Every time my wife tells me a movie we’re about to watch is “based on a true story,” the cynical side of me (which is sizable) enters the conversation to remind her the story has likely been highly fictionalized. And after all, doesn’t pretty much every story have an element of truth to it?
But I digress. Today, going into a holiday weekend, let’s keep it light. A format I’ve used in the past is a throwback to the old “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” franchise that many of us grew up with. And today, I’ve plucked out a handful of stories I’ve run across during the course of doing research for this blog. I don’t know if they’ll amaze and astound as those Ripley’s tales once did. But I’ll give it my best shot.
AI joins the opera – It had to happen to a technology that once
promised to replace DJs—now major parts in classic operas are getting the full-on AI treatment. Where else, but in the Motor City, the Detroit Opera House was home to a very different production of Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte”—which translates to “Women Are Like That.”
What sets this production by Yuval Sharon, the company risk-taking artist director is that the female characters are played by robots. Pushing back on the criticism the unique updating of this 235-year-old classic is sexist, Sharon says the implicit message is more important:
“There’s a messianic belief that we must transcend our own humanity and that AI is making up for all the terrible ways we behave. People really do believe that the future of humanity is robotic.”
Photo: Detroit Opera House
Meantime, the next time someone tells you about AI DJs that sound almost as good as the real thing, remind them about the opera where aria is now spelled “arAI.”
Tune us in and rip the knob off – Frustrated by those
distracting, confusing touchscreens in your car? You’re not alone. Many of the worst reviews of new vehicles are tainted by consumers whining about their dashboards.
VW is trying to do something about it. According to Semafor, VW’s designers are going all-in on physical buttons, but not—as they remind us—at the expense of new innovation. In fact, VW claims their new electric Genesis is “packed full of technology,” including a fingerprint reader and facial recognition.
But a VW’s head of design, Andreas Mindt, explained to Autocar, “It’s not a phone: it’s a car.” Touché. Or better put, “touch.”
Your personalized stadium – We all know there’s a special
connection between music and sports. But it took on new meaning when rapper Pitbull bought the naming rights to Florida International University’s stadium.
(Hey, if radio can sell the naming rights to its studios….)
Pitbull Stadium is the result of this $1.2 million annual investment. It also buys the use of the stadium for 10 days each year the agreement is in place, as well as use of a luxury suite.
The Miami native is invested in the 305. So maybe the school should consider changing the name of its teams and mascot from the all-too-common Panther to…the Pitbulls.
Not to be outdone, Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder has now created the eponymous “Vedder Cup” trophy which will go to the team that wins the season series between the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres. Of course, the trophy that goes to the winning team is guitar-shaped.
Officially introducing The Vedder Cup! 🏆
We’re partnering with the @Padres and Rock & Roll HOFer @eddievedder to designate our season series as the Vedder Cup – each year, the winner will take home the Vedder Cup trophy designed by Eddie himself!
🎸 https://t.co/c5Kvv0zBCL pic.twitter.com/zA7OdcfswK
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 14, 2025
There’s a charity angle as the two teams will collaborate to support EB Research Partnership, a charity cofounded by Eddie and Jill Vedder to help treat and cure Epidermolysis Bullosa.
As the MLB now challenges the Mariners and the Padres, “Who’s the ‘Better Man’?
Back to church? – During these crazy times in which we live,
maybe it’s no surprise that as we usher in Good Friday, a new report shows Americans have stopped leaving Christianity.
The New York Times recently reported on a new study from Pew Research shows growth in spirituality, perhaps fueled by the pandemic. In fact, more than nine in ten Americans checked one of the spiritual boxes listed below:
religion pew research 0325 ny times 
This checks out with the meteoric rise we’ve seen, blogged about, and researched in our annual CMB Techsurveys. While most of radio has struggled with audience, loyalty, and revenue generation, the Christian radio story is a positive one. Some of the faith-based findings from Pew support it.
Believe it or not!
Originally published by Jacobs Media
