The Jacobs Media Blog

We frequently hear the question, “What is your digital strategy?” But for radio broadcasters, the Holy Grail is the confluence of the old and new, the traditional and the digital, the terrestrial product and the stream and its outlets As companies seek their solutions that will generate profits and move the stock price, certain historic, time-honored truths continue to re-emerge. Radio broadcasters would be wise to deliver on their message.

These days, it’s not uncommon to hear someone utter the cringeworthy phrase: “No one listens to the radio anymore.” But take comfort, radio types, because a highly popular global brand is going through the same uncomfortable ordeal – and it’s fighting back with marketing aimed at turning those perceptions around. For a first look at this campaign, click here, and let’s get the new week started.

While radio programming has become a more technical endeavor the decades, one thing hasn’t changed; basic age and sex demographics that don’t do justice to the complexity and richness of audience affinity groups. Now a music analytics company has developed exciting analytics in the form of personas to better describe target audience groups. Today’s blog post gives you a good luck at the five music personas, along with a quick quiz to determine which one you fall into. Game?

What IS local news and why does it matter? Is it school board meetings, cultural activities, election coverage, or a combination of these things – and more? While many mainstream media companies struggle with their news budgets, a surprising new group of journalists is ready to grab the golden ring and make local journalism their driving force. And some of them may be living in your home.

Are we headed into a recession? What does that portend for the local retail landscape, especially as we come out of COVID. Paul Jacobs takes a look at the current environment, and lays out a strategic plan that hopefully gets the juices flowing – and hopefully, the cash registers ringing.

It’s still early January, but rock n’ roll heaven is one occupant larger with the passing of guitar god Jeff Beck. His passing is a reminder of the music’s transcendent appeal not just on the radio airwaves but our entire entertainment culture. Today’s post bring you three stories from that well-traveled Classic Rock highway.

It’s every programmer’s dilemma. An on-air talent has been let go, and the question of engineering that departure is on the table. Does talent get a last show to say good-bye, offering some closure? Or is it always better to simply sever the relationship, get a replacement behind the mic and just move on? Just like when Netflix or a TV network cancels a once-popular show, there are decisions to make. So how will you make them?

In business, we’re taught to focus on “best practices,” the tried-and-true tricks of the trade with a proven track record of winning. But in our fast-paced world of media and tech companies, studying “worse practices” – what not to do – can be even more instructive. During the past six months, we’ve been given a cautionary tale that can help any brand avoid the sand traps, speed bumps, and strategic black holes. It’s a perfect topic for a Monday morning.

For some businesses – and lots of radio stations – January has the reputation for being a slow month. Alas, not for Jacobs Media.  Last week we not only made the trek to Vegas for CES, but launched Techsurvey 2023 during the same week.  A cliché, perhaps, but a company is only as good as […]

the most innovative automotive feature wasn’t in the exhibit halls of CES2023. It was on the spreadsheets of the automakers, and it might provide recurring revenue. Say hello to microtransactions.

Cars continue to be a focal point at CES 2023. They are so much more than how we get from Point A to Point B. Cars are sanctuary, and during COVID, often the safest place. These days, there’s never been a time when the driving experience has been more central to how we live our lives and the media we use – like radio.