Now that our second DASH conference is history, I heard from a number of people late last week and over this past weekend asking about what transpired at this year’s event.
We’ll be recapping DASH, especially for those who were in attendance, but I can tell you that for the second year, we had huge crowds, a very eclectic room, and some amazing presentations and panels. This mashup of radio and automotive really works, bringing together two storied industries that have common interests, opportunities, and challenges.
Everyone’s looking for the main messages and takeaways that emerged from DASH. I know the feeling. In our short attention span world, we love when it’s boiled down to simple, easy to understand takeaways.
We also love data, so here are some numbers for you:
- 23 different industries were represented at DASH
- On Twitter, 180 different people used our hashtag #DASHAudio
- There were 846 posts using that hashtag
But those are metrics. You want to know what people were saying and thinking about what they were seeing at DASH. So below is a word cloud that depicts the most used words and terms throughout all those tweets:
It is fascinating to me that the goal of the conference was realized in this messaging, as “radio” and “car” were the most tweeted words. As for secondary mentions, you can see that it’s a fascinating mix of words and themes that revolve around the experience, connectedness, media, today, and future. And my favorite word on this cloud: “excited.”
Because that was the feeling in the room. And you can see that in many of the tweets that were captured along the way:
A DASH attendee, Damian Schmitt, director of Global Digital Messaging for Relevant Radio (“Talk Radio for Catholic Life”), used his own keywords in an email to us describing the vibe at DASH: energy, optimism, innovation.
We’ll take that.
From our point of view, there were a number of important themes. And one of the great things about this year’s conference is that they were consistent throughout many of the sessions.
The head of the Consumer Electronics Association, Gary Shapiro, led off DASH with an inspiring keynote. And to no one’s surprise, the author of “Ninja Innovation” had this to say:
And we saw a great deal of innovation throughout DASH, including a segment we called “DASH Tank,” where three start-ups – XAPPmedia, GeoTraffic, and Panasonic’s Aupeo! each had the opportunity to make their pitch to our “sharks” – the RAB’s Erica Farber, Ford Motor Company’s Scott Burnell, and the Entertainment Radio Network’s Alan Taylor. It was innovation on parade, and a great demonstration that there are hot new products available to both radio and automotive.
But the other theme that emerged had to do with the growing issues surrounding Millennials – who are they, how do we reach them, and what are their values.
They represent the future for our brands, our enterprises, and our industries. And yet, everyone believes they are configured very differently from past generations. We heard statistical proof of this from GroupM’s Chief Innovation Officer Cary Tilds in her aptly named keynote, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.”
Not to be outdone, our panel called “The Future of Mobility” included executives from both Zipcar and Zagster – two companies offering shared transportation (cars and bicycles respectively) for a generation that may not be as excited about owning a car as their parents and grandparents.
Dr. Ed Cohen from Nielsen punctuated these points with keen observations about this generation from the never-seen-before study, “The Class of 2015,” which is tracking University of Florida students throughout their college lives – with great insights about connectedness, mobile, entertainment, and of course, cars.
And we heard a similar strain in Larry Rosin’s much-talked-about “The Future of Traffic Information” – an examination of how radio’s reliance on convention traffic reporting will be usurped by online services and apps.
Our Q&A sessions with OEMs echoed these generational changes. Both Ford’s John Ellis and GM’s Rich Martinek talked directly about the challenge of connecting with Millennials and their changing needs and priorities, answering one-on-one questions from DASH attendees about anything and everything related to the “connected car.”
We heard a lot of talk about simplicity and ease of use, but in fact, the “connected car” space is anything but. The OEMs and Tier 1s are working hard to dumb it down. But as DASH attendees will tell you, conversations about these new technologies, the lack of standardization, the entrance of Apple and Google in the fray, and the many partnering choices are by their very nature confusing. From HD Radio to NextRadio to jacapps to XAPPMedia to Aupeo! to alternative traffic systems like Waze or GeoTraffic, broadcasters have a lot to sort out. And it’s not an easy process.
We heard this loud and clear in this year’s car dealer panel as we learned that training a consumer about what’s in the “center stack” can be an arduous, rushed, and complicated process. But we also got the sense from this session that between car dealers and local radio, there are partnership opportunities galore, if we’re bold enough to put them together.
Of course, the other theme was content. Because as those of us who are trying to learn this space as it changes every day have come to realize, the “secret sauce” is a brand or a personality that connects with consumers, bombarded with new choices in the car.
And that’s why we focused on content creation – especially from the local point of view. Val Geller’s “Creating Powerful Radio…For The Car” was a reminder of the importance of storytelling and a personally connecting while consumers are moving from Point A to Point B.
To make our point, DASH featured mega-watt Detroit radio personalities reminding everyone in the room about the power of entertaining talent on the airwaves and streams. From our DASH emcee, the legendary Ken Calvert, to the great team Jamie & Wojo on 97.1 The Ticket, to the amazing Mason from KISS-FM, to the new kids on the dial The Coop Show (AMP Radio), to the storytelling charm of WCSX’s Jim O’Brien, our audience learned up close and personal why local radio matters.
These personalities vividly reinforced the power of local icons and how they make broadcast radio special. The automakers were entertained by them, and hopefully, the broadcasters in the room were reminded of just how critical they are to the future of our industry as people make their “center stack” choices.
So what happened at DASH?
Well, beyond the panels and presentations, there’s that intangible part that makes DASH an amazing event – the chance to talk with, hang out, and dialogue with passionate executives from all these different industries. There was a palpable sense of buzz and electricity in the room, and I think it has a lot to do with the diverse crowd that is flat-out excited about what is happening all around us. Talk to people who attended DASH this year or last, and they’ll very likely tell you the same thing.
Maybe you’re getting the sense that you had to be there. And to a great degree, that’s right.
Thanks to all who made DASH a great event, including our partners Radio Ink and Valerie Shuman, to those of you who attended DASH, and of course, those who spent two exciting days with us in Detroit.
For pictures, videos, & “Great Quotations” from DASH, click here.
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.
- Radio + Thanksgiving = Gratitude - November 27, 2024
- Is It Quittin’ Time For SiriusXM? - November 26, 2024
- Radio, It Oughta Be A Crime - November 25, 2024
By far, the best professional event I attended this year (and last). Amazing information.
Easy for the big guys to say “radio needs to” or “radio should” and then go hideaway in their board rooms. You guys say “WE WILL” and put your money and time when your mouth is.
Well done, Fred/Paul, Eric and Valerie. (and your teams)
Dave, thanks for being there with us again, and for doing a great job on your car dealer-themed panel. The fact you were with us both years and came away with a positive feeling about the event is why we do it. Much appreciated.