What an exciting time for the record industry. Consider these recent news headlines:
- iTunes has now passed Wal-Mart and everyone else to become the top music retailer in the U.S.
- Universal, Sony BMG, and Warner Music Group will offer their catalogues in a joint project with MySpace
This is big news for a business that has been plagued by self-inflicted misfires, mistakes, and misadventures in the digital world. After all this time, they have discovered that indeed there is a "there there" to stream, distribute, and sell music via a variety of different digital sources. Good for them.
In the meantime, the RIAA continues to downplay radio’s role in the exposure and selling process. But ask yourself this: how do most consumers discover the music they choose to stream, download, and/or purchase from all these new distribution outlets? It’s still about the radio.
Yes, it’s great to get a song on Grey’s Anatomy or on that new GAP commercial. Satellite radio is another outlet that the labels vigorously pursue, but as we see in our new Tech Poll, let’s not forget about how the vast majority of Americans still find out about new music:
Now, critics will chime in that this survey is a self-fulfilling prophesy because it is conducted among radio listeners. But since 90%+ of the U.S. falls into that category, there’s not much of a skew to this data. Hey, if it makes you feel better, subtract 5 or 10 percentage points from FM radio and look at this chart again. If I was a new band with music to expose and sell, my chips would still be on good old FM radio. Why the record industry would criticize the incredible power of this traditional medium defies logic.
What would an artist rather have? A song in this month’s slasher movie soundtrack or a solid add on Z100? A song featured on Scrubs or strong airplay on KROQ?
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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