For publishers planning to bring back in-person events this fall, the delta variant has posed an unwelcome hurdle. Group Nine brand Thrillist announced its return to in-person events this morning with a new franchise, the Thrillist Block Party, a celebration of local culture and commerce that will kick off with an outdoor festival in Manhattan’s…
Deepfakes Are Now Making Business Pitches
The video technology, initially associated with porn, is gaining a foothold in the corporate world.
Kellogg’s Pushes Into DTC With Cheez-It Because ‘Data Is Gold’
Google has prolonged the life of third-party cookies on its popular Chrome browser to 2023, but the end is still coming. To continue delivering online ads with precision, large companies from PepsiCo to Procter & Gamble are seeking ways to collect first-party data in a shopper-friendly fashion. One popular method is direct-to-consumer platforms. Last week,…
USA Today Begins Charging for Its Crossword
USA Today has amped up the features on its crossword app and added a monthly $5.99 price tag, all in an effort to drive new, younger subscribers and keep churn down. “We’re evolving as a media company from a primarily ad-driven model, for decades, to being a customer-obsessed subscription model,” Gannett chief marketing and strategy…
Whiskas Drops an Album of Music That De-Stresses Cats, So Their Owners Can Relax Too
Whiskas, the Mars-owned cat food brand, made an entire playlist of music that is scientifically proven to appeal to cats. The music is part of Whiskas’ new global brand campaign, “Purr More,” which is about making cats happier and–by consequence–pleasing their owners too. National Symphony cellist David Teie, who is known for writing music for…
The Week Publisher Dennis Acquired by Future for $416 Million
Specialist media company Future PLC has acquired the publisher of consumer and B2B titles such as The Week, Kiplinger and Money Week–Dennis Publishing–owned by venture capitalist Exponent, in a deal valued at 300 million pounds. The deal is expected to be completed by October and includes The Week UK/The Week US, The Week Junior UK/The…
Around Half of American Car Owners Are Open to Buying an Electric Vehicle
Just last week, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a new report predicting how climate change is expected to impact the planet over the next several decades, with more gravity and specificity than any of its previous warnings. As the global economy continues to grapple with the climate risks associated with industry…
Adweek Proudly Announces Its 2021 Brand Genius Honorees
Earlier this morning, Adweek announced the winners of its 2021 Brand Genius award. Adweek also announced the recipient of Brand Save, its annual recognition of standout work in the nonprofit sector. This year’s awards will be integrated into Brandweek, a five-day virtual summit for brand marketers that features probing discussions, specialized masterclasses and breakout sessions…
How the NHL’s Seattle Kraken Built a Brand Before Playing Their First Game
The owners of Seattle’s new National Hockey League franchise wanted to release the Kraken. But the pandemic demanded that the Kraken stay home, stream some shows and order delivery. It’s hard enough to build a new professional sports franchise, fan base and brand under normal circumstances. The Seattle Kraken did so amid Covid-19 and a…
How Agencies Are Shifting Their Return to Office Policies Amid the Delta Variant
Miami-based multicultural agency Alma knew a thing or two about working in a crisis long before the pandemic. A few years ago, the agency was working on a pitch for Mexican beer company Sol as a hurricane approached Florida. With a lack of power and an inability to go into the office, employees worked remotely…