The Jacobs Media Blog

New data on the music consumers listen to and purchase are showing signs that American tastes may be undergoing great change. These deviations from years past suggest new music discovery has moved away from radio, but is no longer as potent as it once was. Is there an untapped opportunity here for broadcast radio?

New research reveals that looks matter – especially online. Traditionally, radio has been a medium where a great voice used to be a difference maker. A new study speaks volumes about online personas and why they matter. See if your station and your airstaff can pass the test.

Podcasting is on a growth spurt, in spite of the pandemic. But now, there are now more than 2 million podcasts in the marketplace. And thanks to a new initiative by Anchor (owned by Spotify), there could be even more amateur productions to sift through. Is it possible to create and produce a podcast in one hour. Anchor says yes. I say no.

Imagine the commissioner of the U.S. Trademark and Patents Office declared, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” Now consider Charles Duell made that heavy statement back in 1902. In actuality, some of the best innovations today are often reinventions – taking an existing product, turning it on its side, and making it better. Yes, that’s what we have to do for broadcast radio. Today’s post hopefully provides some food for thought.

Great athletes are a job to watch. But as we’re learning, the pressure from the bright lights, the media coverage, and the competition itself can be debilitating. The same may well be true for radio’s “jocks” – the folks behind the mic, sounding bright, upbeat, and engaged – even when their lives have taken a wicked turn. Today’s blog post looks at a tough topic – mental illness – on the field, on the court, on the ice, and on the air.

Over the weekend, Virgin CEO Sir Richard Branson took that long-awaited trip to space. And in the process, he showed what corporate leadership and inspiration are all about. But there’s one accomplishment that has eluded Branson – American radio.

The media landscape gets more crowded and competitive with each passing month. Now, one of the web’s most established players is going back to the drawing board, experimenting with new innovations. Is there a lesson here for radio broadcasters about change and how to communicate it? Stay tuned.

via GIPHY Guest blog post by Mike Stern The art of coaching.  Radio is like any skill – the more you do it, the more adept at it you get.  But with the help of a great coach who can guide you, regular players can move into the upper echelons. In today’s guest blog post, […]

What’s the toughest job in any company? Replacing an iconic and successful leader. That’s the story at Amazon where Jeff Bezos just stepped down, and will be replaced by ______________. Do you even remember his name? Today’s blog post is about succession. Is your replacement on the bench, primed, trained, and ready to go?

Just a few short years ago, Best Buy was getting its breakfast, lunch, and dinner eaten by Amazon. Then their new CEO tried a different line of attack – asking Best Buy’s front line workers for their observations and advice. Could radio apply a similar tactic – listening to its on-air talent – the point of the spear?

Online gambling has become the rage, and now a popular pizza chain is running a national contest based on customers placing a bet. It just could be that opportunity for radio to cash in on a hot trend, while growing the cume and adding much-needed excitement.

There’s a palpable “double-buzz” permeating the auto business. Autonomous and electrification are the technologies poised to change the way we get from point A to point B. How far into the future will it be before these futuristic cars become ubiquitous? We’ve come across new information that suggests it may take longer than most people think. Here’s what they could mean to radio broadcasters.

How many times have you heard that we’re living in the middle of an audio renaissance – this week? While consumers are enjoying audio from myriad sources – radio, streaming, the podcasts, etc. – the ways in which they engage with and pay attention to audio differs greatly. In today’s blog post, brand new eye-opening research that will help you – especially programmers and sellers – into perspective. This one’s big.

Yesterday, Mike McVay wrote an important column about the importance of star talent to radio in this competitive media environment. Today’s blog post takes over where Mike’s story left off, addressing the challenges of retaining rock star personalities.

New innovation is the hope for legacy brands. But sometimes, the best ideas are already on the air at successful radio stations. In the new media environment, smart brands like CNN and NPR are taking existing content and repurposing it into different digital spaces – podcasts, apps, videos, etc. Today’s blog post offers a blueprint for how any radio station can successfully recycle its content to new outlets easily and cost-effectively.

Some radio stations feel like crime scenes. And wouldn’t you know it, True Crime has become a popular podcast genre. And now, a former DJ has combined the best of both worlds – a whodunit suspense novel set in – where else? – a radio station. No spoiler alerts here, but you have to read today’s post to learn how this classic radio mystery turns out.

In the 4+ decades I’ve spent in the radio business, the hue and cry from broadcasters has been the need for better ratings. Now on the TV side, there’s a new measurement product that promises to change the way the medium is bought and sold. Could it happen in radio?

Forward-thinking marketers are now hatching marketing strategies aimed at Gen Z – and even Gen Alpha, their younger siblings. Legacy brands are crafting clever ways to make inroads to these young future consumers, including a radio company that is way ahead of the game.