MDC Partners announced today it has taken a 51 percent majority stake in Portland, Ore., independent digital agency Instrument for an undisclosed sum. It’s the holding company’s first 2018 acquisition of what will likely be several. Founded in 2002, Instrument is one of the largest digital indie shops in the U.S., housing 175 strategists, producers,…
Yes, there is a place named Dildo. And Rectum. And Cumming. Residents of those towns might be feeling especially lucky today thanks to a new stunt from the always-friendly folks at Pornhub. The world’s largest purveyor of adult entertainment has stumbled upon yet another ingenious mode of self-promotion in the form of free porn for…
Following reports that Michigan State University paid IPG-owned PR firm Weber Shandwick more than half a million dollars over several months to track social media activity surrounding the case of USA Gymnastics national team doctor and convicted sexual predator Larry Nassar, the firm went on the defensive today, saying such claims don’t accurately represent the…
This Sunday is April Fools’ Day, and the hijinks are getting off to an amusing start with WArby’s–a purported joint venture between eyewear maker Warby Parker and fast-food purveyor Arby’s. “Arby’s has an eye for meat. Warby Parker has meat for eyes. The result? A new partnership sandwiched somewhere between vision and at least eight…
Harry Bernstein’s phone will soon be buzzing like crazy. That’s because the Havas New York chief creative officer is brazenly pasting the number on ads in New York City and on 14 college campuses around the country, urging aspiring ad pros to text him directly for a shot at an agency internship this summer. The…
“America runs on Dunkin'” may be a decade-old hyperbolic slogan, but it’s about to become quite literal–for a few thousand people, anyway. Dunkin’ Donuts has joined the fray of brands branching out into apparel with its new, limited-edition line of running shoes created in partnership with fellow Boston-based brand Saucony. The Saucony X Dunkin’ Kinvara…
The eighth and final season of the iconic HBO original series Game of Thrones is still one year away from premiering, but Major League Baseball fans will be able to get their GoT fix in the months ahead. Major League Baseball and HBO announced a renewal of their partnership to bring customized Game of Thrones…
Heineken USA has pulled a Publicis campaign themed “Sometimes, lighter is better” off its social channels after Chance the Rapper criticized one spot in the series as racist. The campaign featured four 15-second executions in which a bartender at an outdoor party uses binoculars to see what everyone is drinking. In each spot, he spies…
360i today announced it’s getting rid of the chief marketing officer role and transitioning Abbey Klaassen, who has held that title since 2015, into a new position as president of its New York office. The shift means Klaassen will now spearhead the strategic decisions, growth and culture of the agency’s flagship office, which is home…
Getty Images is removing its iconic watermark to help people around the world who lack clean drinking water. Getty Images created a “Watermarks for Water” collection featuring 300 photographs from top photographers that illustrate the hardships people without access to clean water face. Each time one of the images is licensed, the Getty Images watermark…
Meredith Corp. CEO Tom Harty had some big news to share with Time Inc. staffers during a town hall yesterday in New York: Legendary (and newly acquired) titles Sports Illustrated, Fortune, Money and Time will be sold. The Iowa-based Meredith owns monthly magazines that target women, including Better Homes & Gardens and Martha Stewart Living….
Michael Jordan never saw a Chicago Bull quite like this one. In a project that seems destined to delight designers everywhere, Nike commissioned Polish artist Filip Pagowski to reimagine the logos of every NBA team. His hand-drawn takes add a sense of spontaneity to brand identities that are in many cases so well-established as to…
Ikea announced today it has selected Wavemaker to retain its planning and buying business in the U.S. after an extensive global procurement-led media review first launched in 2016. Wavemaker, the WPP agency network formed by the merger of MEC and Maxus, will be tasked with driving “deeper integration and innovation” in-store and online across all…
NBC Sports has become a dominant force in the world of professional motorsports. It has U.S. broadcast rights to F1. It recently garnered broadcast rights to Nascar. And now it has exclusive rights to IndyCar Series, which includes the famed Indianapolis 500. NBC Sports Group and IndyCar announced a new, multi-year media agreement on Wednesday…
Social networks make announcement after announcement touting the increasing effectiveness of their ad-targeting capabilities, and most media companies build their economic models around a menu of digital display advertising options for clients, but according to a new study, the people they are targeting are far from impressed. Digital experience management platform Instart Logic teamed up…
If you love the taste of Taco Bell’s hot sauce packets, then you’ll be excited about the company’s latest innovation: Tortilla chips based on the mild and fire sauces. Starting in May, the hot sauce-inspired chips, as well as a classic tortilla chip, will be available in grocery and convenience stores. As a nod to…
Spark Foundry USA today announced the appointment of Joe Kowan in the new role of executive vice president of digital solutions, precision and technology. Spark said Kowan will oversee its entire digital offering, with a specific focus on the media agency’s precision, ad-tech and data-enabled media work. Based in Chicago, Kowan will also help expand…
Over the past few years, brands have ramped up the number of immersive experiences at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. So it makes sense that the festival would seek to recognize that work. This year, SXSW created a new awards program, the SXSW Creative Experience Arrow Awards. “SXSW has long hosted awards for technology…
Just over one week after Hyundai’s ad agency Innocean Worldwide placed chief creative officer Eric Springer on leave following Adweek’s report of a sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed against him, another suit has surfaced. This case accuses the agency and a now-former executive of sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination, in addition to…
Creatives around the country are providing poster designs for those taking part in demonstrations demanding tougher gun control measures on March 24. When producers Aubrey Jones and Kara O’Halloran and associate creative director and art director Ellen Page came to McKinney chief creative officer Jonathan Cude with the idea of making posters for the March…
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