It’s halftime.
Somehow we’re at the midpoint of 2017, and I have to believe that you’re just trying to catch your breath.
Between the torrent of news stories and events that have rocked the world and the country this year, to the tumultuous ups and downs of the tech, media, and radio worlds, it’s exhausting. And exhilarating at the same time.
Uncertainty – whether it the government, the world, or the radio industry isn’t just a passing, transient moment. It’s here, it’s around us, it’s a constant, and it’s with us – all the time.
This year, we’ve learned that anything is possible. That the same-old same-old is fading fast. And that new ideas, innovations, and ways of problem-solving are well within the realm of tangibility. In fact, if we’re not focused on what sets us apart, what’s new, and what connects, we run the risk of being left behind.
We’ve also learned that everyone has a very different view of America, what it stands for, and where it’s headed. And those perspectives have solidified since the first of the year.
It’s not that much different in radio. There are widely divergent views about the state and health of the industry. Is it out of gas and out of step? Is it on the precipice of better days? Will it adapt and continue to serve, entertain, and inform the majority of Americans every week? Who will be the leaders of the industry in 2018…and beyond?
We’ve also learned that on the personal front, anything is possible. After all, an actor and a reality TV star ascended to the Presidency. A wrestler was elected to the Governor’s office. And in that same state, a comedian became Senator.
Perhaps we’re not that far away from a midday jock or evening talk host running for office in the coming years.
We’re certainly watching a changing of the guard at the top of many of our radio companies – a sure sign that change is afoot and that “the way we’ve always done it” is an endangered philosophy.
We all share in freedom of choice – how we approach our jobs, how we manage our careers, and how we run our lives. And on this 4th of July weekend, that gives us pause to consider the possibilities and the road ahead.
But hopefully over this 4-day weekend, there will be time to go to picnics and barbeques, take in a ballgame, enjoy a beverage, and spend time with the people we love and care about the most.
This holiday weekend gives us pause, and that’s a good thing. A time when the email slows to a trickle, our texts stop pinging, and we have the chance to relax, recharge, rethink, reimagine, and maybe even reboot.
This blog will take a much-needed breather, but rest assured, it will return Tuesday with fresh thinking to start the second half of the year.
As always, thanks for reading it, and have a wonderful holiday weekend.
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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Back to ya Fred. . . thanks for the entertainment and the information. As long as we talk about these issues–as long as we see solutions we can’t be totally wrong!!
I think that’s true! Appreciate it, Dave.