The Jacobs Media Blog

In our overcommunicated world, media get blamed for a lot of society’s woes. As a medium that’s been around for a century, radio is no stranger to the “Blame Game.” But as I discovered, the list of radio’s potential damaging effects on society is longer than you might think. If you’re in radio, you may have some ‘splainin’ to do.

Generalizing about generations is never a good thing. But in the media environment in which we live, an understanding of Gen Z and why it matters to radio broadcasters has never been more critically important. Here’s why I’ve learned along the way.

Notice how I didn’t use the phrase, “old dog,” in today’s headline. That was both out of respect for my canine friends, but also a nod to “classic” franchises – brands that have been around for as long as most of us have been alive.  And they’re still going strong. When you’re one of those […]

The media world is changing rapidly, and broadcasters have important decisions to make. Often, it feels like we’re drowning in data, and yet many feel they don’t have the insights they need. I’ve learned that a different cut of the data can often provide more definitive results. But that doesn’t make it easy. Today’s blog post takes you “backstage” into the data surgical suite. It may not be pretty but I think you’ll find it interesting.

A bold new TV campaign for a British radio station leans heavily into the smart speaker opportunity. But that’s not the only thing innovative about it. This is a radio station whose parent company is investing in television marketing. For broadcast radio, it doesn’t get much bolder than that.

Today is one of those “good news / bad news” days on JacoBLOG. The bad news is that being a “news junkie” these days can be harmful to your health. The good news is that for music stations, it can be a great motivation to tune in and escape. Today’s post breaks down new research, including just released PRTS 2022 data, to help you make sense of the situation. That’s the good news.

If you’ve every mistranslated Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” lyric into “S’cuse me while I kiss this guy,” this Friday blog post is for you.

Media personalities come and go, but today’s blog post stories of a greying anchorwoman who lost her gig and a twentysomething former night jock who only wants to entertain on the radio airwaves will open your eyes. These stories that have sprouted up around the 25-54 year-old margins speak volumes about how talented personalities are trying to navigate an increasingly difficult space. I know you’ll have thoughts on these fascinating broadcasting tales.

One of the hardest positioning feats many of us face is changing the entrenched perceptions owned by a tired, old brand – especially when the negatives outnumber the good deeds. But the tools are there for the taking, especially in the social space. And smart brands are developing social strategies that can successfully change hearts and minds. Radio, are you listening?

A new term gaining popularity in workplace circles is “quiet quitting.” For some, it’s the quiet pursuit of that elusive work-live balance. For others, it’s playing the delay game on a boring or bad paying job as an unhappy employee seeks greener pastures. But what about radio? Who are the “quiet quitters” and is anybody serious about attaining a work-live balance? Keep reading.

If you work in radio for a station that plays (or played) new music, you likely know how arduous it’s become finding new hits to play. And if you’ve seen a music test lately, odds are those song scores aren’t what they used to be. A new analysis by a UK research firm may have uncovered some of the key variables that define the new music landscape.