





from Jacobs Media
The excitement and drama surrounding AI intensifies when talk of the technology replacing jobs and entire industries takes flight. While the radio industry has been emotionally debating whether bots could replace DJs and VO pros, a new application has emerged: audience research. And a brand new startup claims “synthetic research” among avatars rather than human respondents is faster, cheaper, and just as accurate as the real thing. In today’s post, I break it down and tackle a topic we no doubt will be discussing and debating for the foreseeable future.
Read MoreAs media brands proliferate and have gotten more competitive, the need for standing out has never been greater. Amidst the video streaming wars, one player has emerged with a different model that’s paying off big time. There are some key lessons here for broadcast radio where the competitive scenario demands a unique and different approach.
Read MoreForever and a day, we’ve been taught the familiar maxim, “Content is king.” But now, one of the most perceptive observers of the media and technology universe is telling us there’s a new, more meaningful way to look at the landscape – and it’s all about through the lens of distribution. For readers of this blog, that’s nothing new, but the ways in which most broadcasters are developing their respective strategies might require some re-examination if our industry is to avoid the black holes that continue to make legacy media brands disappear.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be #1 in the market, especially those ultra-competitive major PPM metros? Not as much as it once did. Nowadays, broadcasters discount the top dog position because it’s based on 6+. But blowing past all competitors in town is SOMETHING. And a little digging into the ratings proves it. After all, not everyone in radio can make the claim, “We’re #1!”
Read MoreAs #TBT posts go, today’s entry is one of my all-time favorites. It is dedicated to the amazing men and women on the airwaves who, lucky for us, made radio their career. We want to hear them tell great stories, but most of all, we want to hear them tell their stories. As a rule, radio people are very interesting sorts, and yet, we often don’t know as much about them as we’d like. Maybe after reading today’s throwback post, we can change that.
Read MoreFor a heritage radio station, there’s nothing more exhilarating AND daunting as planning for a big station birthday—the ones that end with a zero. The upside is the opportunity to remind the audience and advertisers you’ve been around a long time, but the downside is reinforcing you’re long in the tooth, doing the same things in the same way you have for decades. Fortunately, there’s a national brand now celebrating its 40th year in business. Rather than going down the tried and true path, they’re burning the playbook. Let’s look into how it’s going.
Read MoreLife is transitory – for radio and for all of us. Maybe it took a year like 2020 to remind us that it can come and it can go – just like that. Now here we are in another “moment” – a very unsettled 2025. What can we learn from those prreviously tumultuous times?
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For a heritage radio station, there’s nothing more exhilarating AND daunting as planning for a big station birthday—the ones that end with a zero. The upside is the opportunity to remind the audience and advertisers you’ve been around a long time, but the downside is reinforcing you’re long in the tooth, doing the same things in the same way you have for decades. Fortunately, there’s a national brand now celebrating its 40th year in business. Rather than going down the tried and true path, they’re burning the playbook. Let’s look into how it’s going.
Read MoreLife is transitory – for radio and for all of us. Maybe it took a year like 2020 to remind us that it can come and it can go – just like that. Now here we are in another “moment” – a very unsettled 2025. What can we learn from those prreviously tumultuous times?
Read MoreInternet memes come and go, usually at a rapid pace. So, in today’s JacoBLOG, you might want to pay attention today because next week, it will be something else. AI Action Figures may be just the thing for radio personalities looking to warm things up and bring a sense of fun and whimsy to their shows and the stations they work for. Inspired by a story Chris Brunt dug up, today’s blog post takes a break from our “radio drama.” Hope you enjoy.
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