The term “mass media” suggests reaching a vast, undifferentiated audience with “one-size-fits-all” mainstream content. But more and more, consumers of all generations appreciate personalized content especially created and curated just for them and their unique interests and tastes. For a mass medium like broadcast radio, this presents a profound challenge. Yet, there are ways to customize and personalize the experience to create stronger connections with consumers and advertisers. Today’s blog post explores what that looks like.
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Our founder, Fred Jacobs, discusses the issues facing broadcasters today.
The Forecast For Radio: “Make A New Plan, Stan”
With Forecast 2025 now in the books, we look forward to CES in Vegas in just eight short weeks. But earlier this week, we were surprised by the announcement of a new keynoter at CES, a move that will have implications on the broadcast radio business. To find out why, just click “READ MORE.”
Read MoreWhat Advice Would You Give To Your Young Radio Self?
Everyone has experienced a different career journey. For many, the road has had its share of bumps and side trips. For a few, it’s been a relatively easy ride. But we all could have benefitted from the perspective we have now. Imagine being able to give your young self some advice from your perch today. Here’s what I would tell early radio Fred.
Read MoreWhen Your Radio Station Becomes A Greatest Hits Album
Technology has a habit of giveth and taketh things away. Not to go all biblical on you, but for every new innovation – like the ability for you to make your own playlists by choosing from millions of songs – we lose things in the process – physical music, artist curation, and album artwork, to name just a few. That’s what happening to those “greatest hits” albums – once a wildly popular staple of the music industry, now experiencing a serious decline. But for a certain radio station, the “greatest hits” could rekindle much-needed on-air energy. Click “READ MORE” below and I’ll tell you all about it.
Read MoreHey Twitter, Gotta Go
There are momentous things happening in radio this time of year. But today’s blog post is about a more trivial matter that won’t make a ripple anywhere. After considerable thought, I deactivated my Twitter account last night. Holy Lori Lewis! But of course, there’s a reason, and it opens up a can or two of worms. So, now that I’ve hooked you, here’s my story and why I’ll be using different platforms in which to engage with you socially. I’ll miss tweeting with you, but it was time to say, “Gotta go!”
Read MoreKicking Ryan Seacrest’s Butt
And the RIFs just keep on comin’. Last week, the largest radio company in the U.S., iHeartMedia, held its earnings call for the Wall Street investment community, explaining the past quarter’s performance. But the highlight of the call was Bob Pittman’s forecast for 2025…and beyond. What are the implications of his plan, and what can talent – or anyone else working in radio – do to better position themselves for an unpredictable, challenging future?
Read MoreGet Short(y)
As media content options expand exponentially while attention spans shrink, the creative class is grappling with the best ways in which to present entertainment and information. In radio, most stations have played “The PPM Game” for more than a decade. And that dedication to keeping content short, concise, but entertaining is becoming part of a much larger, multi-platform trend. Long story short, keep it short.
Read MoreRadio’s Cultural Challenge
You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “Content eats strategy for breakfast.” It underscores the importance of making sure everyone in your radio company – from the CEO to the receptionist – is on the same page. And as broadcasters hustle to implement change and new digital initiatives, company culture has never been more important. Today’s #TBT blog post is a reminder of the degree of difficulty of pulling this off especially in today’s ultra-competitive business environment.
Read MoreThe Most Challenging Media Job In America?
What kind of qualities are radio companies prioritizing in program directors at a time when the industry is shrinking and consolidating these positions? What skills and sensibilities are most important today? Sometimes, we can learn more about our business when we step away from it. That’s what today’s blog post focuses on: a brand manager, showrunner, PD, but in actuality, her title is editor-in-chief of a magazine. And she can teach us a thing or two about radio.
Read MoreFor Radio, The Eyes Have It
In a world of exponentially more audio competition – podcasts, streaming services, satellite radio – how can a broadcast radio brand stand out, get noticed, and make a positive impression? It’s an important question many brands are grappling with in a radio industry struggling to remain visible and relevant. In today’s post, let me pose a possible pathway, albeit for a limited number of players who wish to make their mark and aren’t afraid to go in a different direction. The path to success isn’t an easy one nor is it cheap. But there’s evidence that suggests it can work.
Read MoreRadio’s Knights Of Meh
A new opinion piece from a content marketing maven jumped out at me late last month. It poses key questions about how we’ve used tech breakthroughs to improve our product over the past 25 years or so. And now that we’re staring that freight train known as AI in the face, what have we learned earlier regarding developments about creativity and innovation? I don’t purport to have all the answers, but I can promise you today’s post contains key questions you might want to ask during your upcoming end-of-year evaluations. Happy Monday.
Read MoreApple Slices
It is hard to argue with the success of Apple these past few decades. Much of the company’s incredible track record for innovation and excellence can be traced right back to the last two CEOs – Steve Jobs and Tim Cook. You can’t find two more different leadership styles, but in today’s post, we learn important lessons about how to get better at what we do from two of the best of all time.
Read MoreAre There Zombies Lurking Around Your Radio Station?
Halloween is here, a great time to “ghoulishly” reassess your station’s brand. This morning’s #TBT post is about a “devilish” exercise that can help you determine how many “zombies” are actually lurking around your radio station – promotions, events, digital assets, and features that are neither alive nor dead, but taking up time, space, and energy. And I promise: it won’t be scary.
Read MoreHere In My Car, I Feel Safest Of All
That pending bill in front of Congress to mandate AM radios in cars may be coming into focus as the clock is ticking…LOUDLY. This has been one of those tough moments when radio broadcasters and automakers are at odds with each other, debating what is truly important and even essential in new car dashboards. Today’s blog post traces the relationship between these two storied industries, the current breakdown, and the road forward. Let’s go for a ride.
Read MoreLISSEN 2 MOR RAYDIO!
Today’s post is a continuation of a conversation we started yesterday, exploring how great brands can build on their core strength by looking for adjacent audience interests and creating content to meet changing customer needs. Whether you’re in a crowded radio market or the highly competitive fast food industry, today’s post provides strategic food for thought for radio broadcasters in search of what’s new and what’s next in the mobile space. There’s never been a better time to apply your strategic goals to your mobile program.
Read MoreWhat’s Your Station’s APPhilosophy?
What’s new and hot in the media/technology space? Certainly not mobile apps. After all, they’ve been around since the first Obama Administration. But a closer look at the data tells us that particularly among radio fans, mobile apps have become bigger and more valued than ever. What’s behind the surge, and how can any radio station reap the rewards? Just click “READ MORE” and let’s get the new week going.
Read MoreWhat’s Goin’ On (On The Radio)?
How’s your station’s “FOMO factor?” Do your P1s even know what you’re doing and is your station making use of the entire marketing arsenal available to any brand, regardless of market size, RIFs, and budget? Getting a consumer’s attention and delivering a marketing message has never been more challenging. Today’s blog post will give you plenty of food for thought.
Read MoreIs Facebook Becoming The Classic Rock Of Social Media?
During the past decade, we have learned that social networks can “age out” just like radio formats or music. Today’s #TBT post revealed how “new research” revealed that Facebook usage among teens had hit at an all-time low. But Mark Zuckerberg lost no sleep because he owned the ultimate social media “cluster.” Today’s blog post looks at cluster strategy from a whole new angle.
Read MoreDeath By 1,000 (Salary) Cuts
A tough topic in today’s blog post, but one that is the talk of the radio biz: job security and the industry’s changing economic realities. It’s a sensitive topic and one that is all around us. The trend is now raging throughout the TV business, and clearly impacting radio.
Read MoreAre You A Radio “Lifer?”
Radio has never been known as a stable career, but these days, job security is an oxymoron. And it’s just radio. Employees across the spectrum are less likely to work for the same companies before moving on to the next opportunity. What does all this mean to the overall forecast for radio as in industry? Fewer say they’ll spend the rest of their careers in radio, another factor that makes the business even shakier.
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