The Jacobs Media Blog

Radio lost another icon over the weekend. Legend Chuck Berry passed away, but chances are, you didn’t hear about it on the radio. Because the Oldies format falls outside of the 25-54 demographic sweet spot, the format has all but disappeared from the airwaves. Our post today looks at Berry and what he meant to rock n’ roll.

We’ve all been there – a big story or exclusive falls into your lap. How you handle it on the air and in social media can make or break your station or your show. Two nights ago, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow had one of those opportunities when Donald Trump’s 2005 tax return appeared. Today’s post looks at the things media teams should consider in order to successfully pull off that big moment.

There’s a lot at stake in the motion picture industry, and promotional trailers often play a pivotal role in a film’s success. These days, more and more new movies are prominently featuring old music – Classic Rock – because of its multi-generational appeal and staying power.

Clorox owns many treasured brand names, including Brita water filters and Burt’s Bees. CMO Eric Reynolds offers branding tips for radio broadcasters.

We’re at about the halfway point of President Trump’s first 100 days – an era when personalities, shows, and brands are grappling with how to approach news, entertainment, and humor in this highly charged environment. Here’s how TV and radio stars are approaching their craft…so far.

Jacobs Media’s Mike Stern pens a great guest post about a new online comedy course taught by legend Steve Martin. When Mike dug into Martin’s lesson plan, he discovered 5 great tips for radio DJs and personality shows.

While the rest of the beer industry languishes, Corona is on a roll. Its popular beer is reaping double-digital annual sales growth. Rather than kicking back and taking their foot off the gas pedal, they’re stepping up their marketing efforts and reinvesting in their brand. What a concept!

Rumors of Classic Rock’s demise have run rampant since the format broke out in the ’80s. The many iconic bands that continue to successfully tour has played a role in the format’s longevity and popularity. The death of the Eagle’s Glenn Frey last year poses a new challenge for a band that has overcome many obstacles over the years. But there are rumors of an Eagles summer tour amidst questions of “Who will play Glenn?”

This year, the Entercom-CBS merger will no doubt reshape the radio industry. But a recent ruling from the FCC might have an even greater impact on the future of American radio. In today’s post, a look at foreign ownership of U.S. radio, and the guy who predicted it more than eight years ago.

In a world of big data where there’s no shortage of metrics, analytics, and ratings data, radio management teams can learn a lot by connecting with their audience – one listener at a time. Today’s post recounts a legendary Microsoft story where Bill Gates nailed a customer service call – and learned a lot about his customers.

While marketers are media mavens focus on Millennials, up-and-coming Generation Z could be just as important to the radio business. Today’s high school and college students are different from their older brothers and sisters. For radio, they represent both a challenge and opportunity.

After the Oscar debacle on Sunday, the show needs a great radio Program Director — someone who will ask “What can go wrong?” and then make sure it doesn’t.

Last night’s Academy Awards show had no shortage of political messages – even in the commercial breaks. Now more than ever, companies are using very expensive ad time to answer this question: What does your brand stand for?

Guest blogger, Mike Stern, recently checked out a new Netflix comedy special – “3 Mics,” featuring newcomer Neal Brennan. It’s a clever, but flawed concept. In this post, Mike singles out 8 lessons from “3 Mics” that any radio personality or show can benefit from.

PPM celebrated its 10th birthday yesterday, but there were no parties, balloons, or cake. Our blog post today looks back at the last decade of PPM, its promise and its disappointment, and we offer thoughts about how to improve the system moving forward.

As cars become bigger players on the technology stage, automakers are working hard to develop a better, safer, more intuitive dashboard experience. But are today’s touch screens really better than the buttons and knobs we all remember on traditional car radios? At a recent symposium in Washington, D.C., some of the best and brightest in the auto industry weighed in on that topic.