The Jacobs Media Blog

The 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang are in the books, leaving us with many memorable moments. One of the standouts was an unlikely one – Tonga Guy. Today’s blog lists 7 takeaways radio can learn from this smart, passionate lone wolf athlete we can apply to our own branding and social marketing efforts.

Yes, I roll out of bed pretty early to write and/or edit this blog. And that got me thinking about the benefits of being an early riser. I’ve come up with 10 reasons why getting up at the crack of dawn can make you happier, healthier, and even more productive. Good morning!

Radio companies are tasked with maintaining stability and profitability, while their CEOs face the challenge of transitioning through the teeth of the Digital Revolution. The phrase, “Eat the elephant, one bite at a time” has never been more meaningful as radio takes on a turbulent but exciting future. Our blog post today talks about our role in this maelstrom of change, and why research is such a critically important guide.

The Olympics have been captivating this month in Pyeongchang. One of the lesser-known rule changes is that it’s now allowable for music with lyrics and vocals to be used in figure skating routines. And that opened the door for much creativity and expression – along with some great Classic Rock. Canadian gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir share their music programming strategy in today’s post.

Like many traditional media outlets, many sports franchises are battling declining attendance. The really smart ones are using research and technology to breathe life and vitality into their business models.

Legacy entertainment brands are being forced to dig deeper to come up with creative, attention-getting ideas. Whether it’s in programming or sales, innovation takes many forms. But it often starts with an exercise we’ve all been trained to do – brainstorming. Here’s why we need to do more of it.

In a sales environment that has increasingly become transactional – where algorithms and programmatic have become the norm – how can a radio station brand stand out and how can sales people tell their story? Guest blogger Paul Jacobs has spent most of his career in radio sales life, and today he offers up smart observations about changing the culture of the sales process.

The fact pace of technological change has taken its toll on many businesses and industries – including media formats many of us once purchased and used. The CD may be next in line on the endangered media formats list, thanks in part to Best Buy’s recent decision to discontinue selling them this summer. We talked to the curator of the Museum of Obsolete Media (yes, there is one) about what’s next for the CD and whether vinyl is truly making a comeback.

What’s old is new again. And that’s never been more evident than when you turn on TV. The newest “reboot” is the revival of the iconic “Murphy Brown” sitcom, reuniting the cast and cashing in on big ratings. Radio also benefits from its own version of “reboots” – a nostalgic wave that knows no bounds.

Audience research continues to get more sophisticated. A new study using facial recognition reveals the reasons why some superhero movies are blockbusters while others are busts. And those same rules apply to what separates superstar radio shows from the also-rans. Hint: It has little to do with special effects and explosions – or jingles or benchmarks.

Digital is the rising revenue star, but traditional media outlets – including radio stations and the companies that own them – often struggle with the development of integrated sales strategy. Gordon Borrell has been a long-time champion for local digital revenue initiatives, and he tackles these issues at his Local Online Advertising Conference, held each year in New York City. In today’s post, Gordon talks abut how legacy media brands have progressed, based on newly-released research.

Two of the fundamental building blocks of digital marketing are email and social media. And yet, many brands – including radio stations – struggle with their strategies and tactics. Today’s post examines both platforms, offering up ways that marketers can harness their power for audience-building and revenue generation.

So, when was the last time a radio station launched in the top 100 markets and truly made an impact?  There has been a handful of impressive ones in radio over the years (The Bounce here in Detroit was one of the more spectacular in recent years), but the truly exciting, catch-your-breath, spread-the-word radio launch […]

Everyone’s buzzing about those Super Bowl ads for Dodge Ram, Tide, and even Steven Tyler’s trip back in time. But among the “inventory” in the big game, NBC accepted ads from HBO, Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. Selling time? Or selling out?

The Super Bowl has come and gone, but if you were paying attention to more than the commercials, there were some key lessons for radio being offered up by the Patriots’ talented coaching staff. Today’s post is sports analogy heavy, with key lessons for radio in preparation, knowing your role, shaking up the routine, and working together as a team. Whether your team won or lost, It’s how your station plays the game.

Ready for the “Big Game?” Amidst the hype, the speculation, and the gossip about the two teams, there were two unfortunate incidents involving radio talk personalities. How do they impact the perception of radio as a viable, effective radio medium? And why are they still happening?

When most people think of CES, they think of gadgets like drones and smart speakers, or trends like Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence. But in recent years, the backbone of technological achievement has been about partnerships – diverse companies coming together, pooling their resources and expertise to achieve common goals. Today’s post highlights why for the radio industry, partnerships are the fuel that can open up pathways to the future of the medium.

One of radio’s key advantages over digital media is its ability to keep its programming, promotion, and production current and topical. Today’s post explores the value of station’s reflecting current events – whether they play currents at all. And we’ll look at great throwback creative from the ’90s as well as a controversial new campaign in search of a marketing budget.

Sunday night’s Grammy Awards show earned abysmal ratings. And a theme throughout the evening revolved around the absence of Rock at music’s most celebrated awards show. The “Is rock dead?” debate has upsurged in recent years, and it’s the sore subject of today’s blog post.