jacoBLOG

Of all the radio formats, the one that is most artist-centric is Classic Rock. And one of America’s most memorable National Monuments has become a granite symbol of the music and what it means to millions of fans all over the world. Who’s on YOUR Mt. Rushmore?

Read More

The end of the year is an especially challenging and often tough time in radio. Station cutbacks make the going tough for many on-air personalities. The radio industry has become like so many other businesses, the story of the “have’s” and the “have not’s.” Today’s blog post looks at life in the air studio from both sides of the spectrum – multi-millionaires in major markets living the dream, as well as small town jocks who find themselves looking for work after years of employment. There are lessons here for all of us in radio.

Read More

So much of pop culture is driven by what’s hot – and what’s not. Whether it’s celebrities, the royal family, star athletes, or rock bands, some enjoy positive perceptions while others often find themselves in the media dog house. Today’s post – “How Did Radio Become The Nickelback Of Media?” – looks at the difference between perception and reality, and why that matters so much to the future of broadcast radio. I hope you’ll read it it – and respond to it.

Read More

Concert festivals have become an immensely popular format for live music. But a weekend full of entertainment on multiple stages can set the family budget back. Now promoters have come up with a novel way of purchasing tickets that might just work for radio.

Read More

Whether you’re a radio station, a TV series, or a professional football team, every traditional brand now has the opportunity to build out their great content on an ever-expanding array of platforms. The newest entry may surprise you. The storied Green Bay Packers have built a remarkable piece of digital content that may soon be the envy of the NFL. And maybe radio.

Read More

Mascots have been connected with brands for more than a century. And these days, they’re bigger and more ubiquitous then ever. In radio, mascots have long been part of the medium’s history, but 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 More

The topic of whether headphone listening is accurately measured as heated up in recent years, especially after the PPM methodology came on-line. Now, Nielsen is taking steps to account for these lost quarter-hours, but will it make a difference in the average station’s ratings? Radio listening has faced major headwinds over the past decade, as competition has heated up from streaming, podcasting, and satellite radio. How will the addition of headphone listening even up the playing field?

Read More

As radio stations roll out content on new platforms like mobile apps, smart speakers, and podcasts, it’s essential to communicate these features to audience (and advertisers). Today’s blog post takes a look at tools that any station can produce – “explainer videos” – that are bite-sized tutorials easily marketed and shared. We’ve got great examples of how and why these works.

Read More

If you think the radio business is competitive, consider what’s going on in the video streaming industry. Netflix was the first mover, but it is now feeling the heat from Hulu and Amazon, along with exciting new entrants like Disney and Apple. Today’s blog post reveals the Netflix strategy after reporting disappointing quarterly results – a plan that should be of interest to every radio manager and owner.

Read More

When you think about traditional brands using digital media to perfection, look no further than the Golden Arches. McDonald’s understands both the element of surprise and how to use the digital tool kit to delight its best customers. Yes, we’re talking about the McRib, a seasonal menu item that should be the envy of every radio station in America. Today’s blog post uncovers how Mickey D’s has been surprising fans and strengthening its venerable brand – for decades.

Read More

In Australia, Facebook and Instagram are experimenting with the elimination of the good old “like.” Today’s post explores how brands – like radio stations and personalities – might approach and evaluate engagement in a world without “likes.” Actually, it works to radio’s benefit.

Read More

There was lots of “breaking news” last week, so this story may have slipped below your radar: President Trump now has a Twitch channel. If you don’t know about Twitch or you can’t imagine what the Commander In Chief might do on this new platform, our blog post reveals all. It’s actually an interesting exercise in brand extension and audience outreach.

Read More

Mark Zuckerberg is now live-streaming his internal staff Q&A meetings, in an effort to eliminate leaks. And it’s creating a great sense of transparency for a brand in need of rebuilding trust with its customers. Radio broadcasters can learn a lot from Facebook’s newest initiative – a social media platform actually trying to be…more social.

Read More

What drives people to become true fans of a product or a brand – whether it’s baseball or Classic Rock. In today’s post, a social psychologist provides deep insights into the relationship between fans and the art they love – without using an ounce of data. And as you may no doubt conclude, you knew the secret all along.

Read More

We may be entering a new era – “Big Podcasting” – where the money will become abundant, signing bonuses will escalate, and everyone will get rich. But podcasting analysts tell us that 99% of all podcasters don’t make a dime. Today’s blog breaks down podcasting’s wealth distribution equation, and discusses the future of the medium.

Read More

Song repetition has always been the bane of broadcast music radio stations. But music experts saying that playing the same songs again and again is a big part of what keeps radio popular and vital. Don’t believe me? Today’s blog post has 7 very good reasons that point to the power of playing the hits.

Read More

Radio veterans mean well when they give worldly advice to fledgling young radio wannabes. But sometimes, those pearls of wisdom aren’t on-point for the next generation of radio personalities, programmers, sales people, and managers. Today’s post list 8 bad pieces of advice radio’s Baby Boomers often impart to young people who have their hearts set on careers in radio.

Read More

The voice assistant race heated up last week when Amazon rolled out a slew of new Alexa-enabled devices you wear. And some of these new gadgets will make even the most jaded techies roll their eyes – or get out their credit cards. Today’s blog post will help you keep up with the latest and (not so) greatest in voice technology.

Read More