The Jacobs Media Blog

Today, radio PDs have unprecedented pressure. They often wear multiple hats, and most have little in the way of support staffs. They often put in long days, and may wonder when they head home, what they actually accomplished that day. So, the ideas is to focus on accomplishing just ONE thing that improves their station every day. I’ve put together a healthy list, but I bet many of you can easily add to it. What’s the ONE thing you can do that would make your station better today?

Radio swag has become a throwaway item for most radio stations these past few decades, the first item cut from every budget. In fact, many stations have totally put the brakes on producing branded T-shirts, hats, and other stuff because they feel it has no ROI. Jacobs Media’s Seth Resler has gone to school on this topic, and reached the conclusion that station swag is an undervalued community building tool that can build brands and social identity. Today’s post makes a great point — for radio, it’s more than just growing your listeners. It’s about giving them the opportunity to make a statement about who they are and what they stand for.

All the radio vital signs continue to tell us broadcast revenue is “meh,” while the digital trajectory continues to rise. But not every marketer believes that’s a given. And in fact one expert has recently stepped up to ask why radio is consistently overlooked, undervalued, and underrated. His remarks are just what we need at the end of a long week to remind us of radio’s value – and why so much money is being left on the table. Bon appetit.

One thing about radio – even during the last dozen or so years of economic strife and a global pandemic – music research has endured. Stations and companies continue to incessantly play hooks and test music genres. And the industry is blessed with visionaries like Guy Zapoleon and Sean Ross, who always have their fingers on the pulse of music and popular trends. But there’s one genre -and it’s not new – that has snuck up in the last year without the least bit of cacophony or warning. And it’s been here all along – at least for the past few centuries.

Under the best of circumstances, carving out a solid career in radio is no easy task. Now imagine you have an impairment – like the loss of eyesight. Yesterday, we talked about the value of being clear-eyed and forward-looking. Today, it’s two truly amazing stories of overcoming the odds to achieve success despite blindness.

Now more than ever, we need “that vision thing” to help us navigate our way through the minefield of new technology and innovation. But in order to truly see the road ahead, we have to train our minds to take in what’s around us, without getting dismissive or defensive. It’s a real skill, and it’s something all of us in the media business need to work on. To get the new week off to a good start, today’s blog post is intended to be an eye-opener. And it’s caffeine-free. Dig in.

I’m just back from the world-famous Country Radio Seminar in Nashville with a drawer-full of ideas, observations, and thoughts. I got the chance to meet a lot of engaged radio people talking about chat bots, music, and the state of the industry. Today’s blog post takes you backstage to CRS – and of course, Music City.

As the weirdness of 2023 meanders on, it’s becoming clear the metrics that now matter for radio broadcasters. While earnings calls may fall under the banner of “Same as it ever was,” the KPI – or Key Performance Indicator, as CFOs love to call them – is now transcending revenue, profits, and margins. Sure, growth […]

Classic Rock CURRENTS? Talk about oxymorons. But that’s the theme of today’s post. I’ve got a buzzworthy 6-pack of them for you this morning, a TikTok video, a couple of mind-blowing vintage Classic Rock performances, and other fun facts that will entertain and amaze. After all, it’s a Friday and it’s been a long week – perfect for a lighter, positive radio point of view. Enjoy.

In recent years, we’ve learned how technology can disrupt radio listening. But we’ve also experienced how digital innovation can add to the industry’s bottom line. In recent weeks, AI chat bots have dominated the conversation. But what if the next game-changer in radio isn’t about gadgetry or algorithms at all? What if it hinges on how, when, and where we work? The 4-day workweek is coming, and it is sure to impact the ways in which we program and market our stations.

In a highly charged, competitive environment, does broadcast radio still have any “special sauce” on the shelf. I have good news to start the new week – analysis and data that suggest the answers have been under our collective noses all along. Give it a read and then give me your thoughts.

Perhaps you’ve heard the term “mensch” before, perhaps wondering exactly how it’s defined. I may have just figured it out.