Marketing winners and losers of the week

This week’s marketing winners, losers and newsmakers. Winners Phish: U2 might have christened the Las Vegas Sphere, but Phish took it to a new level. The Vermont jam band has generated tons of positive buzz over how it has used the massive LED screen at the Sphere during its recent four-concert run at the venue. “Each song featured distinct visual eye candy, from layered abstract tapestries to breathtaking scenic imagery—both earthly and otherworldly,” is how CNN put it, while the Los Angeles Times raved that “with no fear of being overshadowed by the room, Phish leaned into Sphere’s immersive potential with an assortment of water-themed visuals.” Take a trip inside @SphereVegas during Phish's second night at the venue 📽️ @JayByrdFilms #phish #sphere pic.twitter.com/vN0wbAA3Sw— Phish (@phish) April 23, 2024 I’m never gonna be able to go back to the status quo after Phish at the Sphere pic.twitter.com/TiaPesF1pj— Cass Anderson (@casspa) April 21, 2024 Also read: How 5 brands used the Sphere for Super Bowl ads PETA: A new billboard from the animal rights group has gone viral. The “Just spay me Denise” text on the image has consumers applauding the simple and succinct directive on X and TikTok. The ad appears on bus shelters and billboards. PETA also created a companion ad with the tagline, “Just neuter me, bro.” @arrrt3mis WHAT IS THIS WHY IS THIS petition to make 'just spay me Denise' my new catchphrase when I'm doing too much 🤣 #spayandneuter #why #explain #fyp😅 ♬ Funny - Gold-Tiger PETA's new billboard ad 'Just spay me Denise' has gone viral on TikTok. 🐾What’s your take on it? pic.twitter.com/XEHiGWLXh6— Sarah J. Ama (@iamsarahama) April 24, 2024 Check out the latest Ad Age events and award programs NHL: The pro hockey league scored big ratings wins for its just-completed regular season and the playoffs are off to a good start, too. Sportico reported that the 2023-24 season averaged 504,000 viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and TNT, up 8% from last season, while TV ad revenue surged 27% to $67.5 million. Meantime, ratings for the first two days of playoffs were up 60%, although the weekend start played a big role in the bump, Sports Media Watch. Losers Ozempic influencers: TikTok’s plans to tighten rules related to weight loss content have angered influencers who use the platform to post about methods such as Ozempic. New regulations effective May 17 prohibit the marketing of weight loss products while restricting minors from viewing content that involves “showing, describing, promoting, or offering or requesting coaching for potentially harmful weight management behaviors.” Influencer Dave Knapp in a TikTok video called it discrimination and said he would move to other social platforms. Of course, that is a move all creators will have to make if new legislation signed this week by President Biden to ban TikTok if it is not divested by its Beijing-based ByteDance owner becomes a reality (but there is still a long way to go on that, with a 270-day countdown in place that could be extended). @manonthemounjaro ♬ original sound - On The Pen With Dave Knapp Huggies: The Kimberly-Clark diaper brand had to curtail some “best-fitting” diaper claims in response to a challenge from Pampers maker Procter & Gamble. Express: The retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week and plans to close 95 of its 530 Express stores and all 10 of its UpWest stores. In business since 1980, Express rose to fame in the mall era of 1990s retail with its trendy fashion but has seen increased competition in recent years from the likes of fast-fashion brands and direct-to-consumer online players. Quote of the week “I make sure to credit Foxtrot as the main reason our brand exists.”—DTC baked goods brand Lexington Bakes’ Founder and CEO Lex Evan lamenting the abrupt shutdown of the trendy Foxtrot Market chain, which had been a valuable proving ground for DTC brands looking to grow distribution. Social post of the week This kind of comment is common. And yet Chipotle just kills it. Chipotle is becoming like McDonald’s: People absolutely love to complain about it. And then they pull up to the drive-thru again. Or in this case the Chipotlane. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/We1raH8cOQ— Jonathan Maze (@jonathanmaze) April 24, 2024 Number of the week $300 million: The amount of fixed costs slashed by General Motors in the first quarter, mostly in marketing and engineering. Also read: GM creates chief transformation officer role as agency reviews continue On the move Mattel Television Studios named Sidney Clifton head of creative, animation. She had been producer and senior VP of animation and mixed media at The Jim Henson Company. In addition, Cory Bennett Lewis was named head of production. She had been head of production at J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot. Mattel also named Amy Suh head of creative, live action, scripted and unscripted. She was most recently senior development executive in co-production development at Amazon Studios. Frank Casanova, Apple’s senior director leading product-marketing efforts for the new Vision Pro headset, has retired, according to Bloomberg News. Sign up for Ad Age newsletters From influencer marketing to agencies, get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox Click here

Marketing winners and losers of the week

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