The Jacobs Media Blog

Today, we looks at two examples that the confluence of digital technology and human expertise can leads to great radio experiences. In both spoken word and music formats, the combination of tech and people can transform traditional radio.

The Presidential campaign has been punctuated by emotional messaging on Twitter, often taking place at all hours of the day and night. The issue of mobile phone addiction, and by extension, social media usage, provides context and important lessons for the radio industry.

Twitter is for sale, and rumors abound about who may acquire them. While some say it’s unlikely, Disney could be a great fit, That’s because of ESPN and the strong connection sports fans have with Twitter. This could be another great example of what happens when you truly understand your audience, and it starts with research.

At last week’s Radio Show, the connected car panel examined how radio can best compete in the new dashboards. But beyond automotive technology, everyone agreed that a strong content strategy is an imperative. And that led me to re-examine our new pyramid that tests radio not just against other stations, but in an environment where it competes with everyone. How does your brand hold up?

The passing of gold legend Arnold Palmer is a reminder to personalities everywhere about the power of building a great brand. From representation to endorsements to his own branded beverage, Palmer’s career provides lessons to radio personalities everywhere.

An obsession in baseball is to use more sophisticated stats to better evaluate the true value and impact of players. And so it is with radio. Beyond the ratings, how can a management team truly measure the value a personality, host, or team brings to the station? Today, we uses baseball’s WAR stat to create a new way to better understand the contribution a local personality makes to the brand.

At a time when advertising is moving digital, billboards are enjoying a renaissance. Given radio’s heavy in-car listening and need to reclaim the dash, billboard could become an effective way for the medium to brand itself to the next generation of drivers and passengers.

The worldwide web and social media have shrunk the world, allowing us to seamlessly connect and interact with people thousands of miles away. This hit home for me when I discovered that a webinar I presented for Conclave was translated into something called a “kultwit” by a young Indonesian DJ. It doesn’t look like anything you’ve ever seen, and it’s a reminder of how different cultures are using the Internet and social media for self-expression. Check it out.

It’s been a cruel summer for the newspaper industry, and winter isn’t looking any more promising. Their pain could be radio’s gain.

Kevin Harlan’s hilarious and spontaneous play-by-play coverage of a drunk fan during the late night Monday Night Football game still has us talking. Here are 7 things we can learn from Harlan’s impromptu, real-time radio moment.

One of the hallmarks of the media and tech industries these days is that the dividing lines are getting blurrier. It’s not just radio grappling with its role definition. Even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg finds himself in the horns of a dilemma over what is company is truly about. Every media and tech company are going through this. Here’s our take:

Is your logo strong enough that only its shape and colors conjure up memorable images of your brand? That’s the direction mass marketers are moving in, and we have a radio story about a logo design that has stood the test of time for nearly five decades.

Have you seen Amazon’s Echo and its voice, Alexa, that responds to your voice commands? It almost didn’t come to market because its team wasn’t sure their iconic boss would listen to them. Today’s post addresses the need for all managers at all levels to be better listeners.

Behind every great radio star is an often unheralded straight man. Today, guest-blogger Mike Stern looks at the career of ESPN’s John Saunders, the calm force behind “The Sports Reporters.” Mike examines why the straight man (or woman) may be the difference-maker in crafting a successful show.