The Jacobs Media Blog

A much better choice than national and international leaders, Time magazine’s "Person of the Year" is YOU.  Yet another strong indicator that CGM has become more than just a fad.  On the cover of the new issue on newstands, there’s simply a mirror, illustrating that regular folk are using the Internet in ways that once […]

The results are coming out on the online shopping season, and no surprise – it’s up a reported 24% from last year according to comScore.  Walmart.com couldn’t take the web traffic on Black Friday, so that should tell you something about where shoppers are spending time. So why isn’t radio in on the act?  As […]

Jacobs Media clients are only too aware that a number of years ago, I "appropriated" the term, "retail politics," and turned it into "retail radio."  The idea – inspired by Mr. Exit Poll, Larry Rosin – is that the same hand-shaking-and-baby-kissing techniques that work in political contests move the needle in Arbitron ratings, too.  If […]

As regular readers of this blog know, I’m a frequent Starbucks customer.  At a recent visit, I noticed this card at the counter (click the image for a larger version).  And after reading it over, I thought it was just an odd statement of the obvious.  Why would someone need to have Starbucks suggest how […]

You’ve heard that line before.  But in this case, "It’s a zero sum game" refers to a statement that William H. Frey, a Brookings Institution demographer has made about how cities are now competing for young people.  As Boomers retire in droves, metros are faced with the task of attracting the hottest demographic – 25-34 […]

You’ve heard that line before.  But in this case, "It’s a zero sum game" refers to a statement that William H. Frey, a Brookings Institution demographer has made about how cities are now competing for young people.  As Boomers retire in droves, metros are faced with the task of attracting the hottest demographic – 25-34 […]

Some big news from the HD Radio Alliance was their recent announcement that participating broadcasters are upping their advertising commitment to $250 million, up 20% from 2006 levels.  This is impressive, and is indeed a sign that terrestrial radio is getting more serious about making a digital impact with HD. But remember the first thing […]

Headline:  NYMRAD unveils its pro-radio campaign. Finally realizing that it is indeed about PR, the New York Market Radio Association has announced it will kick off an outdoor campaign designed to sell the ad community on the strengths of terrestrial radio. This is a long overdue, but smart, realization that if we’re going to change […]

Whether you think Microsoft’s new Zune is a joke or a serious competitor to iPod, you have to love and appreciate the battle that J Allard is waging against Steve Jobs.  While it’s hard to think about Microsoft as an underdog to any company, the fact that Apple now owns 85% of the music download […]

Whether you think Microsoft’s new Zune is a joke or a serious competitor to iPod, you have to love and appreciate the battle that J Allard is waging against Steve Jobs.  While it’s hard to think about Microsoft as an underdog to any company, the fact that Apple now owns 85% of the music download […]

eWhen was the last time you heard someone say THAT?  Probably about a year ago, when Howard was still broadcasting his show on FM radio.  Despite being able to say the "7 dirty words" whenever he wants, no one is talking about the show anymore. And despite all the Sirius advertising that is bombarding us […]

eWhen was the last time you heard someone say THAT?  Probably about a year ago, when Howard was still broadcasting his show on FM radio.  Despite being able to say the "7 dirty words" whenever he wants, no one is talking about the show anymore. And despite all the Sirius advertising that is bombarding us […]

In a full-page advertisement in a recent Sunday edition of the New York Times, Yoko Ono implored the world to celebrate the anniversary of her husband’s death as a day of worldwide healing.  A nice thought, and one that radio could most definitely embrace. Over the years, Yoko has become a morning show punchline.  You […]

"New ways of listening to music means that radio is confronted with a crisis as big as the one in the golden age of traditional radio, when television exploded in popularity." While this sounds like something an observer of American radio might say, the quote actually comes from Pierre Bellanger, a French broadcaster, who operates […]

You can look at the proliferation of iPods as both a curse and a blessing.  It’s true that on the one hand, all those Apple iPods move users away from radio and toward alternative entertainment sources.  But there is an "other hand."  As a result of the growing legions of consumers walking around with mp3 […]

Have you heard the term "Wireless Substitution?"  It’s the technical way of referring to the act of dropping one’s landline and going totally wireless.  In radio jargon, we know at as "Cell Phone Only." A new study by Telephia now breaks down the percent of "wireless substitution" in the Top 20 markets – and there […]

Nope, it’s not the replacement for Opie & Anthony, but a couple of dead coaches who came alive as Michigan dueled Ohio State to determine college football supremacy.  (Yes, I am still licking my maize and blue wounds, but it was one helluva game.)  It’s interesting that in all the press coverage and hype surrounding […]

Nope, it’s not the replacement for Opie & Anthony, but a couple of dead coaches who came alive as Michigan dueled Ohio State to determine college football supremacy.  (Yes, I am still licking my maize and blue wounds, but it was one helluva game.)  It’s interesting that in all the press coverage and hype surrounding […]

Radio’s twists and turns get more interesting by the week, as the industry continues to seek out definition… And answers. Case in point:  Independent station owner, Bud Walters.  He owns WBUZ in Nashville, a station that is up against many of the big boys in a very competitive Rock market.  The Buzz was one of […]

Radio’s twists and turns get more interesting by the week, as the industry continues to seek out definition… And answers. Case in point:  Independent station owner, Bud Walters.  He owns WBUZ in Nashville, a station that is up against many of the big boys in a very competitive Rock market.  The Buzz was one of […]