The Jacobs Media Blog

Since Arbitron discovered the stratification of radio listeniing – known more familiarly as P1s, P2s, etc., – programmers have debated the optimal strategic approach to scoring strong ratings. Is it smarter to program to the broadcer cume, hoping to convert casual users into core listeners? Or does it make more sense to maximize ratings by doubling down on über fans? For inspiration, we turn to one of television’s most successful franchises, which has lately focused on its hardcore legions of fans.

After a dozen years, podcasting is still very much the Wild West. With more than 700,000 podcasts to choose from, discovery continues to be a challenge. But smart minds are working on the problem. And this week, a new social media platform was launched, designed to make it easier to find that next great podcast. Here’s an early look.

As the media world’s AI machines increasingly serve up predictable content, based on our personal data, broadcast radio has the challenge and the opportunity of creating content that surprises, enchants, and delights. As a follow up to yesterday’s post about the rapidly increasing number of media choices, we look at the tools broadcasters can use to recapture the audience’s attention. And it may boil down to just one little word.

Did you hear the big news last week? Amazon and YouTube rolled out free streaming music platforms. And no one seemed to care. That’s because the audio streaming landscape is already littered with brands and choices. In today’s blog post, we talk about how radio broadcasters need to see that bigger picture in order to stand out, get noticed, and continue to remain relevant.

Yesterday’s blog post certainly had an impact. It was all about a USA Today listing the 25 “worst jobs” in America. And yes, three radio-ish careers made their top (or bottom) 10. Today’s post is a rebuttal to that study. We connected with several young radio pros – behind the mic, behind the scenes, and on the street – to get their perspective on “Why radio.” I hope you find it as inspirational as I did.

USA Today has published a list of the worst jobs in America. “Advertising Salesperson,” “Broadcaster,” and “Disc Jockey” all made the list.

What constitutes a strategic advantage? It’s when you develop a tactic or tool that no one else has. In other words, your “secret sauce.” But when your competitors discover what you’ve been doing, and make it a part of their arsenal, chances are you’ll lose that edge. Today’s post features a fascinating study that explains what happens when your “secret sauce” isn’t so secret.

Companies like Ford, Toyota, and General Motors were once easy to define: they built cars – period. But today, they describe themselves much differently, using terms like technology, innovation, and software. Radio companies are no different. These days, many are involved in activities and initiatives that aren’t “typical radio.” Today’s blog post tackles that existential question: What business are you in? We hope you give it a read and take the opportunity to engage.

As marketers, one of our tacit assumptions is that social media – Facebook, in particular – is essential for brands, personalities, and of course, radio stations. But now, some big names in retail and in politics are rethinking their presence on social media. Some are even cancelling Facebook. Today’s post look at what they’re thinking and why they’re doing it.

Technology has played an increasingly more important role in the production of concerts, shows, and events. And now, as Rock stars age, holograms are increasingly appearing on stages across the world, bringing dead icons back to life. Later this week, a new “tour” debuts, featuring one of music’s strangest and most bizarre performers of all time. This topic speaks volumes about how fans can’t get enough of their favorite artists and groups – even in the afterlife – as well as the staying power of the music.

Naitonal Record Store Day was Saturday. And while there’s been considerable buzz about vinyl’s comeback, recent stats suggest records are on shaky ground. We check Techsurvey as well as other data to get a perspective on vinyl, turntables, and albums.

So what was the vibe at the NAB? Once again, we saw more proof about the audio renaissance – podcasting, smart speakers, connected cars. But how can radio broadcasters best optimize their presence in these emerging spaces? In today’s post, we take a hard look at the challenges and the opportunities in an increasingly hot audio ecosphere.

Earlier this week, I attended a conference devoted to voice and cars. It was a fascinating look at how technologists are working overtime to make synthesized voices sound as real and human as possible. When the bots work best, they use AI to predict our behavior. But when radio personalities are on their games, their ability to surprise us is what helps make radio stand apart from other audio media. Here is our first set of observations from “The Voice of the Car Summit.”

This week, I’m attending two conferences – The Voice of the Car and the NAB Show – both of which will provide learning and insights about radio’s present and future role in the car dashboard. Today’s post provides insight into what the car makers and tech companies are thinking. And why radio needs to maintain a strong presence in both spaces.

As the NAB gets underway in Las Vegas this week, the radio business has never needed an injection of energy and innovation like it does today. Many broadcasters find themselves at a crossroads, contemplating retirement or simply running out the clocks on their careers. Today’s post is an open discussion on the need for all of us to bring our A Game to an industry sorely in need of our best efforts. Where are YOU on the spectrum?

In a guest post today, Jacobs Media’s Paul Jacobs takes on the provocative question: Why do you guys still do this? Paul lists 9 great benefits he derives from being in radio. How many of Paul’s reasons are on your list?

Ries & Trout’s “Law of Leadershipthat stated that being first-in was the be-all-and-end-all for brands. Well, the digital arena is littered with one-time leaders, from Napster to MySpace, that were toppled by more innovative upstart competitors. Today’s post looks at the new competitive arena, faced by the staggering Pandora, as well as by traditional media like broadcast radio.

Conventional wisdom says Millennials don’t want to own cars or even drive them, preferring instead services like Uber or Lyft. But a new study suggests the younger generation may be no different from anyone else. And that means broadcast radio still has a fighting chance to connect with Millennials while they spend time in cars – if we make smart strategic choices. Here’s the story…

This year’s Techsurvey 2019 is out – and so is the list of why core radio listeners continue to tune in to AM/FM radio stations. Things are shifting out there, and this year’s survey captures the changing mindset. The new “pecking order” is the topic of today’s blog post. Surprised?