Aside from the tragedy itself, one of the most interesting aspects of the ensuing investigation revolved around how video and pictures broke the case open.  In fact, law enforcement agencies made their way through 10 terabytes of data from consumer cell phones, retail store cameras, and other video sources in order to better understand what happened and who did it.

And from a sharing standpoint, social media becomes more powerful when there are pictures and visuals within the content.  An ROI Research study from last year shows that people most enjoy posts that contain photos.  Videos will rapidly rise up the list, too, as more and more people use their smartphone as cameras and camcorders.

We know that the Holy Grail of social media for radio is when our audience loves our content so much that they share it with their communities.  As we learned in Techsurvey9, more and more people are frequently sharing things socially, opening up the doors to radio brands that seize the opportunity.  The beauty of our research is that it clearly identifies who these “serial sharers” are and how to reach them.

But this process requires a deeper understanding of the consumer mindset and how they use their smartphones in everyday life.  We provided owners of iPhones, Android handsets, and BlackBerry devices the opportunity to tell us how they use their smartphones most often.  The results are telling.

While just about every smartphone function shows greater usage year to year, it is the sharing of pictures and video that has shown some of the most impressive increases:

And wouldn’t you know it – “frequent sharers” are considerably more likely to take and pass along pictures and video, as are those with an Apple or Android phone.

So it lines up really nicely – more viral sharing takes place when consumers utilize pictures and video.  And because so many great radio brands have a solid, loyal audience, focusing on-air, promotion and marketing activity that is visual just makes sense.

Yet, it is simply not a common topic of conversation in programing and promotions meetings.  Thinking about the notion that everyone has a camera (or camcorder) should change the way that stations approach concerts, events, and other local activities where people gather.

And because the essence of radio is about people – DJs, personalities, and their audiences – the potential for broadcasters to do so much more in this space is an opportunity waiting to happen.  It’s something that satellite radio and pure-plays just aren’t going to be able to mobilize.  And for both programming and sales, putting the audience to work at events and promotions just makes so much sense.

It all comes down to rethinking the audience.  They are no longer passive players waiting to hear what we’re going to do next.  They are active, social, and engaged.  Shine the spotlight on them, provide them something worth sharing, be open to their content, and give them a seat at the table.

It’s time to start thinking visual.

Click here to for the full report.

Click here for the full story.

While his company went through tough times, Netflix continued to do some amazing things.  The release model for House of Cards is a case in point.

While we wait patiently for the next episode of Newsroom, Game of Thrones, or Homeland, Netflix released the entire debut season of House of Cards at once.  In that way, viewers didn’t have to wait for what Hastings calls “linear TV” in order to watch the series.  Instead, they could view it in much the way we might read a riveting book – one chapter at a time.  If we’re so inclined, we can watch several chapters in one sitting.

Of course, this turns the whole matrix of watching television upside down, and that’s exactly what Hastings thinks is happening on a larger scale.  And he believes it’s all being powered by apps.

In radio, we think about apps as being associated with stations, games, or maps.

But the rapidly evolving transformation in media consumption suggests that TV apps could change everything.  Recently, Hastings put his long term view on the Netflix website, and here’s a quote that will jump out at you:

“In addition to Netflix, most of the world’s leading linear TV networks are moving into Internet TV. The WatchESPN app runs on many Internet platforms and is specifically designed to showcase sports. ESPN will keep improving their app to try to stay ahead of MLB.tv, which is another terrific Internet TV sports app. The HBO GO app makes HBO’s films and series much more accessible than on HBO’s linear channel. The BBC iPlayer app in the UK provides a rich and popular on-demand interface for a wide range of BBC programming. The other major linear networks are not far behind.”

Part of Hastings’ theory is that the age of TV channels is over – that viewers will increasingly turn to TV apps to access content whenever and wherever they like.   Here we are, constantly discussing Internet radio, and Hastings is making the case for Internet TV.  Here’s his thought process as to why this is going to happen:

1. The Internet will get faster, more reliable and more available;
2. Smart TV sales will increase and eventually every TV will have Wi-Fi and apps;
3. Smart TV adapters (Roku, AppleTV, etc.) will get less expensive and better;
4. Tablet and smartphone viewing will increase;
5. Tablets and smartphones will be used as touch interfaces for Internet TV;
6. Internet TV apps will rapidly improve through competition and frequent updates;
7. Streaming 4k video will happen long before linear TV supports 4k video;
8. Internet video advertising will be personalized and relevant;
9. TV Everywhere will provide a smooth economic transition for existing networks;
10. New entrants like Netflix are innovating rapidly.

In our recently completed Techsurvey9, the stars of our show are smartphones and tablets.  And we saw clearly in the data that watching videos is becoming an increasingly important usage feature on mobile devices.

So which TV brands and networks stand the best chance of survival, and which ones will progress and thrive in a TV app environment?  Here’s Hastings “take” on the subject:

“Existing networks, such as ESPN and HBO, that offer amazing apps will get more viewing than in the past, and be more valuable. Existing networks that fail to develop first-class apps will lose viewing and revenue.”

In other words, may the best apps win.

Now that’s a philosophy that I can believe in – especially for the best radio brands.

And as MediaPost “Mobile Insider” writer Steve Smith recently noted in an article on this same topic, “…I think they are absolutely right that as media fragments across multiple devices this is going to be a war about moments. Both media providers and the marketers that work with them have to start thinking about how they conquest not just direct competition, but rival media experiences at any given moment.”

This war about moments suggests that your competition isn’t just The Bear, 101X, or other radio stations in town.  It’s now about the wider range of digital channels and options, and what they can offer the consumer – whenever and wherever she wants it.

Your branded app needs to do more than stream.  It needs to offer experiences, features, and be remarkable.  That’s what Hastings is saying about the TV environment.  There’s no reason to believe this won’t become reality in radio, too.

For the full article click here.

Are listeners using our app?

Can we monetize it?

How important is the stream to our station’s success and how will it be measured?

What other features can listeners use that would build our brand, enhance our content, and optimize the mobile experience?

These are all good questions and depending on the brand, the company, and the local staff, some are easier to answer than others.

We have answered many of them in Techsurvey9 which will be presented to stakeholder stations today and tomorrow, and at the Worldwide Radio Summit on Friday.

But if you work for a company that doesn’t mandate that your brand music use an “aggregated app” like iHeartRadio, you might be asking yourself another question:

What other apps could we develop that would enhance the listener experience, build our brand – and make us money?

Now I realize that this question coming from a mobile app developer begs a number of other questions.  And I’ll admit that I have a thoroughbred in this race.  Our jacAPPS division continues to design, create, and produce some amazing apps for radio – as well as other industry verticals.

Great media brands can do more – and should do more – than just build branded apps that perform a simple function like streaming or access to podcasts.

Look at where The New York Times is moving with their new Scoop app:

Why shouldn’t the premier newspaper in New York City develop an entertainment app that merges some of their best entertainment and lifestyle departments?  Instead of having to navigate all this stuff on their standard app, The Times makes it easy to find whatever you want to do while running around Manhattan.  I’m sure that those of you who visit NYC from time to time have already started downloading this simple, focused app.

And that’s the point.  The Times is a great brand with lots of tentacles, making it smart for them to take a deeper dive into the mobile experience.  Why run around with a paper under your arm when your iPhone can do the heavy lifting?

That should tell you that your brand is likely capable of the same thing.  And in mobile, you can take your brand and personality interests to a granular level.  A case in point is a new app that jacAPPS just developed for a company called SHFT.com.   You probably know a couple of their key players – the Ford Motor Company and Entouragestar Adrian Grenier (pictured here with his business partner, Hollywood producer Peter Glatzer).

Food Tripping is all about finding healthy food choices – wherever you are.  For someone like me who is health conscious and travels extensively, I wonder why someone hadn’t thought of this before?

But that’s the point – there are a myriad of possibilities in your market and for your stations (or clusters) to extend themselves in the mobile space.  This activity builds your brands, provides service to your audience, and creates additional revenue generation opportunities.

Rather than looking at mobile as an obligation – especially as brands have to create Apple and Android apps – think of it as an incredible avenue to extend a station’s reach and influence in the lives of local listeners.

If you’ve built a great brand, it will go even farther when you go mobile.

Read the full story here.

Think of it as Yelp for healthy eating at restaurants, farmer’s markets, vegan, vegetarian, and even juice bars.  So now, when you’re on the road, in a new town, or just looking for good food around the corner, there’s now an app for that.

Food Tripping is the brainchild of a great team from Hollywood – “Entourage’s” Adrian Grenier and producer Peter Glatzer.  A few years ago they founded SHFT, a multi-media company whose mission is to promote sustainable living through video, design, art, and culture.

Peter and Adrian heard about jacAPPS through our relationship with Ford (the SHFT app will eventually be programmed to be voice-activated via the SYNC AppLink system).  They were looking for a company that could take their vision and convert it to an outstanding mobile experience.  In conjunction with design team Ludlow Kingsley, our team did a remarkable job of conceiving the design, building the backend, and creating a terrific mobile app for iPhone and Android that we believe will become a huge success very quickly.

The Food Tripping app represents a breakthrough for jacAPPS. Mobile isn’t static, and neither is jacAPPS.  We invite you check out the Food Tripping app and let us know what you think.  Even better, hit the “Suggest” button and let us know about your favorite healthy eating place.  And then go out and have a great meal. because our team built a complex backend database system in less than a month that currently handles 50,000 entries (we expect that to double over time).  It also demonstrates the broadening of our capabilities – while we continue to build wonderful apps for our media partners, we continue to break new ground with apps like Food Tripping, “Chicago’s Best TV,” and many others.

You can download the Food Tripping app in the iTunes Store here.

And in the Google Play Market here.

SHFT and Ford select jacAPPS to develop the “Food Tripping” App

Southfield, MI, April 22, 2013 – jacAPPS announced today in coordination with The Ford Motor Company and SHFT.COM, the cultural media platform that curates the best in design, art, food, film and music, the launch of Food Tripping – a free mobile application that allows users to find a broad range of fresh, local, seasonal, healthy food options on-the go.
“We were thrilled when we were selected to develop the app for the ‘Food Tripping’ project,” said jacAPPS President Paul Jacobs.  “This is an important project for our company, but it’s also true to our values.  As road warriors ourselves, we look forward to using the ‘Food Tripping’ app often.”

SHFT.COM was founded in December, 2009 by film producer Peter Glatzer and the star of HBO’s “Entourage,” actor/filmmaker Adrian Grenier.  The brand has attracted a dedicated audience, an arsenal of original and aggregated content, and a growing list of corporate partnerships including the Ford Motor Company.  Their collective goal has been to creatively educate people on sustainable options and healthy living.

“We are excited to see this app come to life,” said Peter Glatzer, Co-Founder of SHFT.com “It’s a great tool to have while on the road, or wherever you are in the country when you’re at a loss for finding a healthy place to eat.

What’s great about the Food Tripping app is its scope. The app will feature a broad range of options from local organic markets and juice bars to micro-breweries,

wineries, distilleries, and fine dining where local seasonal fare is served. It’s a perfect partnership for SHFT to have with Ford and we’re proud to be in this together.”

The “Food Tripping app is available as a free download on iPhone, iPad and Android available today, Earth Day. To celebrate its announcement, Ford and SHFT.com have curated the best green gadgets to take on road trips – from a backpack made from used plastic bottles to a solar charge-able music boom box. The full list of items can be found at www.SHFT.com.

The iPhone Food Tripping app can be accessed in iTunes here.

The Android Food Tripping app can be accessed in the Google Play Market here.