The Jacobs Media Blog

As the quarterly results for radio companies keep rolling out, reading the statements of their CEOs can tell important stories about where the industry is headed. One executive with a clearly different POV is Jeff Warshaw. I got the chance for an exclusive interview with him at Morning Show Boot Camp last week.

One the most unique musical artists ever has come up with a novel way to both celebrate his career and the city he loves—and that loves him. Today’s blog post supplies the playbook for how stations and their superstars can be honored while supporting their communities. As the Brits might say, “Brilliant!”

AI may be becoming ubiquitous, but now we’re seeing major brands taking the opposing view—the human side. That’s been iHeart’s stance with “Guaranteed Human.” Now the #1 bank in the U.S. is trying the same approach—perhaps with different results.

Today’s post is a follow-up to a post published earlier this week about “AI slop” and the growing debate raging about it. I’ve included a variety of your comments, as well as some outside perspective. Like it or not, this is an issue that every content creator is facing—and will continue to face.

“Stop AI Slop” has become more than a social media meme—it appears to have become a rallying cry for those who are pushing back against this technology, as well as the billionaires profiting from it. I have gotten pushback about the way I use it in this blog. In today’s post, it’s a discussion about AI’s place in our work, and your chance to give me feedback.

Radio may be the original audio medium, but just about every media platform is forging ahead with a video strategy. Part of that thinking revolves around the vertical video format, popularized by TikTok, but actually started by another social brand. Do you remember which show first embraced “verticality?”

Last Friday’s post about radio’s local opportunity “sailing away” stimulated discussion and conversation. Today’s post picks up on that theme with a real-life example of how one of broadcast radio’s arch rivals is gearing up a full-court press to target local ad revenue. It’s a cautionary tale taking place right before our eyes and ears. Just click “READ MORE” below.

“Live & local” was fast becoming a “crutch phrase” in radio’s C-suites for years and years. A throwback to the way radio stations used to be built, many companies glommed onto the phrase even though they were miles away from actually “walking the walk.” But while the local path to greatness and sustainability is an arduous one, there are media players who aren’t just embracing the local opportunity—they’re betting on it. In today’s blog post, here’s why “local” is making a comeback in a rapidly consolidating media environment.

We are so used to seeing data—reams of it—that it’s often hard not to scroll past a chart where your topline reaction is either “I know that” or even ‘DUH!” Today’s JacoBLOG post is built around just that kind of chart, so resist the urge to ignore it, zoom past it, or delete it. In radio’s current condition, even a statement of the obvious can spur a smart strategic action that may be just what your brand or organization need.

How important is nostalgia to your brand? The other day, the CEO of a major restaurant chain didn’t know the answer to that question, paying the price with her job. Let’s avoid that outcome for you. Just click “READ MORE.”

A different headline this morning: JacoBLOG is moving to middays. Hopefully, you’ll join me. Here are the details.

Assuming Paul approves my request (hah!), I’m going to take a day or two off from writing a full blog post. The smoke has cleared out of Michigan, the temps have cooled down, and hopefully I’ll be able to eat lettuce soon, so the midpoint of this tumultuous year feels like a good time to […]

The AI wave is a power trend and technology. And yet despite AI’s ubiquity, increasing numbers of consumers are pining for those good old analog days. How can radio seize the moment?

Things were exceptionally bad for Canadian radio last week as one of the country’s biggest broadcasters shut down a group of news and sports stations handed back their licenses to the CRTC, Canada’s version of the FCC. Does this move have implications on American radio? You betcha!

Is there a radio “ratings war” brewing now that Cumulus has become the first commercial radio partner with Xperi and its AutoStage platform. Our blog post today looks at how new metrics for in-car listening could be a catalyst for a different view of the ratings and more diverse programming.