I’d like to welcome Jacobs Media’s Dave Beasing back again for a guest blog:
Thanks, MTV, for 4 things:
- Providing an excellent commercial-free/VJ-free replay of Live 8 this Saturday. It may have come a week late, but it was fantastic. Like many people, I TiVo-ed every bit and got chills of the kind that this event was meant to cause.
- Demonstrating to us all that you can and must reverse bad publicity. MTV could have tried to ignore the criticism of their original coverage on July 2 — and over time it would have passed — but you took a proactive stance to redeem the channel’s music credentials.
- Reminding us that you can never go wrong by listening to your audience. Here’s how MTV’com announced the clutter-free replay: "Your parents might not listen, your teachers might not listen, but MTV, apparently, listens." That’s the principle behind NeoRadio also. In hindsight, we would have encouraged MTV to get input about Live 8 from their viewers before the initial misstep, but better late than never. Does anyone doubt that viewers would have said, in advance, "Shut up the VJs, and just let us really be live witnesses to these concerts"?
- Also reminding radio that it’s not too late to be part of this historic musical event. Live 8 performances are now available for download online, and stations can still reflect their listeners’ obvious interest.
Well done, MTV. Was this a case of doing too little, too late? Hardly.
Feel free to email Dave at davebeasing@g5j.8ac.myftpupload.com
President & Founder at Jacobs Media
Fred Jacobs founded Jacobs Media in 1983, and quickly became known for the creation of the Classic Rock radio format.
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.
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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Chills? Dave, were you watching from the refrigerator? Congrats MTV for being shallow and forced to replay something you should have got right the first time! Congrats on not recognizing the importance of a Pink Floyd reunion. Thanks for killing the Killers performance. Bravo for not showing virtually ANYTHING live or in its entirety. Who could blame you? I mean, the show’s only called “LIVE 8” not “REPLAY 8”. Also, thank God for the glorified stripper and male-cloned VJ’s input, though, that was just fantastic! How many of those VJs, if asked, would think that Africa is a country and not a continent? Just wondering.