The Jacobs Media Blog

A recent New York Times article underscores something that we saw loud and clear in “Goin’ Mobile” – smartphones are replacing other gadgets and changing our lives in the process. At the Worldwide Radio Summit in Los Angeles next month, I’ll show a different radio-ized version of “Goin’ Mobile” and one of the new segments […]

Throw out traditional demographic buying? It seems like there’s a movement like this every few years, but when it comes from a guy like David Poltrack, you’d better pay attention. Poltrack is the head research guy at CBS (like a dentist named Dr. Molar), and at a recent Advertising Foundation’s Think 2011 conference, he indicated […]

A couple of weeks back, Paul wrote a guest blog about NPR in response to an Eric Rhoads commentary.  That blog post set a record for us, and drew comments from a wide range of industry pros.  Jim Farley, VP of News & Programming at Bonneville’s WTOP – one of the best stations in the […]

Actually, I enjoy commercials, especially when they move you, tell you something you didn’t know, entertain, or surprise you. But to look at a recent study from AdAge/Ipsos Observer, the medium is most definitely the message.  And some of the new digital platforms are not being embraced by consumers for positively delivering ad messages. It […]

Today, a guest blog from Bill Weston, the incomparable programmer of Greater Media’s mighty WMMR.  During a recent conversation, Bill told me this story about how great brands evoke kismet – and good luck, too. So here’s a quick story of radio’s relevance – a parable from the Karmic Wheel.  It’s a reinforcing tale for […]

Every time you turn around, it’s another one of those polls or city rankings that are designed to get you talking and generating lots of tweets. Well, earlier this week, it was the pecking order of America’s cities based on their “social networkiness.”  (I made that one up, not Stephen Colbert).  Yes, Mashable reported on […]

Jacobs Media’s digital guy, Tim Davis, is back from SXSW Interactive.  Last week, he summarized the vibe from the conference.  Today, a look at author & thought leader Guy Kawasaki’s presentation… A non-thematic highlight at SXSW was seeing Guy Kawasaki speak about his new book Enchantment.  It’s not tied into some of the overarching themes […]

It is truly hard to believe that in just another week, we launch our 7th annual media and technology survey.  Here in 2011, Techsurvey 7 continues a tradition that was started in 2005.  Last year, 78 stations took part, generating more than 28,000 responses from Classic Rock, Mainstream-Active, Alternative, and Triple A stations. Looking back […]

Even though social media has been with us for a relatively short period of time, its confluence with the mobile movement has created a dual accelerant type of situation.  Social is huge, mobile is huge, and together they’re huger (if you’ll permit to use a word that isn’t really a word). And in the process, […]

If the name of today’s blog post looks a little strange to you, that’s a sign that what happened in Austin last week is something you should know about.  Our digital dude, Tim Davis, is back – a bit tired but inspired – from South By Southwest Interactive.  And here’s a summary of his time […]

Author, speaker, and thought-leader Tom Asacker always has stimulating things to say.  He’s spoken at a couple of our Summits and knows how to work a room. In a recent blog – “Are You All Mad?” – Tom does it again, questioning why organizations are so slow to recognize change and make the necessary adjustments. […]

With apologies to Pat Travers, there may be something very interesting happening to the TV ad sales paradigm that could have a positive impact on radio. The demographic targets may finally be reacting to the Baby Boom generation.  If that sounds totally counter-intuitive, the fact is that agencies essentially stopped thinking once they cemented the […]

I’m back from Canadian Music Week for another convention in cold, rainy Toronto.  I have been to many of these conventions in the Great White North, and I’m always impressed by the enthusiasm and the great attendance they generate. This year, I was proud to present “Goin’ Mobile” to an overfilled meeting room (yes, it was […]

A couple of weeks ago when it was becoming obvious where this was heading, I promised myself I would not blog about Charlie Sheen. And here I am breaking my promise.  But trust me – it’s for a good cause.  Because the ways in which Sheen approaches relationships is a parable to a lot of […]

A couple of weeks ago when it was becoming obvious where this was heading, I promised myself I would not blog about Charlie Sheen. And here I am breaking my promise.  But trust me – it’s for a good cause.  Because the ways in which Sheen approaches relationships is a parable to a lot of […]

Paul Jacobs chimes in with a timely post about NPR’s travails and what they mean to all of radio. When Howard Stern announced his departure to Sirius, Fred noted in a blog that his move was akin to Michael Jordan leaving the NBA, and he was right.  It didn’t matter whether you liked Stern’s brand […]

Rolling Stone is running a promotion that is very similar to what consumers have heard on radio stations for years.  And in the process, they remind us of the value of unsigned bands, and by definition, local music.  But their “Rock & Roll Star” contest goes well beyond the norm. Working with Atlantic Records, AOLMusic.com, […]

In the U.S. where mobile apps rule, if you aren’t carrying an iPhone or Android product, you may be missing out on something very important. Don’t take my word as someone who runs an application development company.  Go to one of the world’s leading authorities on digital and new media business models, Kleiner Perkins’ Mary […]

As many readers of this blog know, I am a big fan of Seth Godin’s writings.  Seth doesn’t give you a road map.  He doesn’t tell you what to do in 10 steps.  He “talks” to you on the pages of his books, now using Kindle and his own publishing company to share his musings and philosophies. His […]

We have talked a great deal about the challenges that many radio stations are facing as they attempt to develop a viable social media strategy, especially given staffing limitations.  Oftentimes, the task of developing a strategy deteriorates into a bunch of tactics (“I’ll be giving away Ozzy tickets today at 4:20”), tweeted and posted by […]