The Jacobs Media Blog

In search of….a new format. Typically, broadcasters end up choosing the same-old formats when its time for a station to rebrand and relaunch. But what if there were opportunities in markets that revolved around different characteristics of a metro population – its ethnicity, its workforce, or its sexual identity? A handful of stations across the U.S. are doing just that – and making it work. Here’s how to “Moneyball” a market.

The theme of the NAB was clearly AI. Will radio make the right calls on this new technology?

Competing in radio is a tough task, whether you’re in Chicago or Chattanooga. And when those ratings numbers actually make you a winner, it’s time to celebrate, right? Except that more often than not these days, radio celebrations have become a rarity as the next book is often underway. A look back and a look ahead to competition….and celebration – one should begat the other.

You know the phrase, “you are what you eat.” The musical version is Don McLean’s question, “Can music change your mortal soul?” Today’s blog post ties together the intersection of music and food, thanks to research guaranteed to surprise and amaze. It turns out what you listen to while you eat can change the taste of your food. Bon appetit.

Newspapers may be dying, but online newsletters are thriving. And a growing list of broadcast radio stations are leaning into this growing trend. In today’s post, we look at how any radio station can create newsletters that engage, grow audiences, and generate revenue. In fact, I’ve got 10 great reasons why online newsletters might be the smartest and easiest content for radio to create.

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a war of words, labels, and blue tick marks brewing between Twitter’s new boss, Elon Musk, and NPR. For the public radio network, this could have a better ending than a pledge drive.

In radio, we often talk about the audience as if it’s a community. In today’s blog post, Seth Resler turns this idea of it side and describes how radio could truly benefit by creating true communities.

On a holiday Friday, it’s the right time for a return trip to the JacoBLOG junk drawer, a great source of buried treasure. And today, I’m digging out those ancient cell phones I retired many years ago. Yes, I’ve got three buzzworthy stories about our favorite gadgets, our lifelines. And while one story goes back to that first cell phone call 50 year ago, another identifies the hottest trend among Gen Z’s. It’s déjà vu all over again.

A friend pulled me aside last week to talk about this blog.  He commented, “You’re really on a tear this year.” And my response was that for radio, it’s already been a tumultuous quarter.  A lot has been going on in and around the radio business.  Much of it is, shall we say, sub-optimal.  Or more to […]

What happens when a century-old American institution installs radical and sweeping rules changes? No, I’m not talking about radio. Major League Baseball has changed the game – literally – providing radio broadcasters with a template for adapting the medium. But systemic change is hard for any “game” that’s been around a long time. So, new season, first inning. Let’s talk about how change might actually look. Play ball!

Be careful because April Fool’s Day is upon us – tomorrow to be exact. It’s an annual tradition where someone in our lives tries to pull one over on us. And many radio stations and their morning shows are all-in, for better and sometimes for worse. But today’s post isn’t about joy buzzers, whoopie cushions, or other gags. It’s about technology whose prime directive is to fool audiences. And of course, that’s proving to be very tempting for many radio execs.

We all love a good research project. It clarifies, illuminates, and provides guidance for programmers and marketers. Until it doesn’t. Because these days, there’s so much data out there, much of it conflicting. And then there’s the interpretation, another place where the truth and objectivity can be shaky. So, today’s blog post breaks it all down, points out a fascinating contradiction, and hopefully helps you get your head around the data.