The Jacobs Media Blog

Broadcast radio’s commercial policies are being challenged both by advertisers and listeners. But two very different radio initiatives are boldly taking on the commercial quantity and quality norms. They’re innovative, risky, out-of-the-box, and potential game-changers. And they just might work.

What makes for an effective commercial? A research company has studied the prestigious Cannes Lion awards to break down the attributes that most contribute to spots that are truly winners. And you may be surprised to learn that one of those key qualities is an ad that annoys you.

Last week, the FCC voted to eliminate the “Home Station Rule,” making it mandatory for local broadcasters to maintain a local studio in their communities. But is that move counter-intuitive to radio’s case for mandatory activation of FM chips in cell phones to facilitate local broadcasts during emergency situations? Today’s post talks about the importance of “brick & mortar radio.”

These days, the talk of the radio industry is fixated on financial covenants, mergers, swaps, and acquisitions. And yet, just over the rise, broadcast competitors are marshalling their resources, continuing to attack radio’s long-held positions. Of the group, SiriusXM is emerging as radio’s biggest competitor – especially in cars, but thanks to Alexa, now in the home. We break it all down in today’s blog post.

In the age of Alexa, it’s never been more important for radio brands to know their method of audience referral. Ironically, Amazon is taking that advice to heart, moving its branding to the Alexa name. The value of embracing your inner nickname in the world of smart speakers is the timely topic of today’s blog post.

Is the richest and most talented player in the NBA also the cheapest? The Cavs’ LeBron James admits to being excessively frugal, and won’t pay for any entertainment – even apps. And that got us wondering if broadcast radio doesn’t provide King James with the best media value proposition.

For the last half of the 20th century, radio and records worked well together, fostering each other’s missions. But in recent years, that relationship has been on the rocks. Thoughts about mending the partnership that could benefit both industries.

A new dashboard display audit conducted by the NAB, shows broadcast radio has not kept up with the times in “connected cars.” This puts radio behind key competitors like Pandora, Spotify, and Sirius/XM in the location where the most radio is consumed – the car. But broadcasters can step up their dashboard efforts with some basic steps outlined in a newly created “Best Practices” report. The rationale and details are in today’s blog post.

The number of hotel concierges in the U.S. is down 20% in the last three years as more and more guests use apps like Yelp and Open Table to navigate a new city. Today’s post looks at what these savvy hotel guides are doing to reverse this trend. And why radio DJs need to be better concierges.

Radio reunions, chat boards, and social media often are filled with raves and rants about how being on the air in radio was so much better “back in the day.” But an Australian blogger questions that conventional wisdom, suggesting that in the air studio, these are “the good NEW days of radio.” See what you think of his list – and ours.

Saying that Baby Boomers get not respect, T-Mobile CEO John Legere is going right after this $2 trillion generation with a full-fledged marketing assault. Can one corporate exec change the conventional wisdom of Madison Avenue? And radio?

In recent years, a fascinating story has emerged from the annals of car marketing. Subaru has systematically usurped VW as the auto brand that exudes the L-word: love. It’s a cautionary tale for every broadcaster not to never take your core reputation for granted.

Two new studies reveal mounting evidence podcasting could be “the next big thing” for both radio content and monetization, especially in a lengthy period of flattish revenue projections for traditional radio advertising. While many radio companies are now investing in podcasting companies and related ventures, podcast creation inside stations and clusters is moving at a snail’s pace. We look at the podcasting model and the opportunities ahead in today’s bog post.