We are fortunate at Jacobs Media that we travel in a lot of different circles. We work with many great commercial radio companies that run the gamut between those that own hundreds of stations, as well as some of the mom and pop shops. We have clients in Chicago, Philly, and LA, as well as local radio stations in Watertown, New York, and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Then there’s the public radio space. And we’re blessed with clients on the network level like NPR and American Public Media, as well as many local and regional public radio stations all over the U.S.
Our apps company, jācapps, has connected us with all different types of broadcasters, including strong presence in Christian radio, as well as the international space through a business relationship with Barbara Rounds’ Radio Express.
There’s the “connected car,” where the media world intersects (or collides) with the auto industry . We get a great education about the changing media ecosystem through conferences like CES and our own DASH event.
Finally, the research piece. Our Techsurveys – both for commercial and public radio – have helped thousands of stations learn more about how their audiences are changing. And it’s opened our eyes to new consumer trends that have rocked our world. When we first launched these national surveys back in ’05, there weren’t smartphones, apps, social media, or smart TVs. YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, and Twitter didn’t exist.
As many of these new innovations and channels rolled out, broadcasters often took a defensive posture at worst or a wait-and-see posture at best.
But in the past year, there are strong indicators there’s a media taking place as more traditional media outlets are connecting with digital media brands, creating fascinating and intriguing mashups.
I was reminded of this last week when the venerable New Yorker hooked up with WNYC to partner on a national radio show and podcast. But it goes deeper than that, because Audible (Amazon’s spoken-word entertainment brand) will be the show’s launch sponsor. So here are three media brands finding a way to connect and create new and different content.
Midroll and Scripps, Rdio and Cumulus, Podcast One and Hubbard Radio, and Slacker and WXPN are just a few of the examples of once disparate brands now hooking up in a quest for innovation and new business models.
They won’t all work the way they were sketched out and planned, but the key players on both sides of the ledger are well aware that success can be elusive and may take time and several iterations. Yet, when it comes to combining forces for content, distribution, and expertise, the players in these new alliances would tell you there are complementary skill sets and personnel that can make them work.
For the radio business, this is exciting stuff because the last few years have served as reminders that “radio,” “audio,” and whatever the process of listening to content will be called in the future will continue to expand.
Everywhere you go – from airports to city parks to college campuses – consumers are wearing headphones and ear buds, connected to one device or another. And in cars, it’s the same story as audio options proliferate.
And yet, those who know the art and craft of making great radio are in a valuable position to further their work in new spaces.
For too long, digital distribution channels have evoked fear and loathing from long time broadcasters. But in the clear light of 2015, new faces, voices, and ideas are emerging. And they signal opportunity…and growth.
Now there’s a word we haven’t heard in a while.
Here’s to a great partnership.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Partnerships, teamwork, connections, creativity and passion stimulate more listening. Here’s to growth & opportunity! Thanks, Fred. Enjoyed speaking with you in Atlanta. Clark
Great to see you as well, Clark. Thanks for the comment!
Fred, our brains are in the same place today – focused on growth.
It’s a brave new world out there and none of us can do it alone. Partnerships and acquisitions from outside of the industry are what’s making successful radio companies grow. Heck, even Pandora got into the act today with their purchase of Ticketfly.
Thanks for the great insight.
You’re seeing what I’m seeing, Sean. Thanks for the comment and for reading our blog.