Sep
30
In Letter, Redstones Urge Viacom and CBS to Explore Merger
Posted in: UncategorizedThe media mogul Sumner Redstone and his daughter, Shari Redstone, are suggesting an all-stock transaction that would leave them firmly in control.
Sep
30
Books of The Times: Maria Semple’s ‘Today Will Be Different’ Serves Up Screwball With Soul
Posted in: UncategorizedMs. Semple’s follow-up to “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” can be as outrageously funny, but this book cuts closer to the bone with less satire.
Sep
30
Western Union Consolidates Media Account With MullenLowe
Posted in: Uncategorized
Western Union has named MullenLowe Mediahub its global media agency of record, consolidating its media business with the London-based company.
MullenLowe Mediahub, which is the media entity of MullenLowe Group, competed against incumbent Dentsu Aegis’ Vizeum and Publicis’ ZenithOptimedia in the pitch. The agency has put together London-based Team Union to handle the money transfer company’s reported $325 million media business.
“Western Union’s purpose, drive, brand and vision, to be a global leader in cross-currency, cross-border money movement, complements Mediahub’s mission to work with the world’s most innovative brands,” said John Moore, global president of MullenLowe Mediahub, in a statement.
Sep
30
Silicon Valley Leaders Behind Nerdz4Hillary Fundraising Campaign
Posted in: Uncategorized
A group of self-described nerds from Silicon Valley has banded together for one goal: elect Hillary Clinton.
Nerdz4Hillary, a fundraising campaign spearheaded by venture capitalist Dave McClure, is aiming to raise $100,000 to contribute to the Democrat’s bid for the presidency. It has already received commitments totaling $50,000 from Eric Ries, author of “The Lean Startup” who’s developing a stock exchange for private companies; Leanne Pittsford, founder of advocacy group Lesbians Who Tech; and staff from PayPal Holdings and other technology companies.
Mr. McClure, a founding partner at VC firm 500 Startups and “chief troublemaker” at Nerdz4Hillary, is reaching out to what he calls the “average Joe” nerds in the tech community for the rest. He expects them to contribute smaller donations of $100 to $500 each.
Sep
30
Huffington: It's Too Late for Media to Take Trump Seriously
Posted in: Uncategorized
Arianna Huffington, who recently stopped editing the digital news publication that bears her name, said at a panel discussion that it’s too late for the media to course-correct and take Donald Trump’s chances of winning the presidency seriously.
“It’s late, it’s really late. The tumor is all over the body politic,” she said, likening recent tough coverage of Mr. Trump’s campaign to performing chemotherapy after a cancerous tumor has already spread. “The lies have taken root.”
Ms. Huffington spoke Wednesday at the Carnegie-Knight Forum, which was gathered to discuss a multi-part, Shorenstein Center report on media coverage of the election. She said “the media has a huge responsibility for what’s happening in this country right now,” referring to Mr. Trump’s rise and the distinct possibility of his election.
Sep
30
Target's Kristi Argyilan on When to Stop Selling
Posted in: Uncategorized
Target’s bull’s-eye indicates accuracy, and like other retailers, it’s using data effectively to reach consumers. But an ad can follow them foo far. Target Senior VP-Marketing Kristi Argyilan says there’s a point where you just need to stop selling.
Sep
30
'Interrogate the Data': CMOs Are Sick of Digital Ad Hype
Posted in: Uncategorized
Chief marketing officers are sick of publishers making far-out claims about how great their ads perform, according to Nielsen Chief Operating Officer Steve Hasker.
In what could be the line of Advertising Week, Mr. Hasker told a room full of digital marketers: “Let me give you one truth. If you added up the ROI metric that are espoused by many many publishers, many many data providers, the U.S. GDP would double every six months.”
Mr. Hasker also was on stage with Facebook’s Brad Smallwood, head of measurement. Making the encounter all the more relevant was that Facebook revealed a problem last week with inflated video performance reports. Facebook said it miscalculated the average view time on video ads.
Sep
30
Who's Starting CP&B's Beijing Office?
Posted in: Uncategorized
Bamboo Ye, a veteran Chinese creative who’s starting up CP&B’s new office in Beijing, has a lot of experience with car brands. Over the years he’s worked on Jaguar, Land Rover, Citroen, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Mercedes, Volkswagen, General Motors and more recently, Infiniti.
Mr. Ye, the agency’s general manager and executive creative director, is working on Infiniti again at CP&B, which has the Nissan-owned luxury car brand as a global account. Before the agency announced the new office two weeks ago, Mr. Ye had spent months helping put together a team of 18 to work on Infiniti; another global account, American Airlines; and Tencent, the Chinese internet giant.
Mr. Ye, a veteran of agencies including Young & Rubicam and BBDO, was setting up his own creative venture when he was approached by CP&B, which had created the emoji ordering system for Domino’s that won the Titanium Grand Prix at the 2015 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. He said he was drawn to the agency’s “creative philosophy and business idea. To do interesting, effective and buzz-worthy advertising, crossing the limits of different media channels.”
Sep
30
Why Challenger Brands Matter in the Age of Disruption
Posted in: Uncategorized
“Disruption” has become such a buzzword, pervading everything on down to mayonnaise marketing, that people have begun to assume that it’s the goal of challenger brands. But challenger brands can’t let themselves become swept up in the mania for disruption.
Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen, who coined the term “disruptive innovation,” is as responsible as anyone for creating the hype, albeit inadvertently. Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos loved Christensen’s book, “The Innovators Dilemma,” and such high praise from high places is catnip for Silicon Valley wags. As a result, “disruption” has become the ubiquitous verbal tic we hear today.
But Christensen had something very specific in mind: business-model disruption that comes from a competitor serving an overlooked segment with a low-cost offer, and then migrating up the value chain over time by leveraging a superior cost structure. A classic example is how Toyota disrupted and won in the U.S. car market in the 1960s.
Sep
30
IHeartMedia and Advertising Age to Launch 'Tagline' Podcast
Posted in: Uncategorized
Before John Legend took the stage during an Advertising Week event in New York hosted by iHeartMedia and the Ad Council last night, iHeartMedia Chairman-CEO Bob Pittman announced the upcoming launch of a podcast in partnership with Advertising Age.
“Tagline,” as the podcast is called, will hand the microphone over to the most creative people in the businesses of advertising, marketing and communications and is meant to give listeners an insider’s perspective on what the world that influences pop culture is really all about. The series will air twice a month on Advertising Age and iHeartRadio and feature a rotating series of industry people tackling everything from the most pressing questions to the most annoying trends.
“We are excited and a little scared to turn the mic over to our friends in advertising, to create the most honest, inspiring and entertaining dialogue on the industry,” said Gayle Troberman, chief marketing officer of iHeartMedia. “Radio, streaming and podcasts are all up significantly year over year, so the time is right to create an original audio series for the advertising community. We suspect there will be no shortage of talent or opinions to keep the content and listeners flowing.”
Sep
30
Agencies, You're on Notice: Your Clients Are Likely Prepping for Reviews in the Coming Year, Survey Finds
Posted in: Uncategorized
Nearly two-thirds of leading U.S. advertisers are planning for creative agency reviews in the next year, according to a new report.
There’s cause for concern at other types of agencies as well. The outlook is not much brighter for other disciplines, according to a new report from Advertiser Perception. While 66% of advertisers plan creative agency reviews, 65% plan to review search agencies, 64% will review media agencies and 61% are ready to review digital agencies.
“We were fairly surprised at the number,” said Ken Pearl, co-founder and CEO of Advertiser Perceptions, which bills itself as a business intelligence firm that measures what advertisers think about marketing and media. “The data speaks for itself.”
Sep
30
Here's What Happened to Ogilvy Vet and Data Evangelist Dimitri Maex
Posted in: UncategorizedDimitri Maex, longtime Ogilvy exec and data evangelist, has begun a new chapter with Sentiance, a mobile data analytics firm, where he recently joined as global president. Mr. Maex, former president of OgilvyOne, Ogilvy’s data-centric customer engagement agency, will set up Belgium-based Sentiance’s new office in New York, and hire a small team of business development and tech staff there.
Mr. Maex, author of “Sexy Little Numbers,” a book about growing business through consumer data, put in his notice at Ogilvy, where he was for 17 years, this summer.
Ogilvy’s data leadership has going through some upheaval, with many execs leaving the firm recently. Todd Cullen, former Ogilvy chief data officer, moved on to KPMG in April. Mark Donatelli left Ogilvy and Mather, where he served as global head of data strategy and planning, in September. Tom Hutchinson, previously director of marketing services at OgilvyOne and former Acxiom exec, joined WPP’s data hub Data Alliance in March.
Sep
30
Mars Kicks Off International Media Buying Review
Posted in: Uncategorized
Mars has begun a media buying review in the U.K., China, India, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Southeast Asia, according to executives familiar with the situation.
A spokesman at Mars in the U.K. referred inquiries to headquarters in the U.S., where a spokesman did not immediately respond to a voicemail and email seeking comment.
The company, which owns brands including M&M’s, Snickers, Twix, Dolmio, Uncle Ben’s and Pedigree, splits out its media planning and buying operations.
Sep
30
Three Big Benefits of In-Person Networking
Posted in: Uncategorized
Social media and technology have without a doubt revolutionized the networking landscape. But that doesn’t mean networking events are a thing of the past. The benefits of networking go further than building up your Rolodex. Face-to-face meetings are still an essential part of doing business, and the benefits of doing it right, as shown in this infographic, are undeniable:
1. Improve communication
Sep
30
Donald Trump Is Miss Congeniality on The New Yorker's New Cover
Posted in: Uncategorized
Donald Trump is once again The New Yorker’s coverboy — or girl … or something. In a Barry Blitt illustration for the magazine’s Oct. 10 issue, which hits newsstands next week, a plump, tearful Trump is shown walking down a runway, a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a “Miss Congeniality” sash across his ample bosom. (Previously, Blitt depicted Trump bellyflopping into the GOP pool for the July 27, 2015 New Yorker cover.)
Franoise Mouly, The New Yorker’s art editor, offers background on the new cover in a “Culture Desk” note posted at newyorker.com:
“She was the worst we ever had, the worst, the absolute worst, she was impossible,” Donald Trump told Fox News the morning after his debate with Hillary Clinton, defending his treatment of Alicia Machado, the former Miss Universe whom he called “Miss Piggy,” when she gained weight after the pageant, and “Miss Housekeeping,” in apparent reference to her heritage. Watching the debate, the artist Barry Blitt recognized a significant moment in the Presidential campaign. Of all Trump’s dangerous beliefs, Blitt said, his misogyny “might just be his Achilles’ heel.”
Sep
30
Lair, Epoch Sign Directors; Method Hires and Promotes
Posted in: Uncategorized
Integrated production studio Lair has signed New York-based Director Brad Hasse. His experience spans over 20 countries for clients including Listerine, United Colors of Benetton, AutoTrader, MTV, and music videos for RJD2, Gramatik, and Moby.
An ADC Young Guns X and Fabrica fellowship recipient, Hasse aims to work with practical and visual effects, comedic dialogue, and creative vision. He has directed viral videos including “Texting Hat” and “Planet of the Apes Party Fun Time.”
Director David Terry Fine has signed with bi-coastal production company Epoch Films for commercial representation.
Sep
30
Cable Set-Top Box Alternative Delayed as FCC Vote Canceled
Posted in: Uncategorized
A plan to give consumers alternatives to renting a set-top box from their cable TV providers faltered as the Federal Communications Commission canceled a scheduled vote.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler removed the proposal from the agency’s monthly meeting agenda on Thursday, saying technical and legal details were still being worked out.
The plan backed by the White House aimed to clear the way for cheaper devices to serve as in-home gateways to video programming. It drew opposition from the pay-TV industry and skepticism from a fellow Democrat on the commission, Jessica Rosenworcel.
Sep
30
See the Spot: Nationwide Taps Actor From 'Hamilton'
Posted in: Uncategorized
Nationwide is rounding out its trio of songsters with a new addition. The Columbus, Ohio-based insurer will air a spot tonight starring Leslie Odom Jr., known for his role as Aaron Burr in the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton.” In the commercial, airing during Thursday Night Football on NFL Network, Mr. Odom, who won a Tony for his “Hamilton” performance, sings about the many sides of Nationwide, including the “mom side,” the “just-be-calm side,” and the “I-never-thought-I’d-get-married-at-65 side.” The 30-second spot, part of a larger campaign that debuted in August, is meant to convey to consumers that Nationwide is more than just an auto insurance brand.
The “Songs for All Your Sides” campaign has also included spots from musicians Rachel Platten and Brad Paisley. Two years ago, Nationwide, which was founded in 1926, consolidated its different brand offerings, such as Scottsdale Insurance and Veterinary Pet Insurance, under one single brand and the new campaign is also intended to help solidify that strategy.
Chief Marketing Officer Terrance Williams has said that the “Nationwide is on your side” jingle, which is used in the new campaign, is one of the brand’s marketing strengths. Nationwide spent $278.9 million on measured media in the U.S. last year, according to Ad Age’s Datacenter.
Sep
30
Dunkin' Donuts, Coca-Cola Team Up on Bottled Coffee Drinks
Posted in: Uncategorized
Dunkin’ Donuts has linked up with Coca-Cola to introduce a line of Dunkin’ Donuts branded ready-to-drink coffee beverages in early 2017 and plans to give franchisees a cut of the profits from products sold outside the chain’s shops.
Coca-Cola Co. will manufacture, distribute and sell the drinks, Dunkin’ Donuts, a division of Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc., said Thursday (which happens to be National Coffee Day).
Dunkin’ Donuts’ decision to jump into the bottled ready-to-drink coffee business comes more than two decades after rival Starbucks linked up with Coca-Cola rival PepsiCo to sell bottled coffee drinks.
Sep
30
Agencies Battle at Ad Age's Karaoke for a Cause During Advertising Week
Posted in: Uncategorized
Twelve teams squared off on stage Wednesday night at Ad Age’s second annual Karaoke for a Cause, competing for a $10,000 prize for the charity of the winner’s choice, sponsored by The Trade Desk. McCann came away with the win, donating the prize money to NYC Food Bank.
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