jacoBLOG

Kudos to the courageous team at Entercom’s WWL/New Orleans – for showing the world (once again) the power of local radio, and the professionalism our business has displayed since Marconi.  As The Big Easy deteriorated into a primitive disaster, radio became the best technology available, thanks to the dedicated WWL staff.  Anyone on the ground […]

Read More

Here’s a great guest blog with some thoughts on "doing things right" and lessons learned from The Stones, compliments of Michelle Engel, Director Of Programming for Dave-FM/Atlanta: I have been going to concerts since I was 10 years old (some would say I would go to the opening of an envelope).  One thing is for […]

Read More

Here’s a great guest blog with some thoughts on "doing things right" and lessons learned from The Stones, compliments of Michelle Engel, Director Of Programming for Dave-FM/Atlanta: I have been going to concerts since I was 10 years old (some would say I would go to the opening of an envelope).  One thing is for […]

Read More

No, "iPhone" isn’t a brand name – yet.  But the announcement that Apple and Motorola are joining together to release a new cellphone that’s also an Mp3 player that uses iTune’s software is yet another indication that technology is rushing forward – and terrestrial radio is NOT in the picture. I was an early Treo […]

Read More

How can one of the most popular golfers on the PGA Tour be a guy who hardly ever wins a tournament?  That’s the engima that is John Daly, a pro golfer who has fought alcohol addiction for years, has been married four times, and who always seems to be teetering on one edge or another.  […]

Read More

Last week, the New York Stock Exchange ended its day with Harley-Davidson’s CEO, John Thain, ringing the closing bell.  To honor this event, at least 30 traders rode their Harleys to work, and wearing suits, left Wall Street on their hogs. What an incredible cult brand Harley has become – a Wall Street darling last […]

Read More

Back in June, we alerted you to ESPN’s summer promotion, "50 States in 50 Days."  While sounding a lot like promotions we’ve pulled off in the past ("30 Bars in 30 Days") when we kick off a new morning show or big personality, ESPN has not surprisingly taken this to a new level. Check out […]

Read More

Today we’ve got a guest blog from Jacobs Media’s Tim Davis: As Jacobs Media’s Internet guy, I’m frequently asked about streaming, podcasting, and Web site design.  While it often frustrates people, I continue to harp on the notion that if the content sucks, none of it matters. This month, I get support from Jon Stewart.  […]

Read More

Last week in Detroit, it was all about the "Woodward Dream Cruise," an event that is now in its 11th year, and growing.  Interestingly, the "Cruise" developed organically, based on the teenagers who started cruising up and down Woodward Avenue in the ’50s.  Today, thousands of classic cars rush to Detroit every August to take […]

Read More

USA Network has recently started a campaign called "Characters Welcome."  It’s fairly low key, as far as promotional campaigns go.  It never spells out exactly what it wants you to think, but shows that "characters" are what make the shows hits (and USA actually has three shows that could be considered cable breakouts: "Monk," "Dead […]

Read More

Something really interesting happened this morning.  USA Today actually wrote a positive article about the promising digital potential for terrestrial radio.  The two shining examples quoted in the article – Greater Media and NPR – are both Jacobs Media clients, and we salute them both for taking bold digital steps.  Hopefully, this is the start […]

Read More

Sitting here in Detroit, Michigan, you can make yourself crazy wondering whether the Big 3 automakers will ever figure it out.  And when I think that while in Israel, I saw exactly 5 American made vehicles the entire time we were there, it’s downright scary. What can possibly overcome perceptions (and of course, in some […]

Read More

On my desk this afternoon is a copy of a neat little book (actually it’s the "advance uncorrected proof") called "The Big Moo."  It was sent to me by our good friends, Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba (authors of "Customer Evangelism").  Edited by Seth Godin, it’s a compilation of articles and stories by some of […]

Read More

We have talked a lot in this space about how radio needs to get serious about its Web sites.  Yes, there’s money to be made (have you checked out Internet advertising revenues lately?).  But more importantly, a great, vital web site is a wonderful way to generate even more loyalty to your station. A couple […]

Read More

An addendum to our blog last week exhorting radio operators to cease voicetracking, and begin to use nights and overnights for talent development, as word comes that Adam Carolla may indeed be replacing Howard Stern in a number of markets.  Here is yet another case where late night TV will spawn another burgeoning talent. Besides […]

Read More

If you’ve sat behind the mirror in radio focus groups over the past few years, you’ve heard some of the interesting musings from listeners about why stations play the music they play.  Like a lot of anecdotal information, much of their observations are gathered from tidbits they’re read in articles, talking with friends, or simply […]

Read More

We have used this blog space in the past to talk about NPR, an organization that is enjoying a multi-year growth spurt, while commercial radio declines.  How does NPR do it, without the benefit of contests, marketing, and shock jocks?  They’ve accomplished their amazing ascension with great content, values, and by integrating their loyal and […]

Read More

Paul Jacobs jumps back in today for some thoughts on advertising – and how it impacts radio: It’s hard to tell whether it’s a big deal or someone representing Generation X has hired a PR firm, but this past Sunday, articles appeared in the New York Times and our local paper touting the fact that […]

Read More

I definitely have a big store phobia.  Then again, shopping with me under any circumstances is never a joy.  Except for Costco.  I just love the place, and always end up buying more stuff than intended. I’m not alone.  Most people love the place – except for Wall Street, that is. That’s because Costco’s pay […]

Read More

There, I’ve said it.  Two simple words that could change our business for the better.  Of all the cost-savings gleaned from consolidation, this is the most insidious, damaging, and short-sighted policy that has strangled our industry over the past decade. The political landscape has taught us a great deal about words and phrases that influence […]

Read More