The Jacobs Media Blog

Yesterday, our post talked about the predicted growth curve of Amazon’s line of Echo devices this holiday season. Now that these voice-activated gadgets are reaching scale, Amazon isn’t content to be a distribution company. They’re now programming audio content for Alexa – and they’re starting with U2.

Everyone in radio knows the power of the one-hit wonder. But it turns out there are neurological reasons behind why these novelty songs forever resonate in our brains – and in our music tests. So what’s your favorite one-hit wonder?

Analog is on the comeback trail, as more and more consumers – especially Millennials – gravitate to print books and analog records. Here in Detroit, we see the vinyl resurgence up close, thanks to influencers like Jack White and Shinola. The trend is emblematic of the need for media producers and content creators – yes, that includes radio companies – to continue making content available on a wide variety of media and gadgetry.

Like launching a new format, designing a great mobile app is a process. As mobile becomes more important to radio’s future, today’s post offers a unique perspective from one of the best mobile media brands – NPR. With their help, we list 7 key steps necessary in designing and building a great mobile app. This is how its’ done.

Millennials are always in the news, but what about their younger Gen Z brothers and sisters.? Technology is in their DNA, so could they possibly be interested in working in broadcasting? Last week, I attended a career fair hosted by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation. And I bring back encouraging news about young people who are as passionate about working in radio and TV as we were.

Whether you’re McDonald’s or Z100, logo memorability is a measure of brand strength. Recently, an ecommerce website put logo recall to a unique test, asking consumers to draw the logos from iconic brands like Apple and Walmart – from memory. So, how memorable is your radio station’s logo and why does it matter to your ratings and your brand equity?

A new research study about how Millennials communicate probably won’t surprise you – they’re addicted to their smartphones, but would rather text and use social media than talk. To connect with this generation, radio stations and the companies that own them need mobile strategies tailored to a generation that sleeps with their smartphones and takes them to the bathroom. (You, too?)

This week’s news that Twitter has doubled its “tweet real estate” to 240 characters may sound like good news – but it’s not. Like longer breaks in PPM, Twitter’s charm was its brief, quick-hitting messages. In today’s post, we list 6 reasons why Twitter’s new policy may backfire, and as you’ll see, I liberally quote the “radio rule book.” #Notgood

We all love to celebrate our birthdays. And for smart, strategic stations, these special days are a chance to engage with listeners in unique powerful ways. Now, a new study underscores the importance of birthday acknowledgment. Today’s post looks at how radio celebrates these big annual events.