The Jacobs Media Blog

Americans are skeptical about the safety and common sense of autonomous cars. And perhaps for good reason, following the first known death as a result of this technology in Arizona. But in spite of this setback, autonomous is a foregone conclusion, and technology and automotive companies will continue to move at a fast pace. A look at the state of autonomous cars, and of course, its impact on the radio business.

Radio broadcasters are moving quickly to build and develop digital assets in mobile, podccasts, and on-demand content. But the opportunity to stabilize the industry and take advantage of its inherent strengths is right in front of every owner/operator of commercial and public radio stations.

As Facebook reacts to pressure over its apparent role in the 2016 election, radio stations across America are seeing their social media interaction decline. What should they do about it? Guest blogger and Jacobs Media’s Digital Dot Connector, Seth Resler, takes a stab at this rapidly changing controversy.

Many radio people remember Dayna Steele as a great rock DJ who made her name in Houston radio. In 2010, she was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. But recently, Dayna made a career pivot – she’s running for Congress in Texas’ 36th district. And in today’s post, she talks about her transition to politics, and how radio influenced her career path.

A speech about podcasting at this week’s Radiodays Europe conference in Vienna by BBC executive Bob Shennan turned into a broader vision statement for a radio industry facing an uncertain future. Shennan’s proscription is an honest acknowledgment of the state of radio and the pathway to continued success. It’s short – and fascinating.

Yesterday, our post discussed rock music’s struggle with both substance and style in recent years. Today, we check in with a couple of keen observers of the rock landscape – Jack White and Alan Cross – to gain insight about whether rock’s next upsurge may be right around the corner.

When you think back on what we now know as the “Golden Age” of rock, and compare it to what we’ve seen over the past decade or more, the problem hasn’t just been with the music.  It’s also a matter of style.

Chances are, you’ve already seen an NCAA Tournament game or two, or your’re playing the office bracket game. This year, these riveting college hoops games can be seen on more distribution outlets than ever before. What does it mean to be “platform agonostic,” and how will radio be impacted by consumers acceessing its content on a growing number of platform?

Converting casual users into core fans is a dilemma many brands face, In radio, it’s about turning P2s into P1s, and it’s been a challenge since the early days of the medium. Today’s post looks at a brand outside of radio, struggling with fan conversion, and how radio can learn important lessons about what’s truly important to the audience.

I’m back from two days at LOAC – Borrell & Associates’ Local Online Advertising Conference. It was a packed event – not just the crowd but the ideas shared by traditional media companies from the newspaper, TV, and radio industires. Today’s post recaps the highlights, along with some food for thought about where radio advertising is headed.

Radio programmers are charged with putting a consistentl, dependable product on the air where audiences know what to expect when they tune in. But the element of surprise is what truly creates occasion, buzz, and ratings.

Authenticity and transparency have become marketing buzzwords. But what does it mean for a brand – especially a radio station – to be truly “authentic?” Today’s post looks at some of the elements that go into being an authentic brand, along with a true life radio example from last week’s industry news.

Software glitches are common, but when Alexa – the voice of the Amazon Echo devices – started spontaneously laughing, some consumers were disturbed by this unwelcome behavior. No technology is infallible – even devices made by the world’s best software companies – but that doesn’t stop us from expecting perfection.

As the radio industry transforms itself and embraces digital content and distribution, the A-word – attribution – becomes an important part of the marketing solution. Today’s post looks at attribution – and what broadcasters can do to rethink the givens about radio advertising and results.

Radio’s advertising revenue may be flat, but over in “TV Land,” that industry is under siege – DVRs and Netflix are the external attackers, but heavy commercial loads are contributing factors, too. Here’s how television execs are beginning to deal with these challenges, and what radio broadcasters can learn in the process.

For marketers, digital media is the bright, shiny object. But a unique experiment that mashes up radio, billboards, and commuting cleverly shows how innovation is the future for traditional media. It’s taking place in Abu Dhabi, and you’ve never seen – or heard – outdoor and radio used in this way. Let’s go for a ride.

Radio’s biggest stars see their growth limited by commercial spotloads and a limited number of live reads and appearances. But a new media platform called Twitch is opening up new pathways of revenue generation for the best and the brightest radio shows and teams. Today’s blog takes a deep dive into how “thinking outside the platform” opens up new possibilities for cashing in on the stickiness of radio’s best and most talented hosts.

Law #5 in Ries and Trout’s classic book, “The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing,” is “The Law of Focus.” Here’s what that law means for radio stations.

Today marks the 13th birthday of this blog. We take a look back at 13 key reasons why we love having a blog. And thanks again for your time and readership.

In less than two weeks, we’ve seen the powerful impact the youth of America can have on our political process. But members of Generation Z are also reshaping the world of media. It’s a reminder to those of us who are broadcasting veterans that listening to the young people around us isn’t just a good idea – it’s our future.