There is no city in the world that is more synonymous with work and workers than Detroit, Michigan. Detroiters pride themselves on their work ethic, and when you think of the Labor Movement, the Motor City always comes to mind.
So as we jump into this year’s Labor Day Weekend, it’s an opportunity to take stock of our working lives and careers, as well as the millions of Americans who go to work day in and day out. Radio has been a part of that routine – the wake-up, the morning commute, the at-work companionship, and the drive home.
Since Henry Ford invented and perfected the assembly line, cars have always played a pivotal role in getting us to and from our jobs – and throughout these decades, the radio has always been front and center in cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs.
But like so many aspects of our media and cultural lives, the automotive world and the way consumers interface with it is undergoing great change. Cars are now “connected,” offering drivers multiple options from WiFi to Bluetooth to embedded apps. A decade ago, smartphones were embryonic, and the idea of “pairing” a cell phone to a car was just a dream.
Today, Americans aspire to drive the latest and greatest in cars, as many come to the realization that media and technology can be as much a part of the automotive experience as they experience in their dens, their kitchens, their pools, or the workplaces.
And that’s why we created DASH, radio’s most unique conference being held in Detroit (where else?) on November 4-5 at the beautiful Westin Hotel inside the Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s McNamara terminal. We bring together an amazing lineup of speakers and presenters from both the radio and automotive worlds in an environment where we can network and learn from one another.
As the radio industry has come to realize that the car is the new frontier, rife with both immense challenges but also amazing opportunities, DASH is at the epicenter of it all – two days of panels, keynotes, and get-togethers designed to make us smarter and informed about the road ahead.
And this year, we have partnered with Ford to present Rouge Plant Tours on the morning of the first day of DASH. If you’ve never seen a car (in this case a Ford F150 truck) being made, this is a great opportunity to get a floor seat for one of labor’s greatest shows on earth.
Here’s a fast-moving 2-minute video that will show you a very different assembly plant from the one that Henry Ford created more than a century ago:
Email recipients: click here for the Ford Rouge Plant Tour video
There are details here about DASH, with Ford Rouge Plant Tour info coming soon.
In the meantime, along with our partner Radio Ink, we are excited about our third DASH Conference. And we know you will be, too, when we formally announce keynotes and panels starting next week.
So take a few days off from your labors, and then let’s connect next week for new blog posts, and more information about how you can join us this year at DASH.
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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Two things dramatically changed the entertainment/information experience in the car for me. The first was when we bought a mini van with a built in DVD player for our kids. We often turn on a movie for them and my wife and I just talk while we drive.
The second change happened when the law regarding cell phone use while driving mandated a hands free device. The car I drive is eleven years old so there is no pairing option but now I put a bluetooth headset in one ear as soon as I get in the car and listen to my favorite podcasts through Stitcher.
Innovation is definitely needed and I look forward to seeing the lineup for this year’s DASH.
Enjoy the long weekend.
Sean, many drivers of older cars are experiencing new and different options. But as you point out, even “unconnected cars” offer new choices.
Hope to see you at DASH. We have a major keynote announcement set to go for Tuesday with more to come.