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Ad of the Day: Afraid of Growing Old? This Beautiful Ad Could Help You Embrace It

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/19/2014 - 13:30

Getting old isn't the worst thing in the world. In our youth-obsessed culture, that's actually a provocative statement, and it's one that's made in quite moving fashion by ad agency Karmarama in this commercial for Age U.K., a British advocacy group for older people. The ad, titled "Love Later Life," features a poem by English beat poet Roger McGough that was commissioned for the spot and is expertly read by 91-year-old Sir Christopher Lee. It's the one inescapable element of the human condition that connects us all—nothing can stop us from growing older.

GoldieBlox Apologizes to Beastie Boys, Saying It Was Naive Rather Than Malicious

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/19/2014 - 09:14

Four months after it began, the legal battle between GoldieBlox and the Beastie Boys appears to be winding down, as the band has agreed to drop its lawsuit against the toy maker over the unauthorized use of the song "Girls"—in exchange for an apology and a donation to charity. The apology, posted on the GoldieBlox website, reads: We sincerely apologize for any negative impact our actions may have had on the Beastie Boys.

Samsung Tells the Story Behind the Selfie That Ate Hollywood (and Twitter)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 23:12

Samsung marketing chief Todd Pendleton attributes much of the brand’s marketing success to moving quickly and seizing opportunities on the fly. That’s not to say that the company doesn’t plan its efforts. It certainly does, but it leaves the door open to calling audibles. A perfect example is the World’s Most Famous Selfie at the Academy Awards. Going into the show, Samsung planned a Samsung-shot selfie of host Ellen DeGeneres and actress Meryl Streep, Pendleton told attendees today at the 4A’s Transformation Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif.

When KISS Delivers a Baby, Things Get Weird Fast

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 19:54

Just when you thought you'd seen it all from KISS, one of the most prolific brands in the history of rock 'n' roll, here we find the dynamic duo of Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons prepping to deliver a baby. Luckily it's just an oddly low-budget metaphor for the April 5 home-game debut of Los Angeles' new arena football team, the L.A. Kiss.

BBH Retains British Airways Creative Lead, Adds Additional Responsibilities

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 19:49

Bartle Bogle Hegarty retained its creative lead on British Airways and added responsibility for loyalty and digital marketing communications. BBH is teaming with Simon Hall and Warren Moore, current owners of London e-commerce consultancy Seven Seconds, to form a joint venture to handle the additional work. In August, BA confirmed it was reviewing global creative duties on its account. In expanding its BBH relationship, the U.K.

Chevy and AT&T Need Help Understanding All Their Data

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 19:36

Among marketing chiefs, it's a familiar refrain: We're awash in data about consumers and our products, but what does it all mean? So, it was not surprising that in their appearances today at the 4A's Transformation Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., Tim Mahoney of General Motors and Esther Lee of AT&T encouraged agencies—particularly media agencies—to step up to the challenge of interpreting data.

Meow Mix Unveils Catstarter, a Kickstarter for Cats

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 18:44

It's a wonder that cat-related brands don't already rule the Internet. Cat-food brand and renowned jingle lover Meow Mix makes a move in that direction with an amusing and even potentially useful parody of Kickstarter—called Catstarter—envisioned as a way to crowdsource cool new cat-related inventions. Ad agency EVB conceived the site as a playful, feline-focused version of the well-known crowdfunding platform.

Meet AT&T's 'Network Guys,' Who Are Here to Help You and Quietly Judge You

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 16:09

Cable guys have been a staple of pop culture for years, but now it's time for their next-generation replacements to get some time in the spotlight. Two new spots for AT&T from BBDO New York show the "Network Guys," a pair of techs working to improve wireless coverage for concert attendees and office drones alike.  They somewhat graciously shut down a rock 'n' roll fan's dreams of joining their club. They also make an office worker swoon, thanks to their l33t d4t4 sk1lls (elite data skills), which let them make posting to Instagram easier for all the n00bs (noobs).

Candid Seat Belt PSAs Show You How to Use a Wheelchair and Change a Colostomy Bag

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/18/2014 - 16:00

Here's an unpleasant if novel way to recommend the use of seat belts: Show people detailed instructions on dealing with injuries from not wearing one. Gyro's Dubai office did just that in a new campaign to educate people about the importance of wearing seat belts in the backseat of cars. The campaign, for a charity called Buckle Up in the Back, takes the form of instructional guides—"How to Get Around in a Wheelchair," "How to Change Your Colostomy Bag"—for dealing with injuries you can sustain from not wearing a seat belt.