The Jacobs Media Blog

2020 has been a crazy year, making it especially challenging for trend watchers to get their heads around where pop culture is heading. On the music front, it’s been just as challenging, as the music and radio industries deal with stagnation and a dearth of big hits. But one trend that’s flowering this year is the proliferation of cover songs. Whether you call them “remakes” or “reboots,” everyone is doing a cover. The results, however, range from fantastic to embarrassing. Today’s provides a look and a listen.

Nine years ago, Tim Cook replaced Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. And during that time, the value of Apple has quintupled. The art of choosing and grooming a successor is one of the most important tasks a manager undertakes, whether you’re making smartphones or radio. What are the key qualities for “who’s next” and how can executive teams ensure the best choice is made?

One of America’s leading think tanks, the Brookings Institution, has recently updated its demographic profile of America. And the results may shock you. They certainly run against the grain of broadcast radio’s aging trajectory, and they provide a challenge to those of us working in radio today.

These days, the little gestures of appreciation and gratitude can go a long way. In radio, the angst, anguish, and stress are everyday occurrences. So when a video thank-you note ended up in my email box, it was a welcome message. The pandemic may be global and its impact may be sweeping. Yet, even in this environment, it is a lesson that from small things, big things one day come.

Every business enterprise – including broadcasting groups and individual stations – are carrying around brand baggage that can obscure success. Coke’s CEO, James Quincey, calls them “zombie brands,” and his company eliminated more than 275 of them in the first six months of 2019. How can we look at our own businesses to assess where our efforts are being misspent – and where we can focus our resources to ensure our best brands get the support they deserve?

2020 has already seen many heritage brands – from Lord & Taylor to Hertz – call it quits. In today’s post, marketer – and optimist – Simon Sinek offers up three great pieces of advice to companies. But my favorite? Treat your business like a startup. And thanks to the pandemic, we have the perfect excuse to do just that. What if radio didn’t exist, and we were launching it from scratch? Here’s what that might look like.

One of the stories we’ve been following in this crazy year of sports was the Oakland A’s opting to go “all-digital” on their play-by-play coverage. To expand their fan base, they became the first team without a broadcast radio partner. Six games into the shortened season, that all changed. Yes, this story has a happy radio ending.

Like so many other facets of our world, COVID-19 has accelerated trends that were already in place.  Millions were working out at home on Peloton bikes (and similar systems) pre-pandemic.  But now, this fitness regiment has become a trend. It’s the same thing with tele-health, virtual meetings, and work from home. And in the world […]

During COVID-19, time seems to be moving along at a very odd pace. Most of us are busy, and yet, also experiencing idle time. Even quiet time. Gary Vaynerchuk – better known as Gary Vee – has some advice about how to best use some of this pandemic time. And I took the liberty of adding some insights of my own. I hope you’ll find them a good use of your time.

Only the pandemic could have created an entirely new line of clothing. But whether it’s a fashion statement or the latest tech toy, smart mask are just around the corner. And for radio, a tweak or two could make masks very useful.

In an already crazy year, the advertiser boycott against Facebook has picked up steam, disrupting millions and millions of dollars of ad and marketing spend. But how can radio broadcasters cash in? More often than not, when one door closes, another one opens. In today’s post, Paul Jacobs breaks down Mark Zuckerberg’s mountain of angst, and lays out a pathway for local radio broadcasters to follow.

For decades, the radio industry has tested music the same way: using short hooks and simple popularity scales. But now, a new research study reveals there are other important factors behind music preference that go beyond a song having a good beat or being liked more older respondents versus younger ones. It’s about personality – the traits of the artist and the fan. And it’s a fascinating window into why music partisans think the way they do, and its implications on radio formats. programmers.

When we read about music stars these days, it is more often than not a scandal, an absurdity, a 75th birthday, a visit to rehab, or sadly, an untimely death. True, many have supported any number of causes with free concerts, a timely tweet or two, or even a big check. And then there’s Dave […]

Sports radio stations are especially thrilled the shortened MLB season kicks off tonight. There won’t be crowds, but there will be “crowd noise,” thanks to innovative video game technology. It’s a reminder of the paramount importance of audio to the entertainment experience. Play ball!

Fascinating new music sales data indicate consumers are growing more likely to support artists and groups that are “local” – that is, that hail from their home countries. And a new initiative by Amazon represents the importance of emerging new music. This could have key implications for local radio, and stations trying to find a niche in their markets, especially during these challenging times.

A love story trilogy about radio featuring three amazing pioneers who have never technically worked in the industry. Chances are, you’ve never heard of this trio, but their stories will remind you of why you love radio, whether you’re on the air, selling time, doing digital, or you’re on the outside looking in.

Last week, it was SiriusXM in our cross-hairs. Today’s post looks at Spotify’s recent moves to bolster its portfolio and strengthen its in-home presence as usage patterns change before our very eyes. Their acquisition of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast is one of many moves the Swedish-based audio streaming company has made. What does that tell us about strategic planning in the midst of the pandemic and what message does it send to radio broadcasters about the changing state of play?

As we know too well, good ratings or bad ratings are often in the eye of the beholder. And these days, when digital consumption of “radio” continues to rise in importance, it’s become increasingly difficult to assess precisely how listenership has changed since COVID-19 has invaded our lives. That’s been especially true with recent analyses of how public radio has performed since the outbreak. Even inside NPR, there are differing opinions. So, in today’s post, we attempt to straighten it all out.

With each passing day, many of us are thinking about the many lost opportunities in 2020 due to the pandemic. Because of COVID, young people planning on a career in radio or in the early stages of their careers are missing out on much-needed education, mentoring, and guidance. Last weekend, a simple question was asked on Facebook that blew up into a lengthy discussion about radio fundamentals. That discussion continues in today’s blog, hopefully one that will get you thinking about that next generation of radio professionals.