JacoBLOG readers know a running topic here is dashboard metadata – how radio broadcasters can direct-message their listeners behind the wheel. While so much about audio entertainment has changed in recent years, there’s been one constant: the car remains radio’s #1 listening location. But the dashboard continues to rapidly evolve, and we’re tracking its progress in our annual Techsurveys. In fact, in today’s post, I’ve got a data point from the just completed Techsurvey 2025 study that may end up becoming the most dramatic finding of this year’s study. Buckle up!

It’s a rare occurrence in radio, but right now, we’re witnessing a ratings methodological change the likes of which we haven’t seen in years. Nielsen’s switch “3-Minute” quarter-hour crediting has the makings of being a strategic game changer – if we let it. How will your station or company play the game now, and what impact will it have on your short- and long-term future?

There are few things in life you can count on, but baseball is usually one of them. Every February, the teams congregate in Florida or Arizona for spring training – the beginning of a new season. And the other thing you can depend on is that these games will be broadcast on the radio, as they have been since KDKA/Pittsburgh started the tradition in 1921, carrying Pirates games. But back in 2020, just a couple weeks before COVID struck, the Oakland A’s announced all their play-by-play coverage would be stream only. A’s fans went nuts. How did this end up playing out? That’s the topic of our #TBT post today.

This week marks the 20th anniversary of JacoBLOG, my passion play project. In today’s post, I look back but also ahead to where we and it may be headed. As a wise philosopher once said, “What a long, strange trip it’s been!” And that’s thanks in no small part to you, those who take the time to read it and even occasionally comment on it. I appreciate you, and I hope today’s post conveys that.