The Jacobs Media Blog

A fascinating sort of "reverse" CGM has recently taken place.  Perhaps you’ve played the game, "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" where contestants have to connect actors and films to Kevin Bacon, who has shown up in an amazing number of films.  Bacon has played alongside stars as diverse as John Belushi, Meryl Streep, and Mos […]

A few years back, you may remember a controversial prediction in Business Week heralding the death of the 30-second TV commercial.  While new media is going nuts, and dominating discussions in board rooms and lunch rooms, the fact is that network television is alive and well. One of the most impactful books to be written […]

A few years back, you may remember a controversial prediction in Business Week heralding the death of the 30-second TV commercial.  While new media is going nuts, and dominating discussions in board rooms and lunch rooms, the fact is that network television is alive and well. One of the most impactful books to be written […]

I recently ran across the following piece in FMQB by John Silliman Dodge, a programmer, a consultant, and the head guy at KBPS in Portland (yes, public radio).  While you may not agree with John’s views about radio’s dilemma, he makes some compelling arguments that are great jumping off points for ongoing corporate strategy sessions. […]

I recently ran across the following piece in FMQB by John Silliman Dodge, a programmer, a consultant, and the head guy at KBPS in Portland (yes, public radio).  While you may not agree with John’s views about radio’s dilemma, he makes some compelling arguments that are great jumping off points for ongoing corporate strategy sessions. […]

As these blogs go, this one may strike you as one of the more "duh" entries we’ve posted, but a recent study by CBS Research confirms what we’ve expected all along:  Web offerings – ringtones, websites, podcasts, mobile features – actually enhance and increase audience for TV programs. You may recall that Coleman/Arbitron project a […]

In just about every technology-oriented study you see these days, multi-tasking is a major topic – and not just among kids.  Everyone does more than one thing at a time, whether it’s watching TV, talking on the phone, or going online.  In fact, a new study from BIGresearch shows that more than two-thirds of American […]

There’s talking the talk, and then there’s walking the walk. Tom Bender and the Greater Media Detroit team are doing the latter with HD Radio.  Last weekend, WRIF gave Detroit area listeners a preview of its HD2 channel, RIFF 2.  On both Saturday and Sunday, when Detroiters tuned to 101.1 they heard RIFF 2 instead […]

I was in New York City a couple of weeks ago, meeting with a variety of different media types (none in radio) over a two-day period.  One of the things that struck me was that every time the topic swung over to radio, there were non-stop complaints and questions about why the nation’s #1 market […]

If you’re like most people doing Rock Radio these days, you’re wondering where the audience is going.  The format trends have not been pretty, and the best you can say is that overall listening is not what it used to be.  You can also see this every week when you look at the charts to […]

Readers of this blog are sadly aware of the passing of Allan Stagg a few weeks back.  Many of you posted some heartfelt memories about Allan.  He touched many lives in radio over his long career.  Now you can help out Allan’s family – five sons who need financial support. If you are so inclined, […]

Like many fads that morph into trends, the rush to give consumers power over just about everything continues to peak as 2007 begins.  Everywhere you look, big brands are deeding creative power over to consumers. It’s amazing that people have time to run errands anymore.  Among other things, we’re asking them to shoot a video […]

In its first issue of 2007, Advertising Age printed a fascinating chart, showing major media market share over time.  Usually these analyses go back a decade or so, but the Ad Age chart compares 2005 spending to the same levels in 1935 – a 70 year time span.  And what a story it tells. Several […]

Peter Ferrara, President & CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance, responded to this morning’s blog, "Where’s Waldo?"  I’ll let Peter’s missive, and attached photos, speak for themselves (see below). It is indeed great to see that the Alliance had considerable activity at the Detroit Auto Show (although honestly, like covering a Rock concert, attendees […]

Peter Ferrara, President & CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance, responded to this morning’s blog, "Where’s Waldo?"  I’ll let Peter’s missive, and attached photos, speak for themselves (see below). It is indeed great to see that the Alliance had considerable activity at the Detroit Auto Show (although honestly, like covering a Rock concert, attendees […]

The Detroit Auto Show (or North American International Auto Show) is running all week, and as you have probably guessed, it’s a huge deal for automakers and consumers.  While not on the scale of the CES, it is a huge event that draws nearly a million Detroit area residents, often in inclement weather conditions. As […]

The Detroit Auto Show (or North American International Auto Show) is running all week, and as you have probably guessed, it’s a huge deal for automakers and consumers.  While not on the scale of the CES, it is a huge event that draws nearly a million Detroit area residents, often in inclement weather conditions. As […]

Reminiscent of those great 1950’s sci-fi films depicting a meteor headed toward earth, radio operators are facing impending ratings trouble.  And like those movies where disaster seems light years away, this one is going to catch radio by surprise. The coming calamity involves Arbitron crediting for streaming radio broadcasts.  The good news is that more […]

Reminiscent of those great 1950’s sci-fi films depicting a meteor headed toward earth, radio operators are facing impending ratings trouble.  And like those movies where disaster seems light years away, this one is going to catch radio by surprise. The coming calamity involves Arbitron crediting for streaming radio broadcasts.  The good news is that more […]

Over the holidays, I happened across a New York Times article about famous one-hit wonder, Norman Greenbaum.  Classic Rockers know him well as the guy who wrote and sang "Spirit In The Sky" in 1969 – and then was never heard from again. While Norman doesn’t have his own English castle, or even a Malibu […]