The Jacobs Media Blog

Many pop culture icons are celebrating their 50th anniversaries in 2021. But none may be more memorable in the annals of pop culture than Marvin Gaye’s haunting anthem, “What’s Going On.” It was a statement about the life and times in America back in 1971. The fact music with a societal message is so absent during our contemporary troubled times says a great deal about the state of the music and radio broadcasting industries.

Alexa may be the most popular smart speaker voice, but her identity is a mystery. Who is the person behind that voice? Now, an investigative reporter thinks he has found the answer. And given that so many of you who read this blog are audio professionals, I figured YOU would be best qualified to make the call. Give the audio sample a good listen, and then vote. Together, we’ll solve this hi-tech conundrum.

The next time someone complains about radio’s homogeneity or that there’s no innovation left, you might want to tell them about Podcast Radio. Like the name implies, it’s a mashup of radio broadcasting and podcasting, showcasing the best of both. Our Seth Resler sat down with Podcast Radio’s Paul Chantler, and got the details. Would it work in the U.S.?

AI – or Artificial Intelligence – is a rapidly expanding technology that connects us with goods and services we’re apparently compatible with (“If you like this…”). On online dating services, it’s about matching us up with other people. And now a dating app startup is basing its AI engine on music tastes. Is it the “secret sauce” of personal compatibility?

As fast as radio had to retool and rethink every aspect of its operations last year, 2021 may go down as the beginning of a remarkable period in time.

Most research shows that contests don’t test very well. Still, most stations still do them – because they work. Now, the state of Ohio has launched the most important contest of the year – one designed to save lives. Today’s blog post looks at why those of us in radio should be carefully watching Ohio’s “weeklies” – the percentage of those who have had the vaccines, as well as new COVID cases. Stay tuned.

America is turning the corner on the pandemic. Now it’s time to get people back to work. And that could be an effort where broadcast radio plays a huge role. New research reveals radio could provide solutions to the nation’s job crisis. And now, format level data shows us just what those job seekers are listening to.

If you have a good PD, chances are he or she’s a “control freak.” Programmers thrive on routine, habit, discipline, and seasonal patterns that dictate how people listen to radio throughout the day or the year. But thanks to the pandemic, life has been disrupted. And that requires new sensibilities and different ways of communicating and connecting with audiences. Fourteen months into COVID, and we’re still trying to figure it out.

If you’ve been avoiding news during much 0f 2021, you’re not alone. It’s an issue being faced by news media outlets across the spectrum. But are consumers truly repelled by the news OR the way it is being presented and produced? A conversation by trusted personalities – your morning show – might be just what the audience wants.

NPR turned 50 last week. And now that the fun and frivolity are in the past, the hard work of planning the next era of public radio is at hand. And that means attracting a younger, more diverse audience – a heavy lift. But there’s an ambitious plan in place, and it should be of interest to every broadcaster in America, whether they run Geico ads or underwriting announcements for foundations.

When your morning show or radio stations gets up there in years, it becomes far more challenging to keep it fresh and relevant. That’s the challenge facing Lorne Michaels, executive producer of 46 year-old “Saturday Night Live.” Last weekend, he took a risk by booking industrialist and innovator, Elon Musk. It’s a similar challenge facing your station and your personality show – cutting through and generating buzz.

Some of audio’s biggest personalities are weighing an important question: cash vs. cume. Podcaster Joe Rogan is the latest to test the tradeoff when he inked an exclusive deal with Spotify last year. But there’s precedence in the name of Howard Stern, and his exit from broadcast to satellite radio in 2006. Does moving to a smaller platform translate to a loss of relevance. Today’s blog post have the numbers.

An issue that has been bubbling under in radio circles revolves around how radio LOOKS in cars. Metadata – the information that provides artist, title, and album art – has the potential to be so much more. Automakers are investing heavily in their dashboard displays. If radio is to keep pace, it must develop smart, savvy metadata standards and practices. The guy who knows more about that topic than perhaps anyone else in the industry – Roger Lanctot – is our featured guest in today’s JacoBLOG. Buckle up.

The very visible war between Apple and Facebook over how our personal data is used just reached a new level. A new iPhone update may change the way consumers will deal with apps and data collection. Any media brand that relies on our digital footprints to sell ads should be paying attention to what’s going on – and why it’s a 2021 Clash of the Tech Titans.

Podcasting is at the foundation of the “audio renaissance,” as more and more broadcasters cram into the space in hopes of cashing in. But media pundits often overlook some of the truths about podcasting that are “inconvenient” – how many are really listening, podcast ads, and podcasting’s impact on broadcast radio.

While not every radio brand has the tools, the staff, or the money to compete against Facebook, Amazon, Google, or Spotify, they do have a powerful weapon: social acknowledgment. And we start the new week with a fun object lesson in just how far interacting with a single fan can take a baseball team – or a radio station – that’s tuned-in, engaged, and in the moment. Play ball.

This week, I’ve been treated to an aural experience I haven’t witnessed in over a year.  I heard sounds that I thought I had forgotten. Slowly but surely, our mobile app company – jacapps – is stirring.  Their workforce is beginning to return to our office space.  And the result? Laughter. It’s been awhile.  Probably […]

As we emerge from the depths of COVID, both the video and audio industries are suffering from the same malady – a lack of hits. In radio, it has taken its toll on formats once famous for playing and breaking new music. Today’s blog post features new data and new ideas to ensure 2021 is truly a great year for music – and radio.

The world of podcasting seems to be morphing by the moment, as one tech/media giant after another has announced new initiatives and acquisitions. What does this mean to “the little guy – or gal” just trying to make a sustainable living with their podcast? Today’s blog post takes a hard look at where podcasting is headed in 2021, and what it means to radio broadcasters jockeying for position.

Jeff Bezos walked out of Amazon last week, leaving behind a manifesto about running a business (and a career). Love him or loathe him, Bezos’ purchase of a legacy media brand – the Washington Post – provides lessons for all of us in radio about what it means to not only to thrive, but to survive in the media maelstrom. I’ve always been taught, “Learn from the best,” and for Bezos, it has always been more than just amassing capital.