Our Latest Industry Blogs

This has been one crazy American summer in the world of politics. As we careen into the Labor Day Weekend, the president has pulled out of the race, the former president survived an assassination attempt, and the word “weird” has become the leader in most word searches. Amidst this backdrop, both the RNC and DNC conventions are now in the rear-view mirror. Smart and savvy radio programmers and marketers may have noticed how many of the techniques we saw in Milwaukee and Chicago apply to the day-to-day marketing and positioning of radio. To help you out, I made a list.

Research is coming out fast and furious about workers in media-related industries actively integrating AI into their regular work routines. A University of Chicago study published recently surveyed 100,000 workers across multiple industries and job titles.  Two of the three most likely to use AI at work?  Journalists and marketers. [click for larger view] As Fred, Paul, and I…

No one said digital transformation would be easy or fun. And certainly not funny. But you have to retain your sense of humor, especially during trying times. And while this post starts out as serious as a heart attack, before you know it, you’ll be laughing with tears. Or maybe just tears. Hopefully, today’s TGIF post will distract from your current doldrums and stresses as you help guide your company through the tall grass of technological change. So, get out your machetes and click on READ MORE.

Welcome to #TBT and a 10-year trip back to the past where I visited with a famous radio on-air icon. It was 2014, and I had just returned from Morning Show Boot Camp 26 in Chicago where I saw him tell the revealing and often soul-bearing story of his long, challenging, and precarious rise to the big time. Ten years later, it holds up very well.

As our entertainment options proliferate, it has become incumbent on content creators to be mindful of how they can stand out in an ever-increasing crowd. The dual battles for attention and for ears are real, putting pressure on us to make our brands distinctly different – or pay the price. Today’s blog post quotes a television icon with wisdom, sarcasm, and wit to get us going. So, what makes you think you’re so special?

Today brother Paul takes control of the JacoBLOG keyboard. It’s an ambitious post about the state of radio digital transformation. It’s a tough read, but an important one we hope will stimulate thought, criticism, and new ideas. Change is hard. But not changing is even harder.

As the political season hits high gear this fall, pundits are looking for the key word(s) that sum up the vibe of the country. More and more, it is looking like “joy” fits the bill, and today’s post not only discusses its impact but illustrates how any radio station can lean into it. Just click on READ MORE to feel the joy.

As the media world becomes increasingly more crowded, a legacy medium – like radio – might have to re-establish its core mission. Guest blogger, Edison Research’s Larry Rosin, has new data to shaare to help us better determine “What was radio ‘made for?'” It’s a good read.

One of the many things Americans fear about AI is the threat it could have in politics. In this year’s Jacobs Media Techsurvey of 30,000+ radio listeners, 83% are somewhat or largely concerned about “AI and its potential to influence the 2024 elections.”  It was one of the most universal opinions expressed in this year’s survey.…

Radio’s legacy for being the “king of the car” has been shaken in recent years as dashboard infotainment systems now include pretty much everything. And content choices for drivers have also proflierated. For radio broadcasters, it is another tough test. And it sets up today’s #TBT post from five years ago that framed the competition for the car we are feeling today. It’s a blast from the past but also a look at the future of the car dashboard – and radio.