The Jacobs Media Blog

The drumbeat for digital revenue gets louder for radio companies with each passing quarter. But as 2023 has taught us – often the hard way – generating serious, sustainable digital revenue can be a diffiicult and painful task. For some organizations, it has resulted in staff layoffs and massive losses. But today, we’re going to point to a template of success that can work for any media team willing to do a minimum of due diligence and brainstorming. It’s about learning how to play a new game.

With Congress facing another government shutdown one week from today, you may be wondering what’s going on with that AM For Every Vehicle Act that was in the news a few months ago. After a quiet time, we’re seeing signs that it has once again become a topic of conversation. In fact, the issue of what it costs to install AM radio in electric vehicles is the subject of debate. A static-free look at who’s saying what is just a click away.

Yesterday’s post teed up today’s look at Techsurvey data in the hope of gleaning insights about the rapidly changing worlds of media – and broadcast radio. As we know, research is in the eye of the beholder; in this case, the interpreter.  And we can’t help but notice in the growing onslaught of political polls, […]

We’re heading toward the shaky finish of another challenging year for the radio broadcasting industry. And as budget season commences, tough decisions await. Reliable audience research has never been more critically important, but it doesn’t come cheap. Here’s the good news: the research is right in front of our faces, IF we are prescient and courageous enough to face it. So, let’s kick off the week with a “reality check.” Always good advice? Buckle up.

If you work in public or commercial radio news, you know the reality: we’re in a vicious news cycle. Even so-called “news junkies” are taking hiatuses, trying to escape all the bad news. Is there an antidote – counter-programming that can provide much-needed relief for the audience as we head into another politically charged year? Maybe. Please click through to read our “take.”

The last time the Beatles and Stones had new music out at the same time was in 1969. Now, more than half a century later, it’s happening again this week when “the last Beatles song” is released tomorrow. So, how will radio play this event? Will it low-key or even ignore it? Will it squander it and give it away to Spotify and Amazon Music? Or will radio treat it like the real moment that it is? Today’s blog post puts this rare occurrence into perspective for you. Enoy.

In yesterday’s post, it was an interesting look at Universal Music Group’s artist-centric philosophy favoring Taylor Swift and the Beatles over up-and-comers. Today, we turn the conversation over to Big Loud Country, a marketing juggernaut with a great track record for developing new artists and songs. They still use radio, but there’s nothing “old school” about their marketing strategy. In fact, radio now comes LAST in the promotional sequence. Here’s why and what it means to radio AND records.

Where’s the farm team? That’s the question finally being asked in radio circles. The next generation of radio broadcasters is the focus because not enough listen to the medium in the first place. It starts with middle/high schools as well as colleges. And more broadcasters than you might think are already making a difference. Check out what’s being done and could be in your plans for 2024.

Last week’s post on redefining “local” was very public radio-centric. I promised a post on turning “local” on its side for commercial stations, especially those that play music. So, here you go.

There are many trends in play in the radio broadcasting industry, among them, AI, leaner staffing, and greater utilization of talent across many markets. And yet, flying in the face of all that is a definitive trend taking place in public radio – the local renaissance. If you’re in commercial or Christian radio, this trend is very much happening in your worlds, too. It’s just that public radio is doing lots of the heavy lifting, especially in the research department. Here’s what “local” looks like, especially as it pertains to news and journalism.

Remember that blowup last spring when NPR and Twitter got into a high profile scuffle? It led NPR to stop tweeting altogether. And it raised the question: What happens to web traffic when a popular brand goes cold turkey on Twitter? Now, we know. Details here.