Our own Paul Jacobs provides insight on the popularity of iPhone apps and how fans of radio stations want their favorite station to be a part of the growing trend.
I've become famous among my daughter's friends because my name is frequently found in the iTunes Store (go ahead, search me). Is it because I've designed a cool game or cut a hit single? Not even close. It's because my name is shown as the contact name for the 70+ iPhone apps we've developed.
The result of this is that I not only get inquiries from people who want to purchase apps, but I also get tons of email from the fans of radio stations. That's right, I'll say it again – fans of radio stations.
Every day I receive emails from listeners of stations that don't have an app, begging us to build one for their favorite station. Or from fans of Christian stations offering us blessings for providing them with apps for their favorite station on the iPhone. From listeners of stations with a lousy signal so the only way they can hear it is online. From people who've moved away from their hometowns and want to remain connected on their mobile devices. Or from those who want to slack off at work to listen to their favorite station or personality, but can't because streams are blocked by their employer – needless to say their productivity is down but their happiness is up.
The bottom line is that underneath the financial pain and agony our industry is enduring, and beyond the media hype claiming that radio is dead, there are still a helluva lot of ardent fans. Emotional, connected fans, who love what they hear but want it on their terms, on devices they can control and carry with them.
Maybe if we begin to listen to them we'll learn that we're better off than we think.
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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