Omnicom Exceeded Earnings Expectations Globally but Continues to Struggle in North America

In an earnings call today, holding company Omnicom revealed that it exceeded earnings expectations globally during the first quarter but continues to struggle with growth in the critical North American market. Omnicom Group reported first-quarter net income of $264.1 million, a 9.2 percent increase from 2017’s first quarter. Worldwide revenue totals for the quarter were…

After Starbucks Had 2 Black Men Arrested, Is the Chain Living Up to Its Stance on Diversity and Equality?

Despite a brand platform supporting diversity and inclusion, recent incidents at two Starbucks are calling into question whether the company truly represents the values it touts. The first incident happened at a location in Philadelphia involved the arrest of two black men. Employees at the store called the police after the two men asked to…

Why Sean Hannity Should Have Made His Relationship to Michael Cohen Public

At least one media analyst feels Fox News host Sean Hannity should have disclosed his relationship with President Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen, not only to the public, but to his employer as well. Why? “The public needs to be able to filter what you’re seeing through the lens of, ‘Why would they say that?’…

Why WPP’s Cryptic Handling of Martin Sorrell’s Resignation Is the Wrong Move

“To this day, the improprieties that prompted Sir Martin to step down have yet to be made known, which seems unusual in an industry where such secrets don’t stay secret for too long,” PR veteran Peter Himler told Adweek today. Two days after Martin Sorrell stunned the global business world by resigning from his role…

‘In The Dark’ Will Focus on a Man Tried 6 Times for the Same Crime

After a successful first run, American Public Media and Westwood One have partnered to reach even more listeners for a second season of investigative podcast In the Dark. The first season of the series focused on the kidnapping of an 11-year-old boy nearly three decades after the case went cold. The season boasted almost 12…

These Incredibly Crafted Anti-Smoking Ads Drop the Fear Tactics in Favor of Empathy

They know smoking is dangerous. They know it’s expensive. They know it makes them a bad influence on their kids. And they know they need to quit. In these new, documentary-style PSAs for Tobacco Free Florida, agency Alma takes a refreshingly respectful approach to encouraging smokers to quit. Instead of extreme scare tactics, the ads…

Stephen Curry, Looking Back on His Life, Distills It All Down to One Lesson: Mental Resilience

There are probably a lot of reasons why Stephen Curry has gotten to where he is today–support from his family and friends, hard work, dedication and so on–but one of the most important things, at least according to new work from Kaiser Permanente, is his ability to train his mind, not just his body, to…

This Beer Brand Recreated an Entire Street Corner After Colombia’s Government Banned Drinking in Public

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name … like your corner bodega, for example. In Colombia, however, that’s no longer quite so simple if you want to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two. Early last year, the country’s government passed a new police code encouraging citizens to report others for minor infractions…

Why FedEx’s Transportation of $1 Billion in Artifacts—Including King Tut—Is Big for the Brand

FedEx has made a name for itself over the past 40 years by transporting not only everyday stuff but precious and irreplaceable cargo, like giant panda Bao Bao, a T-Rex skeleton, 90 tons of Titanic wreckage, endangered sea turtle eggs and the Vince Lombardi trophy. Even so, execs at the global company had to draw…

Parkland Students Are Asking Advertising’s Brightest Minds to Help Grow the Gun Control Movement

The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School know the news cycle is fast and furious. Momentous stories that once would have dominated the news for weeks now only hold the nation’s attention for days or even hours. Survivors of the shooting that left 17 people dead in Parkland, Fla., on Valentine’s Day attended the…

One Month After Acquiring Scripps, Discovery Unveils Unified Upfront for Its 17 Networks

There was no time for celebration when Discovery Communications closed its deal to acquire Scripps Networks last month. Instead, Jon Steinlauf, the former Scripps ad sales chief who was named chief U.S. advertising sales officer for the combined company (now called Discovery Inc.), had less than two weeks to turn an all-Scripps upfront event into…

In Industry First, UM Appoints Brand Safety Officer to Lead Efforts on New Advertising Protection Bureau

IPG Mediabrands’ UM Worldwide is the first to appoint an executive to the 4A’s Advertiser Protection Bureau, a new collective committee aimed at addressing the ever-pressing issue of brand safety that will involve all of advertising’s major holding companies. In an industry first, Joshua Lowcock will lead UM’s efforts on the bureau to stop brands’…

PGA Tour Retires 20-Year-Old Slogan and Stresses Fans as Much as Players in New Campaign

A few years ago, the PGA Tour put out a series of videos via its YouTube channel. Each was a spotlight of a star player–Dustin Johnson, Luke Donald, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar–and each featured the sort of footage fans (that anyone, really) would expect from the world of professional golf: the slow-mo footage of a…

On the Adweek Podcast: #MeToo, Marketing and the Women Who Changed Advertising

The ad industry is unquestionably at a turning point, with the long-simmering pushback against widespread sexual harassment now at a full boil and women in the industry demanding better accountability from their employers and colleagues. On this week’s episode of Adweek’s podcast, “Yeah, That’s Probably an Ad,” our panel looks at how the #MeToo movement…

Q&A: Hearts & Science COO on Building Company Culture in the #MeToo Era and the Threat of Consultancies

In just two years of existence, Omnicom Media Group’s Hearts & Science has become a force in the world of media agencies, scooping up account wins for Procter & Gamble, AT&T, and most recently the $350 million U.S. media account for Amgen. The shop has expanded to six U.S. locations and 16 global offices from…

Stars Turn Wedding Classics Into Same-Sex Love Songs in MGM Resorts’ ‘Universal Love’ Playlist

An ambitious campaign from MGM Resorts and agency McCann New York is celebrating LGBTQ love–and increasingly tolerant attitudes towards same-sex marriage–by teaming up with top musical artists to re-imagine classic, traditionally heterosexual love songs as same-sex wedding tunes. Titled “Universal Love,” the six-song recording includes performances from Bob Dylan, St. Vincent and Kesha, delivering fresh…

American Express’ New Branding Targets People Whose Work and Personal Lives Are Intertwined

More and more people today, 50 percent in fact, are finding their work and personal lives intertwining, according to a global study commissioned by American Express. The brand always wants to ensure that its messaging is reflecting the world that its consumers are living in, so today American Express is launching what it describes as…

Younger Consumers Are Abandoning Casual Chains. Here’s What Restaurants Are Doing to Fix It

Casual restaurants are at a critical breaking point. Consumers–hello, millennials and Gen Z–are increasingly fleeing legacy chains, from Applebee’s to Olive Garden, in favor of trendier, tech-savvy, more health-conscious options. Applebee’s announced plans to close between 60 and 80 eateries in 2018, citing a millennial-driven decline in foot traffic as a major factor. Sister brand…

Infographic: Women Use Their Phones for Way More Than Just Communicating

As innovation in mobile changes how society operates, women are using their phones to assist them in practically every aspect of their lives, from consuming news to budgeting to waking up in the morning. Almost half of women ages 18 to 34 check their phones as soon as they wake up, and another 36 percent…

SapientRazorfish Exec Explains Why Publicis Is Pushing Toward Consulting Work

While introducing his “2020: Sprint to the Future” plan, Publicis Groupe CEO and chairman Arthur Sadoun explained one of the key areas for growth for the holding company will be in consulting work. The plan detailed how it will expand and deepen its expertise in technology and consulting led by digital business transformation unit Publicis.Sapient,…