You can look at the proliferation of iPods as both a curse and a blessing. It’s true that on the one hand, all those Apple iPods move users away from radio and toward alternative entertainment sources. But there is an "other hand." As a result of the growing legions of consumers walking around with mp3 players on their belts and around their necks, there’s a greater need for content.
And that’s where Rock Radio – in particular – can make an impact and make some money. A new Pew study of nearly 3,000 adults shows that podcasting is a rapidly growing activity among web users. Moving from 7% to 12% in just a few short months, podcasting is especially likely to be a guy thing. In fact, 15% of the men in the survey have downloaded a podcast, compared to 8% of the women sampled.
Podcasting still isn’t part of the Internet habit, as only 1% download one daily. But as we move through another holiday season, and millions more iPods (and Zunes?) will be sold, there will be a growing need for radio to become better content providers – off our own air – as well as a chance to begin deriving revenue from our efforts.
And brands well outside radio have figured it out. Consider that Butterball put together a series of six podcasts to help Gen Xers figure out how to prepare turkeys this past Thanksgiving. And for entertainment purposes, there are even some of the funnier moments from callers who dialed up the company’s 1-800-Butterball talk line. Sounds like a morning show "best of," doesn’t it?
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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