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News

Brand Z Study: IBM Leapfrogs Google as No. 2 Global Brand

IBM leapfrogged Google, rising to No. 2 behind Apple, with brand value of $116 billion last year, according to the latest Brand Z ranking from Millward Brown. Of course, CoreBrand three weeks ago put IBM at No. 66. Here's why the discrepancy.

News

MillerCoors Aims for Mercurial Millennials With New Fruity Brands

The new brands, which will initially debut regionally, come as MillerCoors and other big brewers search for new products to compete with smaller craft brewers and liquor marketers.

Digital

A Week After CEO's Ouster, Everyone Has an Opinion on Yahoo

Scott Thompson "was a terrible CEO for Yahoo," venture capitalist Fred Wilson said at TechCrunch Disrupt.

MediaWorks \ Special Report: TV Upfront

Vote: Which New Broadcast Drama Will Get Canceled First?

There are many promising shows on the networks' new schedules, but not every freshman series can succeed. Tell us which drama you think will get the ax first.

The Cable Show

Comcast and Nielsen to Start Testing Commercial Ratings for Tablets

Comcast reached an agreement with Nielsen to begin testing commercial measurement for iPads and mobile devices starting this summer, the cable operator told Ad Age at The Cable Show in Boston.

Global News

Ogilvy Is First Into Myanmar With Stake in Local Shop Today Advertising

News

University of Oklahoma Ad Students Pitch Cameroon Tourism Strategy

News \ Creativity Pick of the Day

For Chewing Gum Client, Ageisobar Creates a Chewable Pencil

Agency News

Saatchi & Saatchi Merges With Digital Shop Duke in France

columns \ Small Agency Diary

Want to Inspire Your Staff? Push Them Out of the Office for a Day

columns \ The Media Guy

Facebook Investors Are 'ZUCKERS!' (Says Murdoch Tabloid)

MediaWorks

'Mad Men' Recap: Harry Krishna

Digital

WPP's Group M Taps Buddy Media for Facebook Ads

MediaWorks

House Beautiful Lets Readers Post to Pinterest From Print

News

Despite Shaky Start, JC Penney Stands Firm on Reinvention Plan

From Around the Web

Washington Post

New York Times public editor to leave

Famously asked "Should The Times Be a Truth Vigilante?"

Picked by Nat Ives

Nytimes

Universal Studios, Armed With Comcast Cash, Takes Aim at Disney

Universal Studios, the theme park chain now controlled by Comcast, is rolling out new weapons in its battle against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts -- and Disney is fortifying its defenses.

Picked by Kunur Patel

BuzzFeed

Congressmen Seek To Lift Propaganda Ban

Congressmen Seek To Lift Propaganda Ban: Propaganda that was supposed to target foreigners could now be aimed at Americans, reversing ...

Picked by Ken Wheaton

POLITICO

Dems, GOP fear bomb from outside groups

A super PAC's abortive plan to launch attack ads against President Obama sent a sharp warning message to candidates: This year more than ever, they are not in control of their own destinies.

Picked by Ken Wheaton

TheStreet.com

A Pepsi Split-Up Will Come After Turnaround

Investors may be wise to temper expectations of a PepsiCo split even after the company opens a dialogue with an activist.

Picked by Natalie Zmuda

Wsj

GM Bows Out of Super Bowl

General Motors has decided it won't advertise in the next Super Bowl, a surprising reversal of strategy that comes as the auto maker overhauls its global marketing operations.

Picked by Nat Ives

Fastcompany

Free Stuff! Finally, A Deals Site That Doesn't Suck

More business-friendly than Groupon, and more respectful of user data than Facebook, Merchant Exchange is a one-stop shop for rewards programs. It'll save you money without creeping you out.

Picked by Natalie Zmuda

Fastcompany

Proof That Pinterest Drives Sales, And Its Fans Spend Big

Pinterest users not only buy the products they pin, but spend more on average than their Facebook counterparts, according to new data from Shopify.

Picked by Natalie Zmuda

Reuters

GM ad move followed failed Facebook pitch

Facebook may only have itself to blame for why General Motors rained on its IPO parade this week.

Picked by Michael Learmonth

Internetretailer

E-commerce sales jump 15% in Q1

It is the first time e-commerce sales have topped $50 billion outside of the fourth quarter.

Picked by Natalie Zmuda

More From Ad Age

News

Checkout Coupon King Catalina Takes Plunge Into Digital Buying

A new Catalina system that claims to target the 1.5% of shoppers who account for 80% of a typical new packaged-goods product's sales could steer big portions of packaged-goods budgets into highly targeted digital advertising.

MediaWorks \ Special Report: TV Upfront

TV's Upfront Pitch: Our Shows Offer Best Social-Media Traction

In nearly every upfront presentation, the TV networks took pains to stress their expertise in connecting advertisers to consumers, not only with splashy TV programs but also via social media.

MediaWorks \ Special Report: TV Upfront

The Buzz Behind the Scenes at Upfronts

"Modern Family" clones and NBC's Thursday-night problem dominated insider conversations at this year's presentations.

MediaWorks \ Special Report: TV Upfront

Ad Age's Annual Upfront Picks and Pans

Vying for your attention this upcoming TV season, country divas, serial-killer sleuths are in, but nothing can save "Save Me."

Digital

Google+ a Ghost Town as Brands Decamp for Pinterest

While the broad consensus among digital marketers is that Google+ is an empty city where the masses go to set up a profile but then seldom return, Google is continuing to double down on the investment.

News

Beer-at-Burger-Chain Fad May Leave Hangover

Fast feeders such as Burger King, White Castle and Sonic are dabbling in booze in test markets, and even some Starbucks have begun selling wine and beer, but the move to boost sales can bring on regulatory headaches.

News

Multicultural Is the New Mainstream for Brewers in Search of Growth

In an emerging multicultural strategy, brewers are making fewer overt appeals to African-Americans and Hispanics in targeted media.

Digital

Are Consumers Ready for Mobile Grocery Shopping?

More mobile apps are popping up as tools for shoppers to find manufacturer deals and make lists as they trawl the supermarket aisles.

News

P&G, Lever Battle for Sexes in Dandruff Wars

One might think dandruff is the same whether it's on a man or a woman, but Unilever and Procter & Gamble beg to differ. Each are introducing shampoo lines with dandruff products targeted specifically at each sex.

columns \ Guest Columnists

Today's Marketplace Is Social, But Not Only Because of Technology

Regardless of how the financial community looks at Facebook, the marketing community is asking questions.

columns \ Rance Crain

Despite the Buzz, Social-Media Users Still Not Really Interested in Your Ads

The problem with Facebook and other social media is that they were not designed to carry advertising.

CMO Strategy

Change Gauge: 20 Big Marketing Moves From the First Half

For major companies, from retailers to restaurants, some of the best marketing talent is coming from an unlikely place -- well outside their categories.

News

Personalized Products Please But Can They Create Profit?

Thanks to more-affordable digital tools and customer-facing technology that help make the tailoring process easier, there are fresh possibilities.

Digital

Facebook's $38 IPO at End of First Day of Trading Worth ... $38

Facebook hovered near the initial public offering price in its trading debut, following a record IPO.

MediaWorks

Days After Quitting Facebook Ads, GM Swears Off the Super Bowl

Is General Motors making a point or acting under new pressures?

Special Report: Best Places to Work 2012

Allen & Gerritsen Tops Ad Age's Best Places to Work List

What's better than topping Ad Age's Best Places to Work list? Easy: topping it two years in a row.

Full Article

Mr Youth Is No. 2 on Ad Age's Best Places to Work List

This is Mr Youth's second year on Ad Age's Best Places to Work list, and a culture where people are close to the work has contributed to that accomplishment.

Full Article

Tris3ct Is No. 3 on Ad Age's Best Places to Work List

Independent Tris3ct has been growing more than 50% for three consecutive years, not only in headcount but also in new business.

Full Article

Big Spaceship Is No. 4 on Ad Age's Best Places to Work List

The staff enjoys revenue sharing for revenue-generating intellectual property, as well as outings to local bars and sporting events.

Full Article

Eric Mower & Associates Is No. 5 on Ad Age's Best Places to Work List

Collaboration is everything at Syracuse, N.Y.-based Eric Mower & Associates. It can be seen throughout the agency's infrastructure, employee orientation and strategic approach.

Full Article

Red Door Interactive Is No. 6 on Ad Age's Best Places to Work List

In a loft with views of downtown San Diego, the Padres' ballpark and the bay, employees at Red Door Interactive operate under tenets like "share," "exceed" and "100% jerk-free."

Full Article

Read More Special Report: Best Places to Work 2012
Special Report: Agency A-List

Agency of the Year McGarryBowen Proves Solid and Reliable Beat Fast and Furious

McGarryBowen is turning heads for solidly proficient work appreciated by its clients and a new-business record envied by nearly everyone in the industry. And with a staggering 60% growth in revenue in 2011 it's a clear pick for Ad Age's Agency of the Year.

Full Article

Droga5 Is No. 2 on Ad Age's Agency A-List

The 5-year-old agency, with 120 employees and two offices, is sweeping awards shows and nabbing clients ranging from Amstel to Prudential with its avant-garde thinking.

Full Article

BBDO Is No. 3 on Ad Age's Agency A-List

In 2011, BBDO won every global pitch it participated in and about two-thirds of its U.S. pitches. Revenue is up 15%, while globally, revenue has increased 18% to an estimated $2.4 billion.

Full Article

Razorfish Is No. 4 on the Ad Age Agency A-List

Digital-agency acquisitions rarely result in the kind of success this shop has had since landing at Publicis Group in 2009.

Full Article

72andSunny Is No. 5 on the Ad Age Agency A-List

72andSunny's approach is far more democratic than that of most agencies, and an understanding prevails that a great idea can come from anywhere, not just the creative department.

Full Article

Alma Is No. 6 on Ad Age's Agency A-List

That knack for matching Hispanics' passion points with online efforts helped Alma's digital revenue soar 300% last year. Overall, revenue grew 10%. Last year alone, the agency succeeded at bringing home 10 new accounts.

Full Article

Read More Special Report: Agency A-List
CMO Strategy

Hats Off to These 10 Forward-Thinking Clients

Here's a ranking of 10 forward-thinking executives, and some takeaways that may help you become a better client. And we included five to watch for the near future.

Full Article

Respect, Trust Key to Healthy Ad Relationship

Agency-client relationships are like a marriage. They can start to wear during the months and years ahead as the difficulties of daily life set in, but how you manage those things is what matters.

Full Article

Bacardi CMO Shares Agency Advice From Simon Clift

Bacardi Global Chief Marketing Officer Silvia Lagnado invited former Unilever CMO Simon Clift to talk to her team. Mr. Clift shared his major points with Ad Age. A few are listed here, along with observations from Ms. Lagnado.

Full Article

The Secret Behind the Long Union of Allstate, Burnett

How have Allstate and Burnett maintained their long partnership? To get some insights, Ad Age sat in on a late-December meeting and interviewed key members of the Burnett-Allstate team. Here is what we found.

Full Article

How to Be a Better Agency Client

Major marketers talk about their resolutions for making the most of their company-ad agency relationships

Full Article

Marketer Resolutions: PepsiCo's Jakeman Will Be Busy, Fit and Talkative

PepsiCo's Brad Jakeman has three tips for making your brand messaging creative and effective.

Full Article

Read More CMO Strategy
Special Report: Hottest Global Brands

William and Kate: Elevating the Royal Brand

William and Kate quietly leading the modernization of the British monarchy, a brand that has been reinventing itself since the first William sat on the throne in 1066.

Full Article

Majolica Majorca Sets Out to Prove Every Woman Can Be a Princess

Even the name of Shiseido's cosmetics brand aimed at young women is supposed to evoke a fairy spell.

Full Article

After Decades of Effort, Jagermeister Lands on Top 10 List of Premium Spirits

Jagermeister is No. 8 on Impact Databank's Top 100 Premium Spirits List this year, just behind megabrands such as Smirnoff, Bacardi, Absolut and Johnnie Walker, and ahead of better-known products such as Bailey's, Gordon's and Jim Beam.

Full Article

Racy Approach Brings Axe Full Control Sweet Victory in Latin America

Thanks to a 'Premature Perspiration' campaign out of Ponce, Buenos Aires, sales of Axe antiperspirants rose by 11.7% in Argentina, a striking performance for a brand that is already a market leader.

Full Article

Moshi Monsters Enter Real World to Become Global Marketing Marvel

The online social-gaming network that aspires to be a Facebook for kids, already has more than 50 million players around the world and one signing up every second, but it's just getting started.

Full Article

Rock in Rio Connects Music Lovers and Advertisers

This year's weeklong music festival, in late September, drew 700,000 people-55% of them from outside Rio-and a horde of marketers. The eclectic mix of headliners included Shakira, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Coldplay and Metallica,and Brazilian stars such as Milton Nascimento.

Full Article

Read More Special Report: Hottest Global Brands
Special Report: Marketer A-List

Marketer of the Year: Coca-Cola

It's a marketing model not just for mega multinationals looking to share best practices from around the world but also a case study for how upstart and mid-size brands, of which Coca-Cola has amassed many, can use creative stunts and strategic partnerships to get a lot done on a smaller budget.

Full Article

For Amazon, a Focus on the New Helps Push Sales of the Old

Like Walmart, Amazon.com sells food, clothing, media and electronics -- the old-school foundation of modern retailing. But Amazon keeps reinventing its business by coming up with new lines to sell, some of them tangible, some of them the stuff of imagination not too long ago.

Full Article

Kardashians Prove Family That Enterprises Together Stays Together

Out of a sex tape flourishes a brand that becomes the linchpin for three TV shows, a clothing boutique, books and a wedding whose rights sold for $17.9 million.

Full Article

Crown Deserves a Toast for Big Sales in Bad Times

In a year where big brewers continued to lose ground, Crown Imports stands out for one simple reason -- it is actually growing sales, overcoming a tough economy with aggressive advertising on Corona and new investments in surging smaller brands.

Full Article

With a Fearless and Willing to Fail Attitude, Diamond Foods Emerges as Powerhouse

Scrappy little snackmaker wins Big -- and aims to get bigger by scooping up Pringles.

Full Article

Humans, Not Tech, Define a PC-Free IBM

IBM's path to marketing success began strangely enough with a retreat from the very thing most consumers knew it for best -- the personal computer. Since the 2004 decision to divest the business to China's Lenovo and focus on business services and analytics, the IBM brand has never been stronger.

Full Article

Read More Special Report: Marketer A-List