The Jacobs Media Blog

On the cusp of presenting our two Techsurvey 2020 webinars this week (details in the post), I’m often asked, “But what’s the BIGGEST finding?” from this year’s 46,008 participants. Usually, it has to do with a new technology or gadget, but this is no ordinary year. After much soul-searching and spreadsheet perusing, I’ve come up with what I think is the most important finding. But as we know, research is always in the eye of the beholder.

WTF? No, WFH. That’s because so many radio station staffers are working from home, tasked with entertaining and informing audiences also cooped up in their bungalows, apartments, and condos. This “new normal” requires big adjustments not only in how we do our jobs, but also how we connect with listeners who aren’t in their normal locations. Today’s post lays out how other industries are adjusting, and what radio can do to keep pace.

Next week, Jacobs Media will be presenting Techsurvey 2020 to more than 500 stakeholder stations, as well as a free webinar in partnership with AllAccess. Today’s post provides a great illustration how this data provides direction for commercial radio stations under normal conditions. But in the middle of a crisis unlike any we’ve ever experienced, it becomes even more valuable. Here’s a sneak peak at a key data point, and an invitation to join us for that upcoming webinar.

We’re coming up on one million podcasts. It seems like every A and B-level celebrity has a podcast project. But one of the most iconic – Oprah – is already thinking strategically about how she’s approaching the podcasting challenge. For radio personality itching to start the “next big podcast,” there are some great lessons about what to do – and what not to do.

You may recall the recent story about the Oakland A’s,, eschewing broadcast radio play-by-play for streaming audio on their A’s cast. And now there’s impressive new data about radio’s dominance when it come to carrying live sports. And the kicker? Radio’s performance among young people is even stronger. The good news is a click away.

Last week, Tesla announced a new software update for owners of its older vehicles. This pricey update includes several new video streaming options, but removes AM, FM, and satellite radio from their innovative electric cars. What implications will Tesla’s decisions have on other automakers, and what can radio broadcasters do to ensure it doesn’t become a trend? As we love to say in radio, “Welcome to a Monday.”

As the famous Chinese curse goes, “May you live in interesting times.” None of us can predict the future, and these days, it’s truly an uncertain one. What role can radio play in these challenging times, especially in local markets? And how can broadcast radio use this pivotal moment to craft a different story?

You’ve heard it referred to as “corporate speak” – those cliche terms that are used again and again in conference rooms and meetings all over all over the world. And on the radio, there are those same phrases that announcers and personalities lean on – “crutch phrases” – when normal speech would do. Today’s post looks at what now is being called “garbage language” and how we can make sure we’re not guilty of using it. And by the way, “Welcome to a Thursday.”

When it comes to music discovery, new research indicates a key variable is your parents. And you may be surprised to learn the tastes of these parental influencers – especially the moms. This phenomenon helps to explain some of the demographic anomalies we see in Nielsen ratings.

One marketing book after another seeks to identify so-called “best practices” for brand marketing. But what happens when a heritage company makes a series of mistakes, leaving its brand image in shambles? That’s where Domino’s Pizza sat a decade ago – falling sales, fewer stores, and pizza that tasted like cardboard. How did they find their way back? With a little “radical authenticity.”

Radio and the coronavirus. Just eight weeks ago when we rung in a new year, none of us could have imagined our industry, our communities, and our families would be facing a health crisis that many describe as a potential pandemic. Today, we are starting the conversation with a guest post from promotions savant, Paige Nienaber. For those of you who know him/work with him, he puts away his “fun and games” hat to address how radio can face this demon, and live up to its promise.

With all the polling and behind the scenes research being conducted by all the campaigns, as well as scores of independent, why do so many fail to accurately predict the outcome? If that sounds a lot like the ratings, maybe it’s because we’re often asking the wrong questions and measuring things that have little do with why consumers behave the way they do. Today’s blog post steers away from politics, but makes the point that perceptions are different than reality – in the primaries and in the ratings.

The rise…and fall of major entertainment brands provides a source of learning for radio broadcasters as the industry navigates the rough waters of disruption. Today’s post looks at the travails of NASCAR, once a high-flyer in the sports community that has hit a rough road. And what we in radio can learn from their misfires and mistakes.

If you’ve even been casually following entertainment trends, you know the business model for music artists and groups has been roiled by new tech trends.  It wasn’t that many years ago when owning music was something most people eagerly did.  But not anymore. While streaming services have become more popular, royalties cannot make up for […]