Our Latest Industry Blogs

As the radio industry is buffeted by financial pressure and unprecedented disruption, it becomes even more incumbent on management to focus on the productivity of station and company teams. The health and welfare of team members under these challenging circumstances become even more important as employees are asked to wear more “hats” and take on additional responsibilities. Today’s blog post contains practical idea to help keep radio teams upbeat and positive, and mission focused even during tough and unpredictable times.

A CNN story about “the twilight of Classic Rock” got a lot of you revved up this past weekend. Chill. Classic Rock’s not going anywhere. Take it from me.

So, what’s on your docket for the rest of the summer? If you’re like more than 80% of Americans, there’s a road trip in your future—hopefully, one where the radio’s on. And that’s part of the thinking behind a clever new innovation you likely haven’t hear about. The “Internet Road Trip Game” combines the best of everything: road tripping, geographic points of interest, the power of an Internet community, interactivity, and of course, radio listening along your virtual journey. So buckle your imaginary seat belt and let’s go for a ride.

It turns out there’s a universal English word people use around the world to designate something or someone as hip or accepted. It’s “COOL.” So while we all know it when we see it or hear it, being considered cool is a whole different thing. Let’s put aside how many are listening every week 6+ and focus on what it would take for broadcast radio to be widely considered to be “cool” again. There’s brand new research that can help us get there.

Detroit radio lost one of its finest over the Fourth of July weekend. Buzz Van Houten didn’t host a hilarious morning show. Nor was he a world-famous PD. But everywhere he worked up and down the Motor City radio dial, he had a profound impact on his colleagues and many friends. He was one of those special people who brought soomething intangible and special to the stations who hired him. Today’s post is a tribute to Buzz, along with those who brought that “special sauce” to radio.

You hear the phrase a lot these days—”We have to control our own narrative.” That’s because anyone with a keyboard is a journalist, and the misinformation about the radio broadcasting has risen exponentially. The arrows are often pointing south for broadcast radio, and in today’s #TBt post, I talk about why this is and what the radio industry might do to turn those frowns upside down.

Event marketing for radio organizations represents an ample opportunity to build revenue as well as local connections. It carries many upsides, for both audiences and advertisers. But radio broadcasters need to understand what they’re getting into.

As a society and in the media business, we continue to grapple with AI. How will it be used, can it augment existing skillsets, and how do consumers feel about its use? Today in JacoBLOG, some questionable AI applications you might be facing sooner…or later.

The phrase “Location, location, location” isn’t just the mantra for real estate agents. It has long been a guiding star for radio programmers, seeking to align their content with where listeners are and what they’re doing throughout the day—and week. But now we’re seeing prescient media brands embrace vibe—the mood, attitude, and frame of mind of the listener. Today’s post talks about what that looks and sounds like.