The Jacobs Media Blog

If you haven’t tried it yet, HQ Trivia is a brilliant mobile app trivia contest played twice each weekday. Unlike the on-demand nature of the Internet, it’s a real time game hosted by a witty personality. Yes, it will remind you of a well-crafted radio contest and that’s why it’s our blog topic this morning.

That scary false alarm in Hawaii two weeks ago has been replaced by another “Breaking News” story in a never-ending frantic news cycle. But two Hawaii radio market managers have a message to send to everyone in radio about how broadcasters should handle the next disaster. It’s a message well worth your time.

Facebook will conduct its own research among its community to determine which news sources are the most trusted. Today’s blog post discusses what this means to all news brands, along with a sneak peak at the exact questions Facebook will be asking its users.

The fear of failure is the primitive instinct – our lizard brain urging us to run away rather than innovate. Last week, a former NPR exec laid the blame on his first love: public radio. But, in fact, that palpable fear of not staying the course us alive and well throughout traditional media companies. To compete in a disruptive future, we have to overcome it.

Hot new radio stations – like new car debuts – often lose their luster and charm when that second model comes out. Veteran auto exec and innovator, Bob Lutz, points the finger at market research, how it can sabotage a new product, and why brand managers need to be sure that doesn’t happen. As many radio professionals have learned the hard way, that second act is often the toughest part.

A TV sitcom about radio? Producer (and former radio sales guy) Hugh Wilson passed away this week, leaving fond memories of a hit show depicting the life and times of a real-life (?) radio station in Cincinnati. Today’s post looks at Wilson’s accomplishment and the show’s influence on all of us.

One week later, and our radio execs are still distilling their thoughts about CES and what it means to the industry. In Las Vegas, it was about autonomous and electric cars, shared mobility, and smart cities – concepts and initiatives that will change the face of how we get from Point A to Point B – and the media we’re consuming along the way. Today’s post takes you backstage at CES 2018 for a frank discussion of what’s next for radio, cars, and transportation. Buckle up.

These days, Bud Lite’s “Dilly Dilly” has become a pop culture phenomenon. It’s a reminder that some of the biggest and best DJs throughout the years have enjoyed the power of a great catchphrase. “Baba-booey,” “BABY!” and “Gadzooks” became part of the inside language enjoyed by radio personalities and their tribes. Do you have a favorite?

Facebook changes its rules all the time, but a recent announcement signals a re-emphasis of the massive social network away from brands – like radio stations – and toward friend and family interaction. And it’s a reminder that for radio, it comes down to the assets you own versus those you merely “rent.” Today’s post discusses the implications of Facebook’s move on your station and company.

Not so long ago, CES used to be about the hottest gadgets. In recent years, the world’s biggest electronics show is a showcase for tech trends that will impact society – not to mention the world of radio broadcasting. In today’s post, we break it down – what happened at CES 2018 and how it will impact the radio business. And you’re probably more than a little interested in that Google vs. Amazon war.

McKinsey reports a key barrier to corporate success is CEOs who are not knowledgeable about technology. But this week at CES, radio execs showed up in force. Today’s post focuses on the value of radio CEOs learning, understanding, and embracing technology – for the sake of their companies as well as their industry.

The pop-up store phenomenon is a smart strategy for retailers looking for more agility in world increasingly embracing ecommerce. And it begs the question about how radio could reinvent its street presence efforts for maximum benefit. As digital media proliferates, is it time for “pop-up radio?”

These days, trust is becoming a difficult commodity to come by. And that’s become true even for great brands like Apple. Their recent controversy over software updates and their effect on battery life is a case in point. How can radio brands ensure they don’t lose the audience or advertisers’ trust when accidents or mistakes happen? We have 10 preventative measures that can help any station avoid the misfortunes that can happen to any brand.

Smart speakers should be a hot item again this year at CES. The mega-conference starts today and we’ll be reporting from Vegas with updates, observations, and trends. Today’s post takes a look at how far “voice” has come – but also how far it needs to go to achieve mass acceptance. And we have a humorous video from deep space that illustrates those limitations very well.

We’re in the swing of football championship season – pro and college. And one of the key variables that separates the winners and losers is what Carolina Panthers coach, Ron Rivera, call’s “Control Your APE: Attitude, Preparation, and Effort.” It’s true on the gridiron as well as in the air studio and sales cubicles. And it’s the topic of our kickoff blog post to start the new week.

Another holiday season has come and gone, and it’s looking like a banner year for Christmas music. But how to explain the nostalgic power of this phenomenon, as well as the continued appeal of gold-based music formats like Classic Rock? Fortunately, new data from Pollstar and Nielsen Music speaks volumes about what’s trending – and what it means to the radio industry. We’ve got the key analytics in today’s post.

In spite of many attractive, glitzy perks, tech companies struggle to hold onto their employees. In fact, a new study shows surprisingly low job retention levels at some of the most respected companies in the world. The radio business, on the other hand, is more likely to offer a more stable environment – a decided plus in the war to recruit top talent. For radio to survive and thrive, it has to attract top-shelf talent. Today’s post explores thoughts on that subject.

Last year saw a lot of big companies and major brands raise the white flag, declare bankruptcy, and close their doors. As we enter a new year, it’s a great time for radio operators and station employees of all stripes to take stock and ensure their success in the new year. Here are a dozen places to start making that happen.