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Past blog posts have talked about how seemingly everybody is trying to do radio – Apple, Spotify, Pandora, you name it. But there’s a different player in the radio space – Walmart, the world’s largest and most successful retailer. What are they thinking and how does their “station” reflect traditional broadcast radio values? It’s a great story.

This week begins another turning point in 2020 and the pandemic – the official start of the holiday season. For radio broadcasters, it can be an authentic moment when stations connect with their emotionally drained listeners. Today’s blog post lists 10 ways your station can help the audience find the joy this holiday season. And maybe some of it will rub off on all of us.

In a competitive race, it’s not just the real-time performance that matters. It’s those other variables – the look, the feel, the marketing, and the branding. Case in point: the post mortem of election coverage by the news networks. In today’s blog post, we call the winner, listing six key steps any radio station can take to ensure its successes.

In a reminder that everything old is new again, YouTube has come up with a novel approach to monetizing their video content: audio-only ads. They’re only in the beta stage, but YouTube is already trumpeting their effectiveness in creating brand awareness and results. Who knew? (You knew.)

During the pandemic, the media winner has undoubtedly been Netflix, taking advantage of so many people being cooped up at home. But now to stay even more competitive, Netflix is thinking about their TV programming in a different application – in the background. Some call it “ambient TV.” I call it radio.

Nearly two weeks later, the results of the Presidential election are finally in – and whether your candidate of choice won the race or came up short, there’s one clear winner: RADIO. New data on ad spend reveals radio’s increasing role in the political marketing wars. It’s a story that needs to be told in the weeks and months ahead. And I’ve got it packaged up real nice for you. Just add a bow.

I have long had faith in the readers of JacoBLOG.  And that was confirmed this week by some of your best work. Last weekend, the winner of the Presidential race was announced on every cable news network, from CNN to MSNBC to Fox News.  Former VP Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris are in the […]

Audio subscription services continue to proliferate, reminding us there’s big money in those monthly fees. Yesterday, it was announced that Sonos – makers of high-end speaker systems – is launching a new platform called “Radio HD.” That name should have a ring of familiarity to it – especially for radio people – adding fuel to the debate about whether the “R-word” still has branding value.

Even in 2020, radio is still a family business – the Hubbards, the Fields, the Beasleys. Some of the biggest radio broadcasting empires started out as family businesses and carry that DNA today. But here’s a radio family you likely haven’t heard of – an entire household working in radio, winning Marconis, and having an outsized impact on the industry.

Thanks to science, we are learning more about music, mood, and how our brains are impacted by hearing a favorite song. A new research study about the brain and music suggests that anticipation is part of the equation – and that’s where radio may have an edge over other audio platforms. During a time when mood matters – more than ever – hearing that favorite on the radio may prove to be just the thing.

A controversial marketing campaign by a fast food restaurant has tongues wagging and tweets flying. When the UK branch of Burger King suggested its patrons buy a Big Mac, even marketers were amazed by the bombast of this gesture. Is there a radio application here, across the pond? Grab a burger and pull up today’s blog post.

It’s been a long week of politics here in the U.S. Actually, it’s been a long four years. So, in an effort to give us all a break from the debates, data, and litigation to come, here’s your chance to pick your very own cabinet. That is, if Rock N’ Roll were a country. And I promise: no impeachments, no TV ads, no filibusters, and no hearings.

Since so many people will be taking road trips this holiday season, it begged the question: “What’s your all-time favorite driving song?” And wouldn’t you know it, a new Insurance.com study reveal that – and more – about the music that’s the soundtrack when we drive.

Our new COVID study – the third wave in this series – reveals a great deal about the audience’s mindset in 2020. One of the much overlooked findings is that most people will be staying close to home. Shorter car trips will replace those extended holiday vacations on the beach or overseas. And for radio, that means opportunities for both programming and sales. Today’s blog post reveals these new research findings, and what they may mean for radio as we head into a holiday season like no other.

It almost always comes down to a question of money. And for radio broadcasters, this past week has brought news from two of the industry’s biggest entities – the NAB and Nielsen. In a year of pain points, the difficult decisions and tough calls keep on coming.

No one could have predicted 2020. And that’s why prognosticating what our lives will be like next year – or four years from now – is absolute folly. But in the world of media usage and advertising, some of the brightest minds in the business are making their predictions known about “where the puck is going to be.” Today’s blog post has fresh research – and projections – you haven’t seen. And in this time of COVID, it’s a reminder that anything is possible in a world of uncertainty.

It’s an ongoing debate – which is more important: content or distribution? Recent data from Apple’s App Store reveals that while all those iPhones are key ingredients to Apple’s success, it’s the content – yes, all those apps – that drive the company’s mobile success. Here’s what Apple dominance of “app world” means to radio broadcasters.

Launching a radio station start-up is fun, exciting, and exhilarating. Resuscitating a damaged brand is like serious surgery – it’s a very delicate procedure. I’ve noticed what may be a common fix auto companies are using to help turn their sickest car brands around. And I happily share it with you in today’s blog post.

With less than a week to go before this election mercifully comes to an end, one of the lessons from both campaigns has been about the power (and profits) of viral merch. While they don’t agree on much, both the Biden and Trump teams understand the power of viral marketing and user-generated content – in the form of wearables and signage. Today’s blog post takes you behind the scenes of how both sides have sold a lot of merch.