Our Latest Industry Blogs

Were radio DJs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s the originial “influencers?” Maybe so. But today’s social media pitchmen and pitchwomen are likely pocketing a lot more revenue than radio personalities ever made from bar nights, phone store grand openings, and live endorementss. Is “influencer marketing” a place where still-popular radio personalities can go? And what can they learn from both teenage and geriatric influencers with big followings and the ability to sell lots of stuff?

Eight years ago right now, the 45th President – Donald J. Trump – was about halfway through the first 100 days of HIS FIRST TERM. Here we are exactly eight years later, and it’s a case of “deja vu all over again.” What did the media – especially radio – learn from the chief executive where the “gold T” stands for turbulence. Welcome to this week’s #TBT.”

It was a tough day for the radio family yesterday. We lost the best and brightest. Bob Rivers left us after a long but gallant fight with the ravages of cancer. I wrote this two-part post in 2014 when Bob left the radio studio. I’m republishing it today as a tribute to his life and all that he meant to so many of us.

Two weeks ago, I wrote a post about Nielsen’s new “3-Minute Rule” for PPM markets. It sparked a number of questions and even a misconception or two. So, I went to the source – Nielsen’s Rich Tunkel – who saw this project through after just 10 months. Rich answered all my questions – about how to measure this change without jumping to conclusions, as well as the metrics that can help any station navigate the new “3-Minute Rule.”

Another week in radio and another tragic round of RIFs. How can the industry make the tough calls while still maintaining a sense of empathy and class? And after years of staff reductions, when will the analyses tell us once and for all whether this painful “less is more” approach will ever work for radio? Fair warning: a tough JacoBLOG post today.

I had my first encounter with AI in healthcare this week. During a checkup, my physician entered the examination room with his trusty laptop (typical) and a smartphone set to record (new). Before the appointment started, he explained that the healthcare system was testing a new AI system designed to record and summarize our conversation.…

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’re likely not going to want to read today’s post. It’s about the 5-year anniversary of COVID, an event we’d just as soon forget. But I’m hoping you’ll open it up and join me in thinking about how radio has been permanently impacted by a tragedy no one anticipated or was prepared for. The pandemic forever changed radio, and in order to move forward, we’ve got to process the past. It’s about perceptions, trust, and giving the audience more credit and power than we usually do.

Last fall, every news outlet was on fire with the alleged bad behavior of P Diddy. But the idea of trying to separate the man from his music is not a new dilemma for audiences – or for radio programmers. It’s been happening for more than a century. Today’s post asks some difficult questions of the radio managers tasked with making these tough calls.

Podcasting continues its growth curve, thanks to expanding audiences and the move to visual podcasts. For years, it was all about audio on this platform, but the growing trend is the increasing dominance of video podcasts – especially on YouTube. And now another massive player in television may be ready to throw its hat in the video podcasting ring. So what can radio learn from this burgeoning trend?

The impressive YouTube empire now celebrates its 20th anniversary. It’s a platform with a fascinating growth curve. And as many radio broadcasters have learned, there’s revenue to be earned. Let me walk you through it.