The Jacobs Media Blog

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 […]

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 […]

Today we’ve got a guest blog from Jacobs Media’s Tim Davis: That’s a quote from CBS President Les Moonves, from the CES in Vegas this week.  According to Moonves "The days of old media and new media are over.  Now, it’s just media."  And the fact that HE’S speaking at the CES, along with Disney’s […]

Today we’ve got a guest blog from Jacobs Media’s Tim Davis: That’s a quote from CBS President Les Moonves, from the CES in Vegas this week.  According to Moonves "The days of old media and new media are over.  Now, it’s just media."  And the fact that HE’S speaking at the CES, along with Disney’s […]

How can I describe living in Detroit to someone who’s never resided here before?  It’s a lot like having a lazy, out of work, but loveable, kind-hearted relative move in with you.  They get on your nerves, they make you crazy, but you realize that they’re family and in some way, they deserve your help.  […]

"Wow" was the word that our Internet Specialist, Tim Davis, used to describe Steve Jobs’ presentation of the new Apple iPhone, and other innovations.  If you know Tim like I do, that’s an impressive reaction to a new piece of technology. Jobs made a major announcement at MacWorld in San Francisco yesterday and the iPhone […]

r Imagine you’re a reporter for a major newspaper or TV network.  It’s early January, and there are trade shows going on for two of America’s largest industries.  One is in a warm, glitzy Sun Belt city.  It’s a trade show for a hot industry, one that consumers are buzzing about.  Articles will appear on […]