The big – and rather shocking – radio stories this past year came from across the border. It wasn’t that Bell Media was selling off more that 40% of their radio group to seven different broadcast companies – it was that one of their corporate officers announced the reason for the sale: radio is no longer a viable business, according to the company. In today’s “Best of” post, I’ll revisit what it meant to say the quiet part out loud, and why the effects of their announcement was most definitely felt in the 50 states in 2024 – and perhaps, beyond.

The “Best of JacoBLOG” starts this holiday week off, and brother Paul gives me an always welcome writing break. Today, he takes control of the keyboard to author what became one of the most ambitious posts of 2024. It’s all about about the state of radio digital transformation. It’s a tough read, but an important one we hoped would stimulate thought, criticism, and new ideas. Change is hard. But not changing is even harder. This post also marked the launch of Jacobs D.R., our digital revenue initiative spearheaded by Chris Brunt. We’re looking forward to big things in the new year and hope we can be part of the solution.

We always hear “Radio needs to do a better job telling its story.” But where would the creative come from and how could broadcasters pay for it – especially in this economy? OK, here’s some back of the napkin math for you.

One of the existential quandaries in radio programming involves how long to keep spinning those songs on the playlist, whether you’re the new hip-hop station or the classic rock king. Today’s “Best of” post from earlier this year takes on the notion of music burn-out and its role in consumers getting tired of a radio station. It turns out we can learn a lot from a marketing whiz who offers insights about ad “wear-in” to the conversation. I think you’ll find it helpful as this crazy year wraps up.