The Jacobs Media Blog

Many of the people who read this blog have been to a LOT of concerts over the years. But a new venue in London features a 3-story vertical stage unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. And when you read why it was designed this way, it will tell you how our entertainment priorities are changing.

Radio programmers are often criticized for being “old school,” focused on ratings rather than on entertaining. But today’s post questions that logic with real world examples of broadcast radio PDs who have made the transition to the digital world. And soon, Pandora – and perhaps Spotify – may find out just what great radio programmers are capable of.

On the 40th anniversary of its iconic Walkman, Sony is introducing a feature-filled, up-to-date version. But it doesn’t have a radio. Today’s post discusses changing gadgetry, how we consume audio and the devices we prefer. Some believe live radio is not “headphone-worthy,” and that’s an important topic for the radio industry.

What’s the next big thing for radio’s personality shows? It’s not a new benchmark bit or a contest. It’s about giving the audience a whole new way to enjoy radio – by watching it.

The most successful league in all of sports is hands down, the NFL. But in recent years, broadcast TV ratings for its games have slipped especially a fans gravitate to digital platforms. The NFL is now proactively addressing its commercial loads and formatting, providing some great lesson for radio broadcasters faced with the same issues. If you watched any games this past weekend, you probably saw some of these new innovations – whether you realized it or not.

Music is the universal language, but now it is the intergalactic language. Through a series of smart…and lucky…circumstances, perhaps the greatest rock band on planet Earth has been honored in the unlikeliest of places – Mars. You’ve heard of bigger than life promotions before, but this one is truly out of this world.

What are people talking about RIGHT NOW? The key to being relevant in a traditional medium like radio is art of being in the moment, the zeitgesit, keeping up with the times. Earning a degree in Pop culture is the key, and today’s post is a trip down the center lane of our minds; a tour through current trends, memes, and other tools that help us “be here now.” Let’s do this.

The premise for our “track” at the Podcast Movement conference each year – “Broadcasters Meet Podcasters” – may be hurtling toward a real-life innovation: “Podcast Sunday Nights,” now airing on hundreds of iHeartMedia radio stations. Podcasts on the radio is a novel concept that marries the best of broadcasting and podcasting. And it could be the beginning of a larger trend. That’s the focus of today’s blog post.

A radio conference you never heard about had it all – radio, records, bands, and even a mentalist. The recent Portland Pop-Up was an invitation-only event that brought together odd bedfellows in the radio and music communities. Here’s what set it apart and why we’d like to see more gatherings like this one.

Hurricane Dorian is headed for Florida – a chance for radio to do what it does best. Aside from emergency coverage, do radio stations in the affected areas have a communications strategy? Chase Bank does. Today’s second post explore how radio can assure its audience during stressful times.

It’s Labor Day Weekend, and that means it’s time to recharge those batteries and get ready for the rest of the year. Today’s post will gently easy you into the weekend by offering some smart observations by someone who wisely knows exactly what we’re all up against.

Our recently conducted AQ2 study – radio’s first talent on talent research survey – asked an important question of its 1,000+ air personality respondents: “Which current radio personalities/shows are most influential to you?” It was a write-in vote, we’ve compiled the responses, and today’s post reveals the runaway winner. We’ll take a deep dive into what makes this personality tick and why no one should be surprised he’s all by himself in first place.

The competition for the car is intensifying. Spotify has been getting more aggressive in the past year, and now a new TV and outdoor campaign go right at radio’s sweet spot. Today’s blog post gives you a look at a new spot you’ll be seeing a lot more lately, featuring a slug line will sound uncomfortably familiar to you. Fasten your seat belts.

Whether it’s podcasts, TV commercials, or radio breaks, size doesn’t matter. It’s about substance – the entertainment or information value that great content delivers. It’s not length, but strength. Today’s blog post is all about what it takes to create content – no matter the size.

Quentin Tarantino’s new film, “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood,” is an ode to the Los Angeles of the 60s. But it’s also a love letter to radio and the role it played in people’s lives. Today, the world has changed, and we may be staring into the teeth of a Recession. And yet, some experts are predicting that an economic downturn may be exactly what radio needs to adapt to changing times.