The Jacobs Media Blog

Concert festivals have become an immensely popular format for live music. But a weekend full of entertainment on multiple stages can set the family budget back. Now promoters have come up with a novel way of purchasing tickets that might just work for radio.

Whether you’re a radio station, a TV series, or a professional football team, every traditional brand now has the opportunity to build out their great content on an ever-expanding array of platforms. The newest entry may surprise you. The storied Green Bay Packers have built a remarkable piece of digital content that may soon be the envy of the NFL. And maybe radio.

Mascots have been connected with brands for more than a century. And these days, they’re bigger and more ubiquitous then ever. In radio, mascots have long been part of the medium’s history, but in a world turbocharged by video, social media, and even street presence, these cute, furry, clever brand symbols can positively differentiate and grab attention for radio stations that want to stand out.

The topic of whether headphone listening is accurately measured as heated up in recent years, especially after the PPM methodology came on-line. Now, Nielsen is taking steps to account for these lost quarter-hours, but will it make a difference in the average station’s ratings? Radio listening has faced major headwinds over the past decade, as competition has heated up from streaming, podcasting, and satellite radio. How will the addition of headphone listening even up the playing field?

As radio stations roll out content on new platforms like mobile apps, smart speakers, and podcasts, it’s essential to communicate these features to audience (and advertisers). Today’s blog post takes a look at tools that any station can produce – “explainer videos” – that are bite-sized tutorials easily marketed and shared. We’ve got great examples of how and why these works.

If you think the radio business is competitive, consider what’s going on in the video streaming industry. Netflix was the first mover, but it is now feeling the heat from Hulu and Amazon, along with exciting new entrants like Disney and Apple. Today’s blog post reveals the Netflix strategy after reporting disappointing quarterly results – a plan that should be of interest to every radio manager and owner.

Thanks to myriad digital media outlets, the advertising and marketing environment is more confusing than ever. And that spells opportunity for radio. In today’s guest blog post, Paul Jacobs is armed with new data that shows how radio broadcasters can fill the void, and become the go-to sources in local markets for advertising expertise.

When you think about traditional brands using digital media to perfection, look no further than the Golden Arches. McDonald’s understands both the element of surprise and how to use the digital tool kit to delight its best customers. Yes, we’re talking about the McRib, a seasonal menu item that should be the envy of every radio station in America. Today’s blog post uncovers how Mickey D’s has been surprising fans and strengthening its venerable brand – for decades.

In Australia, Facebook and Instagram are experimenting with the elimination of the good old “like.” Today’s post explores how brands – like radio stations and personalities – might approach and evaluate engagement in a world without “likes.” Actually, it works to radio’s benefit.

There was lots of “breaking news” last week, so this story may have slipped below your radar: President Trump now has a Twitch channel. If you don’t know about Twitch or you can’t imagine what the Commander In Chief might do on this new platform, our blog post reveals all. It’s actually an interesting exercise in brand extension and audience outreach.

Mark Zuckerberg is now live-streaming his internal staff Q&A meetings, in an effort to eliminate leaks. And it’s creating a great sense of transparency for a brand in need of rebuilding trust with its customers. Radio broadcasters can learn a lot from Facebook’s newest initiative – a social media platform actually trying to be…more social.

What drives people to become true fans of a product or a brand – whether it’s baseball or Classic Rock. In today’s post, a social psychologist provides deep insights into the relationship between fans and the art they love – without using an ounce of data. And as you may no doubt conclude, you knew the secret all along.