I know that many of you are reading this while at The Radio Show this week in Orlando. I arrived yesterday, the hotel is packed, and spirits seem very high. And all of us at Jacobs Media and jacAPPS are looking forward to seeing you there.
Our “Radio & The Connected Car” session is set this morning. My co-presenter Roger Lanctot has refined his radio voice, and thanks to Arbitron, we’re well-prepped, fired up, ready to go.
So looking down the proverbial road as I always do, I wanted to give you an update about how the next big event – DASH – is shaping up. “Radio & The Connected Car” is the hors d’oeuvre but DASH is the main course, and we would love for you to join us for a unique convention unlike radio has ever seen.
We’re bringing together the key players in this new ecosphere that is already impacting our medium – the auto manufacturers, Tier 1 companies, ad agencies, and car dealers – and of course, radio people from CEOs to PDs. They’ll be on hand to share their experiences, their POVs, and look for areas where we can partner and deepen our collective understanding of each other’s worlds.
Because there are two big reasons why the “connected car” is so important to radio:
- The car is the #1 listening location for broadcast radio – but the “center stack” is getting more crowded with options.
- Automotive is at or near the top when it comes to broadcast revenue – but buying priorities are changing, threatening these dollars.
That’s why Radio Ink, telematics expert Valerie Shuman, and Jacobs Media have partnered to produce DASH. And it’s why we’ve chosen Detroit as the place because when it comes to cars, the Motor City is the place to be.
It’s the afternoon of Wednesday, October 23 and most of the day on Thursday, October 24, conveniently located at the Westin at Detroit Metro Airport, just across from Gate 36 in the Delta terminal.
We’ve made it simple for you to get in and get out (unless you’re interested in seeing Game 1 of the World Series at Comerica Park (just sayin’).
These “unusual suspects,” many of whom you never see at radio conferences, are already booked and ready to present, keynote, and participate in DASH. Executives from the following companies will be on hand:
Ford
Toyota
Panasonic
Pioneer
Pandora
TuneIn Radio
iHeartRadio
RAB
SNL Kagan
Aha
NPR
iBiquity
LDR
And the list goes on as more execs and industry pros join in. Of course on the radio side, we’re honored to have David Field, Peter Smyth, and Bruce Reese committed, with more players from our industry registering every day.
We’re also looking at different configurations for bringing these executives from different industries together, including roundtable brainstorms so that attendees can actually connect with one another, exchanging ideas and partnership opportunities. And Greater Media’s Buzz Knight will be moderating a panel of local Detroit radio stars who will be getting behind the wheel of “connected cars” and sharing their experiences. Hey, putting together a great conference means there has to be entertainment value. This is radio after all.
As we have discussed many times in this space, all the gadgetry and technology in the world means nothing if your brand is lacking or your content isn’t unique and compelling. But even great radio stations and companies have come to realize that we don’t operate in a vacuum. And while the cozy trappings of The Radio Show provide a nice opportunity to mingle with old friends, clients, and associates, the media landscape is rapidly expanding around us. Audio entertainment is a very hot space, and it seems like new players spring up monthly to vie for consumers. Learning how to play with others – whether they are pure-plays or car companies – is now essential to radio’s continued vitality.
We believe that DASH is an investment in the future of the radio business, as new technology in the “center stack” once again presents challenges and opportunities. It is essential that the radio industry sends a message to the automotive world that we care, we’ve been a part of their world since those first radios were installed in the original dashboards, and we’re here to stay.
You may be in Orlando now, but we hope you can join us next month in Detroit for DASH. You can learn more about the event and register here.
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.
- Radio + Thanksgiving = Gratitude - November 27, 2024
- Is It Quittin’ Time For SiriusXM? - November 26, 2024
- Radio, It Oughta Be A Crime - November 25, 2024
Leave a Reply