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Next week, Jacobs Media will be presenting Techsurvey 2020 to more than 500 stakeholder stations, as well as a free webinar in partnership with AllAccess. Today’s post provides a great illustration how this data provides direction for commercial radio stations under normal conditions. But in the middle of a crisis unlike any we’ve ever experienced, it becomes even more valuable. Here’s a sneak peak at a key data point, and an invitation to join us for that upcoming webinar.

We’re coming up on one million podcasts. It seems like every A and B-level celebrity has a podcast project. But one of the most iconic – Oprah – is already thinking strategically about how she’s approaching the podcasting challenge. For radio personality itching to start the “next big podcast,” there are some great lessons about what to do – and what not to do.

You may recall the recent story about the Oakland A’s,, eschewing broadcast radio play-by-play for streaming audio on their A’s cast. And now there’s impressive new data about radio’s dominance when it come to carrying live sports. And the kicker? Radio’s performance among young people is even stronger. The good news is a click away.

Last week, Tesla announced a new software update for owners of its older vehicles. This pricey update includes several new video streaming options, but removes AM, FM, and satellite radio from their innovative electric cars. What implications will Tesla’s decisions have on other automakers, and what can radio broadcasters do to ensure it doesn’t become a trend? As we love to say in radio, “Welcome to a Monday.”

As the famous Chinese curse goes, “May you live in interesting times.” None of us can predict the future, and these days, it’s truly an uncertain one. What role can radio play in these challenging times, especially in local markets? And how can broadcast radio use this pivotal moment to craft a different story?

You’ve heard it referred to as “corporate speak” – those cliche terms that are used again and again in conference rooms and meetings all over all over the world. And on the radio, there are those same phrases that announcers and personalities lean on – “crutch phrases” – when normal speech would do. Today’s post looks at what now is being called “garbage language” and how we can make sure we’re not guilty of using it. And by the way, “Welcome to a Thursday.”

When it comes to music discovery, new research indicates a key variable is your parents. And you may be surprised to learn the tastes of these parental influencers – especially the moms. This phenomenon helps to explain some of the demographic anomalies we see in Nielsen ratings.

One marketing book after another seeks to identify so-called “best practices” for brand marketing. But what happens when a heritage company makes a series of mistakes, leaving its brand image in shambles? That’s where Domino’s Pizza sat a decade ago – falling sales, fewer stores, and pizza that tasted like cardboard. How did they find their way back? With a little “radical authenticity.”

Radio and the coronavirus. Just eight weeks ago when we rung in a new year, none of us could have imagined our industry, our communities, and our families would be facing a health crisis that many describe as a potential pandemic. Today, we are starting the conversation with a guest post from promotions savant, Paige Nienaber. For those of you who know him/work with him, he puts away his “fun and games” hat to address how radio can face this demon, and live up to its promise.

With all the polling and behind the scenes research being conducted by all the campaigns, as well as scores of independent, why do so many fail to accurately predict the outcome? If that sounds a lot like the ratings, maybe it’s because we’re often asking the wrong questions and measuring things that have little do with why consumers behave the way they do. Today’s blog post steers away from politics, but makes the point that perceptions are different than reality – in the primaries and in the ratings.

The rise…and fall of major entertainment brands provides a source of learning for radio broadcasters as the industry navigates the rough waters of disruption. Today’s post looks at the travails of NASCAR, once a high-flyer in the sports community that has hit a rough road. And what we in radio can learn from their misfires and mistakes.

If you’ve even been casually following entertainment trends, you know the business model for music artists and groups has been roiled by new tech trends.  It wasn’t that many years ago when owning music was something most people eagerly did.  But not anymore. While streaming services have become more popular, royalties cannot make up for […]

There are few things in life you can count on, but baseball is one of them. Every February, the teams recongregate in Florida or Arizona for spring training – the beginning of a new season. And the other thing you can depend on is that these games will be broadcast on the radio, as they have been since KDKA started the tradition in 1921. But not this year. The Oakland A’s games will be stream only. Is this a blow for broadcast radio or the test the industry needs to prove its amazing value and worth to fans, advertisers, and yes, the teams themselves. Play ball.

Every song has a story. And now the demand for more and more compelling content – in films, on TV, in podcasts – is on the rise. Today’s blog post tells the story of a 40 year-old album being adapted for a new film, and a podcast devoted to telling the stories about Classic Rock – the songs, the albums, the artists. What impact does this have on radio – and how could this trend become even more important to the medium down the road?

Start-ups in the tech and gaming space are a dime a dozen. But when HQ Trivia debuted in 2017, it rapidly exploded in popularity – a real-time, appointment-setting mobile trivia game played by millions around the world with a live entertaining host. Last week, after steadily climbing numbers, HQ Trivia folded. It’s rise and fall provide great lessons for new entertainment brands about what – and what not – to do for that all-important second act.

Presidential campaign spending will likely break records this year, as billionaire candidates empty their pockets to advertise – especially on television. So, how do these Presidential hopefuls set themselves apart from the pack? Marketer Seth Godin’s “Purple Cow” is the gold standard guide for differentiating brands. And the Bloomberg campaign has obviously read the book. Their newest social media advertising is not only “purple,” it is being widely shared and written about. Including right here.