Revolution. That’s the term Brian Alvey, the man who built the software underlying three generations of digital publishers, uses to describe the current buzz around brand publishing. Advertisers don’t want just to make ads that run alongside other people’s content anymore. A growing number of them want to be publishers themselves.
Leica brings its obsessive German craftsmanship into focus with this tongue-in-cheek video that shows one of its technicians hand-polishing a block of aluminum used as the base of its new T System camera—for 45 minutes. Polish. Polish. Polish. Look at those gloved hands go. A voiceover tells us that it takes "4,700 individual strokes to finish each body." Sounds kinky. It isn't.
The Paris office of Ogilvy & Mather is top gun at this year's Webby Awards. The shop earned the agency of the year honor on the strength of its work for Google+, Perrier and Scrabble. Ogilvy's "Same Sex Marriage" effort for Google+ won seven awards, while its WiFi effort for Scrabble and "Secret Place" campaign for Perrier each garnered two award nominations. The awards, from the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, will be handed out Monday during a ceremony in New York.
The Media Rating Council (MRC) recently lifted its 18-month-old advisory against selling digital ads based on whether they are measurably viewed by consumers. It’s a move that will likely reshape the $50 billion ad marketplace and pit publishers against brands, while putting in motion a surge in the number of online promotions sold on viewability metrics—pricing that functions on how frequently ads are seen by viewers.
Specs Who Erin McPherson New gig Chief content officer, Maker Studios Old gig Vp, head of video, Yahoo Age 45 So what does the chief content officer at Maker do? I oversee our studios, so the content we produce in-house, but also our programming strategy vis-à-vis partners, our network partners and our network talent, as well as outside third-party relationships.
By raising tax domicile issues related to its megamerger with Publicis Groupe, Omnicom Group has drawn a line in the sand. And in doing so, the American company has only fanned speculation of mounting marriage troubles, with CEO John Wren stressing to investors that there is no “Plan B” should the combined company fail to establish U.K. tax residency and incorporation in the Netherlands.
Eileen Naughton has embraced feminism in ways she never thought she would. When she began her career in media, she was hopeful for a world that had moved beyond gender stereotypes and discrimination, but since reaching the leadership ranks of major companies, she has become an advocate and mentor for a new generation of women. Naughton, Google’s vp, global accounts and agencies, was a founding member of Women@Google, started by Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook and Lean In fame.
The latest performance feat from Mercedes-Benz is impressive indeed—a giant U-turn. After announcing in August of 2012 that it would discontinue the ultra-premium Maybach brand, Mercedes has reportedly decided to bring the car back. For the sort of consumers who can drop six figures on a set of wheels, the next question might be: How late’s the showroom open? But for those of us content to watch, another thought looms: How is Mercedes going to pull it off?
Anheuser-Busch InBev is contacting agencies about its North American business handled by Starcom, sources said. It's not clear if the brewing giant is about to launch a formal review. A-B InBev's measured media spending in 2013 was $575.4 million, according to Kantar Media. In late 2011, Starcom was selected to assist the company’s internal media planning and research, with responsibility across A-B InBev’s beer brands across national, local and digital media.
Nike's launch spot for its "Risk Everything" campaign around this summer's World Cup was somber and serious—with the darkness of Jonathan Glazer's direction in some ways running counter to Nike's traditionally lighter treatments of the world's great soccer players. Now, though, with part two released today, Nike gets its sense of humor back.
