Our founder, Fred Jacobs, offers insights into the latest trends in broadcasting and digital media.
Printed from: https://jacobsmedia.com/blog/ on 12/22/2024
“I Don’t Want To Miss The Future”
It’s CES Week, and I’m still in Las Vegas at this amazing show. Where was I exactly a decade ago? Yup, at CES 2014. And back then, I put together a post where 14 radio luminaries told me why they go to CES every year they can. A lot has changed since 2014, but the reasons why some of the smartest people in radio go to CES still resonate all these years later. Some are out of the business, while others have changed jobs. But one thing that hasn’t changed is they love attending this event. How many of these names from 2014 do you know or remember?
Read MoreWhat’s Your WHY?
Truly great brands don’t waste their marketing efforts on explaining what they do. They understand the “why” that truly connects with their consumers. Finding your “why” may seem like a daunting task to many radio operators. But the process of fleshing out your brand’s “why” and how you make your audience feel can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll accomplish in radio. For a look at some great examples and why they work, just click below.
Read MoreWill CES 2024 Be Remembered As The Breakout Year For AI?
CES 2024 gets underway today, and our team from Jacobs Media is well-rested and gathered in Las Vegas ready to be your eyes and ears. Why does this show still matter? We go right to the top for answers – our conversation with the head of the Consumer Technology Association, Gary Shapiro. This looks to be the event’s post-pandemic breakout year, and we’re excited to share our CES stories with you.
Read MoreSome Good News About Radio? Yes!
It is anyone’s guess whether 2024 turns out to be a rebound year for radio or a continuation of arduous times for the business. But last week brought much-needed positive news about radio, defying conventional wisdom about the state of the medium. What is behind these upbeat stories about radio and how can the industry build on perhaps some early momentum? Some answers are just a click away.
Read MoreNever Forget What It Took To Get Here
In the world of radio, sports analogies abound. But even if you’re not a football fan, today’s blog post is about leadership, resilience, and perseverance. It all emanates from an unorthodox head coach with a big mission and a lot of grit. But fear not, there’s a radio story here, too, as we honor one of the best programmers ever. How’s that for a tease?
Read MoreAre You Chasing A Radio Mirage?
If you’re entering the new year without a job as a result of getting RIFFed or otherwise relieved of your duties in 2023, today’s blog post may answer some of your questions. But it may also stimulate you to ask a few new ones of yourself. The broadcast radio industry as many of us knew it has changed. Are you chasing a radio mirage? Are your expectations aligned with radio’s new reality? (Whether you’re out of work or not, these might be relevant considerations as we ring in 2024.) Here are some key signs that might signal the need for a new mindset – and maybe a new career path.
Read MoreWhy Doesn’t Radio Take A “Big & Boraxy” Approach To Sales?
Another year in the books, and yet, we’re still talking about many of the same challenges in the radio buisiness we historically face. At or near the top of the heap is revenue generation, and how we can maximize it in 2024. And that compelled me to look at “best practices” over the years, as well as right now, to see if perhaps radio has as much of a messaging issue as it does product challenges. Bottom line? Numbers matter. And I ended up getting an important
lesson from a box of laundry detergent that I’m happy to pass along to you.
“Wrapping” About Spotify
As we kick off the start of a new year, let’s take a look back to a year-end phenomenon that continues to get bigger with each passing year. “Spotify Wrapped” is now in its seventh year, and it’s a trend in and of itself. To an extent, it explains all the other platforms jumping on the bandwagon. And that raises the question: could broadcast radio participate?
Read MoreElon Musk Might Have Just Done NPR A Big Favor
You may recall back in April when Twitter and NPR went at it. Ultimately, the public radio network stopped tweeting, continuing that policy through today. At the time, I pondered whether Elon Musk might be doing NPR a favor. And in today’s “Best Of” post, along with an update from last week, we may actually have the answer.
Read MoreWhere Did All Those P4s And P5s Go?
When was the last time you checked the most important metric on your station – cume or reach? How is it holding up versus a decade ago? You might be surprised by what the data is telling us in our post-pandemic radio reality. And to help us understand eroding cumes and what radio can do about it, I’ve enlisted a celebrity guest blogger to explain this phenomenon, showing up in market after market in the U.S. It’s another “radio reality check” on JacoBLOG this week. This post was one of our most popular and most provocative of the year.
Read MoreWhat Today’s Radio Personalities Can Learn From Wolfman Jack
A chance opportunity to watch a classic movie on an airplane this past spring served as a reminder about the changing role of radio in people’s lives and what happens when a bigger-than-life personality has the opportunity to shine – even in the middle of a long night. If you’ve lost sight of the romance of radio, today’s post might help you rekindle it…at least for a few minutes. This “Best Of” post from 2023 lists 10 reminders any host or personality can take away from one of the most enigmatic jocks in radio history – my gift to you during the holiday season.
Read MoreThe Evolution Of “A.I. Ashley” – Why Alpha Did It
A breaking radio story occurred this past June when Alpha Media launched an AI DJ in Portland. You may recall, they took their voicetracked midday personality – Ashley Z – and used AI technology to start producing her entire shows. Why did they make this move? And what did they want the radio industry to know about it? Alpha’s Phil Becker, Dylan Salisbury, and Ashley Elzinga sat down with me in an exclusive conversation about AI and how it was being deployed at Live 95.5 in Portland, Oregon. It set the stage for many conversations at companies throughout the radio broadcasting industry in 2023.
Read MoreHappy Holidays 2023
Here we are once again – on the precipice of wonderful holidays and for many of us (present company included), a much-needed break. If that sounds like you, I hope the next 10 or so days turn out to be just what you’ve been waiting for. I’m going to keep this mercifully short for all […]
Read MoreThe Next Beatles?
Want to start a world war during your upcoming holiday gathering or end of year celebration? Try the “Beatles vs. Taylor Swift Debate,” a surefire way to engage pretty much the entire family or office in the fireworks. The fact is, both of these remarkable performers set all kinds of records during their era. But is it about revenue, tickets sold, or impact on pop culture? YOU decide. (I’m on vacation, so leave me out of it this time.)
Read MoreSo Long, “Casual One”
“Oh no, not again.” That’s what many radio people and Detroit radio listeners are saying this morning. After losing Jim Ladd over the weekend, Ken Calvert passed away this week, too. Here are some memories of “The Casual One.”
Read MoreIs AM Radio Walking “The Last Mile?”
Besides the onslaught of a new, cutting-edge technology in 2023 – AI – many of the other radio broadcasting headlines revolved around AM radio. In early 2023, AM was looking like an “endangered medium” in new cars. And then the radio broadcasting industry pulled together. Today’s post was part of that distant early warning system. And hopefully, it served as a lesson about how broadcasters handle future challenges.
Read MoreThere Goes The Last DJ
If you’ve worked in radio for more than a cup of coffee or two, you know there are certain days when things happen that are simply memorable and monumental – maybe for you but certainly for the industry. Yesterday was one of those days, especially if you’ve ever worked in rock radio. We lost an icon, no doubt about it. The last of a dying breed has sadly died. Here’s the story.
Read MoreNo One Listens To The Radio Anymore
Today’s post starts our “Best of” series for 2023. And this was a good one, all revolving around that much-uttered, cringeworthy phrase: “No one listens to the radio anymore.” But take comfort, radio types, because a highly popular global brand is going through the same uncomfortable ordeal – and this year, it fought back with a clever marketing campaign created in Eastern Europe and aimed squarely at turning those perceptions around. Come to think of it, my “Christmas Wish” is that the broadcast radio industry here in the U.S. might consider a marketing campaign of its own.
Read More“The (Car)Play’s The Thing”
Are you in the market for a new car or truck? What are your must-have features? For more and more prospective buyers, Apple CarPlay has become essential, an easy way for drivers (and passengers) to navigate the infotainment system. But now GM is dropping CarPlay in their new EVs, in favor of their own proprietary system. They’re hoping you won’t care. What are they thinking? Are they thinking?
Read More…And Distribution is Queen
It’s become cliché – of course, content is king. But let’s not forget that distribution is queen for radio stations. Today’s #TBT blog post is a reminder the old content delivery mechanisms – especially “regular radios” – are becoming fewer and farther between. We can make the best content in the market, but if audiences can’t find or access it…. So honor Queen Distribution!
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