Today brother Paul takes control of the JacoBLOG keyboard. It’s an ambitious post about the state of radio digital transformation. It’s a tough read, but an important one we hope will stimulate thought, criticism, and new ideas. Change is hard. But not changing is even harder.
Read MoreBIA’s Rick Ducey: How Radio Can Capture A Bigger Piece Of The Revenue Pie
If you get frustrated by “experts” who are never held accountable for their predictions, today’s #TBT post is for you. In June of 2019, we called on a certain media pro to forecast the revenue pie for that year – and for the next FOUR YEARS. Who knew a major pandemic would throw a monkey wrench into everything? But for this flashback post, we turned the clock back to see how he did – COVID and all. To find out this savant’s identity and to see how his predictions fared, click on READ MORE.
Read More2024 Could (Should?) Be A Good Year For Radio
As the credits being to roll here in Las Vegas, brother Paul Jacobs – the glass-half-full-one – grabs the keyboard to find not only a bright side, but a strategy for the months ahead in what has already proved to be a challenging year. Time to turn those frowns upside-down with an inspirational guest post.
Read MoreA Blueprint For Radio, Part 2 (The Fine Print)
In part two of his “Blueprint For Radio,” Paul Jacobs rolls up his sleeves and invites you to do the same. Here we go.
Read MoreA Blueprint For Radio
Today, I hand the JacoBLOG keyboard over to brother Paul – who has a LOT to say. Rather than look back at his 50 (mostly) great years in radio, he’s turned his attention to the front windshield, imagining what radio could be, better put, NEEDS to be in order to get past this obvious inflection point we’re all feeling. So give the young man your attention and open mind, and let’s see of someone who got his start in radio sales just might have a solution set that’s worthy of our time and consideration.
Read MoreYou Can’t Beat A Bot Sitting On Your Butt
Over the holiday weekend, radio’s beleaguered sellers got a hot new competitor. Spotify is now throwing their algorithm into the ring, going hot and heavy after local retail business. To give today’s post much-needed credibility, we turn to sales maven extraordinaire, Paul Jacobs, for inspiration…and solutions.
Read MoreWhat’s Your Name? Who’s Your Daddy?
What does it mean to “sell out,” and is there a price to be paid for doing it? Two years ago, Sinclair sold the naming rights to their 19 regional Fox Sports networks to Bally’s. Back then, Paul Jacobs warned about possible consequences. And here we are in 2023, and the entire operation has declared bankruptcy, potentially leaving millions of rabid sports fans in the lurch. We revisit this mess in today’s blogs, complete with new warnings about taking the money….and trying to steal a base.
Read MoreGetting Schooled By A Bunch Of High School Students
What IS local news and why does it matter? Is it school board meetings, cultural activities, election coverage, or a combination of these things – and more? While many mainstream media companies struggle with their news budgets, a surprising new group of journalists is ready to grab the golden ring and make local journalism their driving force. And some of them may be living in your home.
Read MoreRadio And Retail – In The Same Boat?
Are we headed into a recession? What does that portend for the local retail landscape, especially as we come out of COVID. Paul Jacobs takes a look at the current environment, and lays out a strategic plan that hopefully gets the juices flowing – and hopefully, the cash registers ringing.
Read MoreGeorge Santos And The Future Of Public Radio
In our overcrowded media environment, how can you explain that one of the biggest political scandals in decades was under everyone’s collective nose – and no one uncovered it? And if not for a small, weekly newspaper, we might have never known about it. Our blog post today turns the local news opportunity on its side. And makes the case why public radio stations – in big and small markets – should be strategizing around the local news opportunity.
Read MoreRadio And Retail’s (Not So Silent) Killer
Amazon’s Prime Day has come and gone, leaving waves of revenue in its massive wake. These shopping extravaganzas are reminder to radio about the need to keep local retail businesses as healthy as possible. In today’s post, Paul Jacobs hits the keyboard with a dozen great concepts radio can do to ensure it stays strong in the all-important hometown revenue category.
Read MoreRadio’s Definition Of Insanity
Decisions, decisions, decisions. In radio they come fast and furious, day in and day out. And in today’s blog post. Paul Jacobs takes on the challenge presented by an advertising buy that’s good for sales, but maybe not so great for programming. As you read the post, ask yourself, “What would YOU do?” Although it may turn out, it’s a decision you’ve already made.
Read MoreHow Radio Can Turn “Lemons” Into Lemonade
Two years is a long time – especially when you’ve got a global pandemic on your hands. Back during the lockdowns, Paul Jacobs wrote a blog post with thought-provoking ideas to jumpstart the sales process. And turn those lemons into lemonade. Let’s see how things worked out.
Read More“The Other Guy Is Dropping Trou!”
It’s early January, and you know what that means for U.S. radio? The one-day sale. That’s when entire clusters rationalize the first quarter is always slow, so let’s bring the entire cluster together and offer one-time-only deep discounts on sales inventory that’s just piling up anyway. Our sales guru, Paul Jacobs, thinks this isn’t the best of ideas. And to prove it, he carts out perhaps the savviest financial manager in the country to offer up a better alternative. Keep those red tags on hold and check out today’s JacoBLOG post.
Read MoreAmerican Radio: The Final Frontier?
Over the weekend, Virgin CEO Sir Richard Branson took that long-awaited trip to space. And in the process, he showed what corporate leadership and inspiration are all about. But there’s one accomplishment that has eluded Branson – American radio.
Read MoreWhat’s Your Name? Who’s Your Daddy?
What does it mean to “sell out,” and is there a price to be paid for doing it? Two years ago, Sinclair sold the naming rights to their 19 regional Fox Sports networks to Bally’s. Back then, Paul Jacobs warned about possible consequences. And here we are in 2023, and the entire operation has declared bankruptcy, potentially leaving millions of rabid sports fans in the lurch. We revisit this mess in today’s blogs, complete with new warnings about taking the money….and trying to steal a base.
Read MoreBets And Drugs And Rock N’ Roll (And Country, Hip-Hop, Sports, And AC)
In Q4, it was an avalanche of political ad spending that helped 2020 finish on a high note. And now in the new year, we’re seeing signs there could be a revenue tsunami from two vices – weed and wagering. For today’s guest blog post, I hand the keyboard over to Paul Jacobs for a look at how radio companies are already defining their business models as we move into what we hope will be the Roaring 2020s.
Read MoreRadio And The “Next Normal”
Welcome to February where it’s become clear that many of the changes we saw in 2020 have carried over to the new year. There’s opportunity for radio broadcasters despite the accelerated pace of change. And in today’s guest blog post, Paul Jacobs puts on his sales hat – er, face mask – to discuss the doors that are closing – along with the new ones opening.
Read MoreBah, Humbug! Eight Ways Radio Sales Departments Can Salvage The Holiday Season
For radio, this promises to be a holiday season like no other. Guest blogger Paul Jacobs takes to the keyboard to list eight smart steps all radio sales departments can take to ensure a Scrooge-less holiday. Paul is armed with fresh new research about the consumer holiday mindset, and more than four decades of experience with buyers, planners, and retailers. It’s a good read.
Read MoreRemembering Bob McCurdy
One of radio’s mentors – and class acts- Bob McCurdy passed away this week. Paul and I were fortunate to know and work with Bob. In today’s post, Paul looks at this impact on the industry – and on us.
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