The Jacobs Media Blog

This morning's post comes from Mike Stern, former Jacobs Media consultant, and all-round great radio guy.  Here is Mike's "take" on another auto/technology breakthrough – and what it could mean for broadcast radio: It’s always the fine print that gets you; that one line at the end of a big announcement that seems innocuous but isn’t.  […]

This morning's post comes from Mike Stern, former Jacobs Media consultant, and all-round great radio guy.  Here is Mike's "take" on another auto/technology breakthrough – and what it could mean for broadcast radio: It’s always the fine print that gets you; that one line at the end of a big announcement that seems innocuous but isn’t.  […]

The recession has taken a toll on many aspects of the media business.  But you could make the case that brands  have suffered the most. You can see this by expanding your view to consumer products.  Many venerable brands have taken a beating due to a variety of factors, ranging from neglect, a lack of […]

Do you remember that old story about the snake?    A little kid is walking home from school, and sees a snake.  The snake looks up and says, "Hey, would you play with me?  It's lonely here just lying in the grass.  Don't worry – I won't bite you."  The kid thinks about it.  The snake looks […]

Is it any wonder that the record industry is in deep trouble?  Like other "old media" sectors, the establishment music industry has made one lame decision after another.  And it continues to lay the blame for its troubles in all the wrong places. On this blog, we have devoted considerable space to questioning the logic […]

A funny thing happened on an investor/analyst call recently.  CBS head honcho Les Moonves was effusive about his company's revenue forecast.  But even more interesting was this statement about the company's radio division: “Radio’s steady improvement is not only a result of an improving economy, but our focus on programming is instrumental as well.”  Tack that […]

A funny thing happened on an investor/analyst call recently.  CBS head honcho Les Moonves was effusive about his company's revenue forecast.  But even more interesting was this statement about the company's radio division: “Radio’s steady improvement is not only a result of an improving economy, but our focus on programming is instrumental as well.”  Tack that […]

I'm a sucker for quizzes, whether they're online or in magazines like Esquire or even Cosmo.  There's a reason why morning shows on slow days thrive on these things – we all are curious about testing ourselves.  So here's today's quiz question:  What's your digital age? This is more than a good question – it […]

I'm a sucker for quizzes, whether they're online or in magazines like Esquire or even Cosmo.  There's a reason why morning shows on slow days thrive on these things – we all are curious about testing ourselves.  So here's today's quiz question:  What's your digital age? This is more than a good question – it […]

The Internet is famous for stumbling upon something interesting while you're looking for a completely different thing. That happened to Ralph during a recent search at Facebook.  He ran across 900,000 pissed off radio listeners. What are they angry about? It's simple.  They're outraged about stations that don't identify artists and titles of the songs […]

There's nothing special about February 24.  Just another winter day on the calendar in the middle of the most boring quarter of the year. But five years ago today, this blog was born, thanks to the encouragement (and cajoling) of our Tim Davis.  At the time, we decided that in order for it to become […]

It is interesting how some of the most prescient observations about society and culture over the decades have come from sci-fi writers and cartoonists.  If you read the graphic novel, Watchman, (much better than the film), you know what I'm talking about.  Today's mind-blower comes courtesy of radio whizguy and Conclave cheerleader Jay Philpott:  "Betty" […]

You've probably heard them, too – lots of smart radio ads for Constant Contact, the email marketing company that enables small businesses and organizations to create email marketing campaigns. I know lots of people who use Constant Contact, and I often look at the bottom of email blasts I receive to see whether the company […]

Most of us know from personal experience, and from reading umpteen research surveys, that Facebook is a mega-force in the way that people now interface with one another.  And the social networking monster continues to permeate older demos as they share observations, stories, pictures, music, and everything else on their walls.   But if Facebook is […]

A recent story in The New York Times highlighted that famous Vh1 promotion back in the '80s where they gave away 36 Corvettes – from the very first model in 1953 all the way to the current year (1989) sports car.  For a bit more than a million dollars, that much-buzzed about promotion helped put […]

One of the casualties of the media recession is that so many companies have had to lay off great employees.  Left to hold down the fort are often managers struggling to get it all done.  Radio was never designed for programmers to oversee two or more stations, do an airshift, and update the website, but […]

Today's post is from Jacobs Media's talent maven, Keith Cunningham.  While it may surprise you, he's an Oprah fan, and here's why: OK, I know what you’re thinking:  “Keith, you’re a rock guy.  What can we possibly learn from the queen of daytime television?”  Well, over my years of coaching radio personalities, I’ve kept a […]

Don't say we didn't warn you.  Pandora's Tim Westergren has been gunning for broadcast radio for some time now.  And he doesn't hide it.  He comes right out and tells everyone that Pandora's goal is to replace traditional radio as we know it.  He hosts town hall meetings (I attended a packed one here in […]

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may be thinking, "Enough already with this Super Bowl." But when a single sporting event attracts more viewers than any other show in the history of television, generating approximately $3 million per :60 commercial, you'll have to indulge me for one more post. That's because with […]

Toyota is going through hell right now, and in the typical frenzy that occurs in these media crazy times, they have become the butt of jokes, from late night talk hosts to YouTube.   We can all sit on the sidelines and snicker, but the fact is, anyone who manages a company or station should get […]