Welcome to the weekend whose middle name is “THANKS.” For this year’s holiday, it is all about gratitude – giving it to those who’ve made a differrence in your life or career path, as well as those receiving the appreciation for their generosity. I’ve got one of those exercises to help us put this holiday in perspective, as well as thoughts about why gratitude can actually make us feel more optimistic about the road ahead. Ready?

One of the more profound way these troubled times have taken their toll is that most of us have fewer friends and we see them less often than ever. So how can the audience’s need for companionship be met? According to our Techsurvey, one of the top ten reasons why people still listen to broadcast radio is to “keep them company.” Companionship is one of radio’s remaining superpowers, and it very much figures into how great stations can succeed over the long haul. Click to learn more.

Almost exactly one year ago to the day of ChatGPT’s release to the public, it has already been responsible for a key job loss – its CEO. Last week, OpenAI – the company that brought this platform to market – fired Sam Altman, raising questions about where this technology is headed. Radio broadcasters should be asking their own questions about AI, learning as much as they can to both protect and grow their companies. With our upcoming Techsurvey fielding in January, commercial radio listeners will take a crack at telling us their perceptions, hopes, and fears about this amazing technology. We will most definitely paying attention.

Exactly one decade ago, Jacobs Media launched our first DASH Conference here in Detroit, in collaboration with Radio Ink and auto consultant, Valerie Shuman. Appropriately on #TBT, I’ve dusted off a blog post that’s 10 years-old that hopefully still resonates when it comes to radio’s newly defined position in the automotive world. In this old post, we laid out a 6-point plan of action for the radio broadcasting industry in its effort to keep up with its #1 listening location – the car. Check out that post, and keep score for me, OK? How did WE do? And how has radio done?