And with that great quote, Yogi Berra once again provided perspective for all of us trying to get a grasp of where it’s all headed. Our rapidly changing technology and its impact on media (and our lives) is moving at breakneck speed.  But even with all this change, there are certain trends that are undeniable. […]

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It is so easy to look good when you’re winning, when it’s easy, when the sun is shining.  But what about when you suck or the competition is eating your lunch or things are just going wrong? Seth Godin suggests those times are a real window to your true personality.  As he so eloquently puts […]

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We are truly living in incredible times.  If you need any more proof of that, the ongoing battle between Microsoft and Apple is a case in point.  Apple has taken it to Microsoft in countless TV commercials, painting its rival as doltish, fat, and incompetent. The debate took an interesting turn recently when comments from […]

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The story hit last week – Facebook now has more than 250 million mobile users.  Those are big boxcar numbers.  In our “Goin’ Mobile” study for Arbitron last year, all 18 of our smartphone owning respondents had the Facebook app on their mobile phones.  That was all we needed to see. I was fortunate to […]

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What can we learn from Charlie Sheen’s “Violent Torpedo of Truth” tour, which of course opened here in Detroit on Saturday night? First, celebrity will only take you so far.  Sheen brought his entourage to the Fox Theater and it didn’t take long for fans (or ex-fans) to start walking out.  For all the reasons […]

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When you think about what Google was and what they’ve become, it’s pretty damn amazing. Remember, they were not the first search engine by a long shot, but their opening page was so simple and that “I’m feeling lucky” choice communicated to us that the creators were different and had a sense of humor.  It’s […]

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A recent New York Times article underscores something that we saw loud and clear in “Goin’ Mobile” – smartphones are replacing other gadgets and changing our lives in the process. At the Worldwide Radio Summit in Los Angeles next month, I’ll show a different radio-ized version of “Goin’ Mobile” and one of the new segments […]

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Throw out traditional demographic buying? It seems like there’s a movement like this every few years, but when it comes from a guy like David Poltrack, you’d better pay attention. Poltrack is the head research guy at CBS (like a dentist named Dr. Molar), and at a recent Advertising Foundation’s Think 2011 conference, he indicated […]

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A couple of weeks back, Paul wrote a guest blog about NPR in response to an Eric Rhoads commentary.  That blog post set a record for us, and drew comments from a wide range of industry pros.  Jim Farley, VP of News & Programming at Bonneville’s WTOP – one of the best stations in the […]

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Actually, I enjoy commercials, especially when they move you, tell you something you didn’t know, entertain, or surprise you. But to look at a recent study from AdAge/Ipsos Observer, the medium is most definitely the message.  And some of the new digital platforms are not being embraced by consumers for positively delivering ad messages. It […]

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Today, a guest blog from Bill Weston, the incomparable programmer of Greater Media’s mighty WMMR.  During a recent conversation, Bill told me this story about how great brands evoke kismet – and good luck, too. So here’s a quick story of radio’s relevance – a parable from the Karmic Wheel.  It’s a reinforcing tale for […]

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Every time you turn around, it’s another one of those polls or city rankings that are designed to get you talking and generating lots of tweets. Well, earlier this week, it was the pecking order of America’s cities based on their “social networkiness.”  (I made that one up, not Stephen Colbert).  Yes, Mashable reported on […]

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Jacobs Media’s digital guy, Tim Davis, is back from SXSW Interactive.  Last week, he summarized the vibe from the conference.  Today, a look at author & thought leader Guy Kawasaki’s presentation… A non-thematic highlight at SXSW was seeing Guy Kawasaki speak about his new book Enchantment.  It’s not tied into some of the overarching themes […]

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It is truly hard to believe that in just another week, we launch our 7th annual media and technology survey.  Here in 2011, Techsurvey 7 continues a tradition that was started in 2005.  Last year, 78 stations took part, generating more than 28,000 responses from Classic Rock, Mainstream-Active, Alternative, and Triple A stations. Looking back […]

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Even though social media has been with us for a relatively short period of time, its confluence with the mobile movement has created a dual accelerant type of situation.  Social is huge, mobile is huge, and together they’re huger (if you’ll permit to use a word that isn’t really a word). And in the process, […]

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If the name of today’s blog post looks a little strange to you, that’s a sign that what happened in Austin last week is something you should know about.  Our digital dude, Tim Davis, is back – a bit tired but inspired – from South By Southwest Interactive.  And here’s a summary of his time […]

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Author, speaker, and thought-leader Tom Asacker always has stimulating things to say.  He’s spoken at a couple of our Summits and knows how to work a room. In a recent blog – “Are You All Mad?” – Tom does it again, questioning why organizations are so slow to recognize change and make the necessary adjustments. […]

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With apologies to Pat Travers, there may be something very interesting happening to the TV ad sales paradigm that could have a positive impact on radio. The demographic targets may finally be reacting to the Baby Boom generation.  If that sounds totally counter-intuitive, the fact is that agencies essentially stopped thinking once they cemented the […]

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I’m back from Canadian Music Week for another convention in cold, rainy Toronto.  I have been to many of these conventions in the Great White North, and I’m always impressed by the enthusiasm and the great attendance they generate. This year, I was proud to present “Goin’ Mobile” to an overfilled meeting room (yes, it was […]

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A couple of weeks ago when it was becoming obvious where this was heading, I promised myself I would not blog about Charlie Sheen. And here I am breaking my promise.  But trust me – it’s for a good cause.  Because the ways in which Sheen approaches relationships is a parable to a lot of […]

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