The Jacobs Media Blog

We’ve become used to megatrends in the worlds of media and technology: data, Artificial Intelligence, audio. All have become part of our daily conversation. But another emergent wave in broadcasting is M.A.P.s – mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. Hardly a day goes by anymore when we’re not reading about one. So, what do they mean to a traditional industry like radio, and what can we expect to happen next?

Spotify is hell-bent on becoming the dominant audio platform in the most competitive of environments. Apple, YouTube, iHeart, and Audacy are all vying for the same turf. Spotify continues to innovate in the space, but there’s one area they cannot crack. And it belongs to broadcast radio.

Let’s take a short trip in the Wayback Machine – back to December 2017.  Paul and I were about to leave Detroit for our annual sojourn to Las Vegas and the sensory overload of CES 2018. We were just beginning to tour radio executives around the exhibit floor, Eureka Park, and other highlights of that […]

Technology marches on…or does it? In today’s post, a look at three media/platforms written off for dead that are now on the comeback trail. But just like a great radio show, there’s a fourth “kicker story” that just might take radio in to the future. What kind of future? We’ll have to see…or hear.

Everyone has experienced a different career journey. For many, the road has had its share of bumps and side trips. For a few, it’s been a relatively easy ride. But we all could have benefitted from the perspective we have now. Imagine being able to give your young self some advice from your perch today. Here’s what I would tell my early radio Fred.

Its coming up on that time of year – when we kick back and lean into countdowns. Those end-of-the-year lists intrigue us. And now Netflix is getting into the act. Today’s post looks at the godfather of countdowns, Casey Kasem, who explains why they work. Who’s #1?

Black Friday has become the ultimate test for local retailers. Are they providing a great customer experience? Do they have a robust ecommerce platform in place? Are they meeting their customers where they are? New research shows consumers tend to trust hometown businesses, but there’s a catch. Today’s post looks at what retailers are going through, and the obvious analogies to local radio.

These days, most radio stations are in a battle to get attention. In an overcluttered world of media, it’s increasingly harder to break through. That’s why there’s the “Two Guys Sitting A Bar Test” – where one turns to the other to talk about something truly amazing on the local radio airwaves. Two of those moments occurred this past week. And to pass my own test, did you hear about them?

We are indeed living in strange, highly polarized times. Whether it’s in the halls of Congress, the courts, or the airwaves, there are very different ideas about what’s truth, what’s fantasy, and what’s utter nonsense. Earlier in the week, controversial talk show host, Alex Jones, suffered high profile defeats in a series of lawsuits filed by a group of Sandy Hook parents. Will radio feel any collateral damage? Stay tuned.

It’s not just in radio. Marketers in all industries struggle to find just the right language to position their brands and services. A new research study frames the dilemma, pointing to simple solutions that are both efficient and inexpensive. How confident are you in your station’s positioning language? In a world of SEO and AI, words matter more than ever.

You want some social media “best practices?” I’ve got ’em right here. The challenge? How do you manage the social media department for the worst team in professional sports – bar none? That’ what the social media team for the Detroit Lions faces every week. And it turns out, they are among the best in the NFL. Here’s how they’re pulling off a digital miracle, and how your radio station can do it, too.