turning “local” on its side for commercial stations, especially those that play music. So, here you go.
Read MoreScenes From The Classic Rock Highway
Please forgive today’s journey into the highways and byways of my favorite radio format, Classic Rock. One of the reasons why it might be the most resilient gold-based format ever is its frequent appearances in our pop culture mainstreams. Today’s trip down Classic Rock Lane features a prominent member of the U.S. cabinet, an iconic doll, and the rumored return of one of the most successful music-centric game ever. So grab a guitar and click to today’s post.
Read MoreThe Hotline In The Studio Is Ringing
Technology has changed the look of the modern-day radio studio, but the trusty “hotline” is still used in some stations to get a DJ’s attention, hopefully averting disaster. One of the best “hotline” stories came out of WPLJ in New York City back in its AOR (Album Oriented Rock) days. Rumor or fact? Our blog post today clears it all up, and pays attribute to one of the best PDs to ever “hotline” a jock.
Read MoreHow Radio Can Redefine “Local”
There are many trends in play in the radio broadcasting industry, among them, AI, leaner staffing, and greater utilization of talent across many markets. And yet, flying in the face of all that is a definitive trend taking place in public radio – the local renaissance. If you’re in commercial or Christian radio, this trend is very much happening in your worlds, too. It’s just that public radio is doing lots of the heavy lifting, especially in the research department. Here’s what “local” looks like, especially as it pertains to news and journalism.
Read MoreDoes Twitter/X Still Have Juice?
Remember that blowup last spring when NPR and Twitter got into a high profile scuffle? It led NPR to stop tweeting altogether. And it raised the question: What happens to web traffic when a popular brand goes cold turkey on Twitter? Now, we know. Details here.
Read More- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- …
- 271
- Next Page »
