The Jacobs Media Blog

A major focus for broadcasters these past two years has been the long-awaited legislation to lock in AM radios in every U.S. manufactured car. But these days, that story is just the tip of the iceberg. The car/radio space is heating up once again, and radio operators will need to focus on changes that could rock the automotive world, with lots of reverberations for radio. Buckle up.

Thinking about your radio station or the ones you’ve worked for in the past, the truly great, successful ones very likely had a “standard bearer,” that one personality who stood out above the pack. In today’s competitive information and entertainment environment, they’ve never been more important to the success of the operation. In “listener speak,” the question is, “Who do you want to have a beer with?”

Have you heard about the Google Home glitch that prevented most radio streams from working—for weeks? Neither had I until consultant James Cridland surfaced the problem in his “Radioland” newsletter over the weekend. It’s a cautionary tale for radio broadcasters, especially when most PDs are wearing multiple hats while trying to ensure quality on a growing number of devices and platforms. How can we prevent these glitches from becoming disasters while ensuring there’s no “next time?”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is as well-known for its controversial omissions and inclusions as it is for the music that originally put the place on the map. And now, a new campaign to promote the induction of a musician, performer, and “Renaissance man of all media” who has been systematically ignored by the Rock Hall. Perhaps next year, this oversight will finally be corrected.

Radio has enjoyed long periods throughout its storied past where habitual listening became deeply rooted in the American psyche. But in recent years, big historical moments like COVID have spurred behavioral and perceptual shifts that are significant. In today’s post, I’ve picked out three areas where the data suggest consumers are modifying their lives—and perhaps their radio listening. See if you agree with my logic and let me know how these shifts impact your ongoing success.

In an overloaded competitive media environment, it is especially challenging for any local radio station to stand out and get noticed. And that brings me to perhaps my most rewarding consulting experience and the dumbest radio contest you’ve ever heard of. I promise.

There are many analogies to last week’s selection of a new pope and a media organization having to suddenly replacing its CEO. Having done it for centuries, the Vatican has it down. And there are lots of things broadcast radio entities can learn from conclave and how it carries out its charge. The selection of an American to become the next pope was a bold one, and today’s blog post lists seven lessons radio companies can learn from this amazing tradition.

When your perception and performance both lags, it’s usually an indication something’s wrong. In the world of consumer good and services, marketing is frequently the culprit. For broadcast radio, the industry has struggled to get an effective message out. Maybe it’s time for something different.

It was the Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu, who famously said “Know thine enemy.” But for broadcast radio in 2025, do we really know the answer to that question? I take my shot at it in today’s post.

There is always lively debate in radio circles about whether the quality of today’s stations can even touch how things sounded “back in the day.” But the more salient issue is the loss of the shared radio listening experience. We’re all listening to different music, different talk shows, and different personalities. That’s where today’s blog posts land and unravels the key differences between today’s stations and those that made history decades ago.

This spring, Apple’s Watch—now the most successful tech wearable in the world—celebrated its 10th anniversary. Like so many digital innovations, Watch has already had several iterations, but none bigger than the space it now owns—THE health and wellness device you wear on your wrist that is not only functional but fashionable. Apple’s success with Watch contains a number of important lessons for the radio broadcasting industry as it struggles to find its next “killer app.” That’s the topic of today’s blog.

It has already not been an easy year for American businesses. But it isn’t just the tariffs and other political issues. Many companies were struggling before we rang in the new year. And they’re trying to claw their way back, despite the headwinds of the economy. Radio companies, in particular, have been struggling whether it’s […]

Today, an update on AI DJ “AI Ashley” and a blockbuster expose about a robot DJ in Australia who fooled “her” audience for months.

In yesterday’s post, it was all about a “superfans” strategy for entertainment brands. Today, we bring it home to radio and the value of a focus on “those who brung you to the dance.”

Across the World Wide Web, it has become more and more valuable to focus on core fans rather than a broader group of more casual users. And now a new research study amplifies the value of “superfans,” suggesting strategies to keep them satisfied. Think about the radio listeners who remain committed to radio, its stations, and its personalities. And for public and Christian radio, add in another layer: loyal fans who also donate. It’s a different model, it deserves thought, and that’s how we’ll start the new week.

For a heritage radio station, there’s nothing more exhilarating AND daunting as planning for a big station birthday—the ones that end with a zero. The upside is the opportunity to remind the audience and advertisers you’ve been around a long time, but the downside is reinforcing you’re long in the tooth, doing the same things in the same way you have for decades. Fortunately, there’s a national brand now celebrating its 40th year in business. Rather than going down the tried and true path, they’re burning the playbook. Let’s look into how it’s going.