THE DEAN'S LIST

Droga5 Gets Boost From Investor Henry Silverman and MTV Founder Bob Pittman

2012-02-18T17:07:00.001-05:00

The Shop Will Likely Use Funds to Open Office in London

One of the most-closely watched independent shops in adland,Droga5, has won a major vote of confidence -- and several million dollars in backing --from prominent investors who are trying to help the agency expand while retaining its indie status.

The investment, which was reported earlier today by one of the Wall Street Journal's blogs , was led by a private group headed by investor Henry Silverman, and included media mogul Bob Pittman.

Mr. Silverman is the vice chairman and director at Apollo Global Management, and Mr. Pittman is the CEO of Clear Channel. He was also the co-founder of MTV Networks and the onetime chief operating officer of AOL Time Warner. The two men have teamed up on investments since 1990, when an investor group purchased Six Flags of America, and Mr. Pittman served as CEO and Mr. Silverman as chairman.

The investment is unusual and a bit of an experiment. Mr. Silverman hasn't ever invested in an ad agency, and his interest in adland -- provided this deal proves fruitful -- could be a positive thing. The investment in Droga5 is understood to be between $5 million and $10 million.

The news comes shortly after Ad Age named the agency to its A-List and the company Creativity's Agency of the Year.

In a statement provided to Ad Age, Mr. Silverman said: "We are delighted to partner with Droga5, the leading creative agency in the world, to help the company advance to the next level."

"We are pleased to partner with such respected investors who can help us achieve our next stage of growth," said Andrew Essex, CEO of Droga5, in the statement.

The funds will be used primarily to do two things: expand the agency's New York office, which has just about 120 staffers, and help Droga5 open its doors in a new market.

Besides New York, Droga5 also has an office in founder David Droga's native Australia. Between that outpost and New York, globally the agency's overall headcount is around 200.

Speaking to Ad Age late last year, Mr. Droga had reiterated his desire to stay independent in the near-term and noted that international expansion was on the horizon. Among possible new markets, he cited India as No. 1 on his list, followed by somewhere in Europe and then Brazil.

Now it seems the agency has its sights set on London instead. It's early days, though, and it could be 2013 before the next office is opened.

But don't expect the agency to follow in the footsteps of competitors like Wieden & Kennedy and Bartle Bogle Hegarty, which have championed the "micro network" model of placing six to eight offices in key regions. That was devised as an alternative to the costly process of opening offices to serve clients in upwards of 100 countries, like many of the big agency networks such as WPP's Ogilvy, Omnicom's BBDO or Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann, did years ago.

In the digital era, so many physical offices are no longer necessary. Moreover, Mr. Droga is admittedly downright paranoid about the prospect of growing into a franchise, with several offices around the world. The agency so far has been conservative about its growth and is wary of a rapid or widespread expansion that could impact Droga5's culture, and potentially dilute the quality of the creative product.

Now it seems the agency has its sights set on London instead. It's early days, though, and it could be 2013 before the next office is opened.

But don't expect the agency to follow in the footsteps of competitors like Wieden & Kennedy andBartle Bogle Hegarty, which have championed the "micro network" model of placing six to eight offices in key regions. That was devised as an alternative to the costly process of opening offices to serve clients in upwards of 100 countries, like many of the big agency networks such as WPP's Ogilvy, Omnicom's BBDO or Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann, did years ago.

"There's an interest to open in one or two markets in the next few years and it's predicated on the right people, not just because a client wants us to open there," Mr. Droga had told Ad Age.

SUPER BOWL XLVI: "Business Trip" - CareerBuilder.com

2012-02-03T16:16:00.000-05:00

SUPER BOWL XLVI: Audi 2012 Game Day Commercial - Vampire Party

2012-02-03T16:13:00.001-05:00

SUPER BOWL XLVI: JERRY SEINFELD "Transactions" 2012 Acura NSX

2012-02-03T16:09:00.000-05:00

#JerrysNSX

SUPER BOWL XLVI: Pepsi Gets Medieval With Elton John Super Bowl Spot

2012-02-03T15:57:00.000-05:00

'X Factor' Winner Melanie Amaro Sings for Her Soda

Pepsi, the choice of a new generation, may look like its going old-school in its return to the Super Bowl, what with the castle and court and all. But there's a certain "Hunger Games" vibe to the spot, which stars Elton John, "X Factor" winner Melanie Amaro and a special cameo at the end. Spot fromTBWA/Chiat/Day, Los Angeles.

SUPER BOWL XLVI: Madonna – Give Me All Your Luvin’ (feat. M.I.A. & Nicki Minaj)

2012-02-03T15:49:00.001-05:00

SUPER BOWL XLVI: Gillette Presents "Master's of Style" featuring Andre 3000

2012-02-03T15:46:00.001-05:00

SUPER BOWL XLVI: Is Honda Behind the Ferris Bueller Resurrection?

2012-01-27T20:03:00.002-05:00

Jalopnik Reports It Has Solved the Mystery of the YouTube Teaser

Ferris Bueller's back, and this time he's driving a Honda. Maybe.

The short-lived mystery about a Super Bowl ad teaser put up on YouTube Thursday may have been unraveled on Friday, when Jalopnik reported that Matthew Broderick's character, the sausage king of Chicago, would be central to a spot for the company's refreshed mini SUV, the 2013 CR-V.

The 10-second clip echoes a scene from the original film, when Broderick, who was 24 at the time, looks at the camera and says, "How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?" In the teaser, a much more mature Broderick, wrapped in a white robe, exclaims, "How can I handle work on a day like today?" The date of Feb. 5 -- Super Bowl Sunday -- then flashes on the screen.

The clip set off a whirlwind of speculation on the web, leading some to believe a sequel to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was in the making, though Broderick himself has in the past said a sequel wouldn't make much sense.

A source at American Honda Motors in California would not confirm that Broderick is in its ad and would only tell Ad Age that the company expected to issue a press release about the ad on Monday. Honda agency RPA has not responded to a request for comment. American Honda's Acura division also has a spot in the game. And online sleuthing yesterday had a couple of Ad Age staffers leaning toward Chrysler as the culprit.

Even if Jalopnik turned out to be wrong -- and the site seems pretty confident in its reporting -- it seems unlikely that the marketer behind this tease would be able to keep the secret safe until game day. It's one thing to keep your campaign under lock and key, another to put a teaser on YouTube in 2012 and not expect someone among the millions of people on social media and blogs to ferret it out.

According to Jalopnik, the spot, which was the work of Todd Phillips, who made "The Hangover," would use the 1986 comedy as a theme, updated to 2012 sensibilities. The auto-enthusiast site reports that during the iconic scene of the two valets jumping a hill, the red Ferrari will be replaced with a CR-V.

Honda -- or whatever company is behind this -- could be playing with fire. The top two comments on YouTube at the moment are from people outraged that a sequel is not in the offing.

The first reads: "If this is a commercial for honda, im keying every honda car i see in the street."

And the second: "Surely this can only fail as an advert. I hate Honda more than I can say right now. They show us a glimpse of something we can only dream about, then replace it with a crappy car. FUCK YOU HONDA. SAVE FERRIS."

Steve Stoute Hires Chief Creative Officer at Translation

2012-01-23T20:51:00.000-05:00

Indie Shop Poaches Chris Cereda From KBS&P

As part of his plan to evolve Translation from a multicultural agency into a general-market shop, Steve Stoute has tapped Chris Cereda to serve as the agency's new chief creative officer.

The executive has in the past worked at traditional creative shops such as McCann. Most recently, Mr. Cereda served as executive creative director at MDC Partners-owned KBS&P, working on accounts such as BMW and Steak & Shake. The move means going from a big pond to a small one. New York-based KBS&P has a total of about 500 staffers, while Translation, which has doubled in size in the past year, has less than 100. Both agencies made Ad Age's list of 10 standout agencies for 2011.

According to Mr. Stoute, the talks have been going on for about two months. But the agency's been in need of a new top creative for more than a year, ever since its previous leader, Jason Peterson, defected to Havas' Euro in Chicago.

"I was probably being snobby about it but also looking for the right character fit, since I'm really highly involved with the agency and the creative that leaves this place," Mr. Stoute told Ad Age. "As Translation started to win more business and gain more clients' trust, it also put the agency in a place where the right level of creative talent would consider coming to the agency."

Translation has been around since 2004, but it was only last year -- coinciding with its buyback from former parent Interpublic Group of Cos. -- that the shop seemed to really find its footing and begin playing on a larger stage. It convinced A-B InBev that it was worthy of handling Bud Light work and will be doing a Super Bowl spot next month for the Platinum product line. Its other clients include McDonald's, State Farm, Coca-Cola and Nokia.

Mr. Cereda, who officially starts in mid-February, will join a newly formed management team at Translation that includes President Leeann Leahy and Chief Strategy Officer John Greene. "I've worked on a lot of spirits brands and lifestyle brands throughout my career so the fit feels natural," Mr. Cereda said.

Mr. Stoute noted that there's more staff additions coming. "There will be a lot of hiring going on," he said.

NaVier: A Creativ+ Story

2012-01-23T19:59:00.002-05:00

Jim Jones Featured In Deron Williams Red Bull Ad

2012-01-22T23:19:00.000-05:00

Jay-Z Signs Deal to Become Partner & Spokesman for Duracell Powermat

2012-01-11T01:09:00.000-05:00

Jay-Z has more good news to announce. Duracell Powermat, LLC, a joint venture formed in September 2011 by Protcter & Gamble's Duracell brand and Powermat Technologies, announced today that the Grammy award-winning rapper has signed a multi-year agreement as an investment partner and spokesman for the brand.

"I believe in the future of wireless energy and I believe that Duracell Powermat is the company to bring on the revolution," said Shawn Carter in a press release. "I'm partnering with Duracell Powermat because they're providing the solutions for the future."

Duracell linked up with Powermat in September of last year to help the wireless charging company better reach the consumer market. When first released, Powermat's main product, a strip that allowed users to power their gadgets with inductive charging negating the use of plug-in chargers, was cool but failed to make a large dent in the consumer market. With the help of Duracell and, now, Jay-Z, the hope is that will change in the future.

'We are proud to work with such an inspiring icon, whose music and success speaks to an entire generation all over the world. Our common vision and voice will pave the way for the upcoming wireless power revolution," said Ron Rabinowitz, CEO of Duracell Powermat, LLC.

Ikea U.K. Hosts Sleepover at Store for 100 Facebook Fans

2011-12-26T17:32:00.000-05:00

Fans Spend a Relaxing Night Surrounded by Retailer's Products

Ikea has listened to what its customers want and given it to them -- a night in an Ikea store. Nearly 100,000 people signed up to a Facebook group called "I wanna have a sleepover in Ikea," and the dream came true for 100 lucky winners in the U.K., chosen at random from the 100,000 entrants.

Like at top night clubs, the late-November event had a minimum age of 25 and a strict dress code, although for this occasion it was pyjamas-only. At 8 p.m. on the dot, Ikea's guests ran into the store in Essex, in southeast England, like it was the first day of the sales, keen to bag the prime beds and the best linen choices.

Ikea sponsored a similar event in Australia in March, when it recruited "50 female flat-pack fans" on its Australian Facebook page for a night out of chick flicks, pampering massages and waiter service from handsome men -- along with the chance to assemble small pieces of furniture.

Both men and women were welcome at the U.K. sleepover, and they were given goodie bags containing an eye mask, windup flashlight, midnight snack, towel and slippers. Massages, manicures, and a movie were all on the entertainment agenda for the evening, with cocoa, cakes and nonalcoholic mulled wine available from the cafe. Guests could watch the film "Monsters Inc" from the comfort of their own beds, and to round off the evening, Ikea brought in a minor reality-TV celebrity to read a bedtime story: Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

A sleep expert was on hand with tips for getting a good night's rest, including how to test a mattress and choose the right bedding for your sleeping style. Ikea recently conducted a survey of 3,000 adults, finding that more than 70% don't think they get enough sleep. More important for the seller of beds and bed products, 72% spend less than 10 minutes selecting the mattress they'll probably sleep on for the next eight years. That's about the same amount of time they spend choosing their lunch each day.

Ikea turned the lights off at 11 p.m., and guests were awakened promptly at 6.30 a.m. by "soothing" sounds played over the Ikea speaker.

Not every Ikea would be likely to host a sleepover, but it's a clever way to get busy fans to focus on what Ikea has to offer.

Lois Blenkinsop, Ikea's U.K. PR and internal communications manager, said in a statement: "Social media has opened up a unique platform for us to interact directly with our customers. Listening to what they want is what we do best, and the Big Sleepover is just one example of how we're using such instant and open feedback to better inform our marketing activity."

Harvey Nichols Dresses Up Walk of Shame in U.K. Holiday Ad

2011-12-26T17:18:00.000-05:00

As the Christmas party season gets into full swing, upmarket British department store Harvey Nichols reminds us of the dangers of an ill-chosen outfit in a new spot, "Walk of Shame."

Set to an instrumental version of "Morning has broken" -- accompanied by the dawn chorus of birdsong -- the spot shows a series of party girls making their way home on the morning after the night before, still dressed in their best party clothes.

Self-conscious women are seen pulling down short skirts, tugging at low necklines, and clutching the killer heels that had seemed like a good idea 12 hours previously, as they limp home in disgrace.

One passes an early morning jogger, one eats greedily from a paper bag as she waits at a bus stop, one clumsily descends the steps of a subway station, and another is submitted to wolf whistles as she passes construction workers sitting on some scaffolding. All avert their gaze in their shame as they try to avoid eye contact with morning commuters.

Finally, we see a girl who bought her very flattering party outfit at Harvey Nichols. She still looks gorgeous in the morning light and, holding her head high, she smiles flirtatiously at the mail carrier as she arrives home at her apartment block, replacing the walk of shame with the "stride of pride."

The viral ad for Harvey Nichols womenswear was created by DDB UK. It ends with a call to action, asking people to share their own experiences at #walkofshame on Twitter. The film is inspiring plenty of tweets, including one from FrannyCatZ, who says, "left my flat this morning at 9am only to bump into an old friend doing the #walkofshame home after annihilating raffles last night." PerryDaPlatPuss tweeted, "Before the walk of shame they scientifically plan the quickest way from point A to point B!"

Most of the tweets praise the ad, comment on how we've all been there, and pass on the link, although @franscorer noted, "Seriously -- if you could afford to shop in Harvey Nichols wouldn't you just PAY FOR A TAXI?"

Julia Bowe, group press and marketing director at Harvey Nichols, said in a statement, "We love taking something true to life and having fun with it and seeing how Harvey Nichols can make things better. We know that a fabulous outfit can cover a multitude of sins."

CES Watch: Monster's Noel Lee to Launch New Lines

2011-12-24T21:54:00.000-05:00

Marketer of Beats by Dr. Dre Seeks Shop to 'Market This Stuff Properly'

It's not easy to sell people things they usually get for free. But dating back to the 1970s, Noel Lee has found a way.

The stereo systems popular back then -- amplifiers, turntables, FM tuners -- were connected by hookup wires that cost maybe 10 cents a foot and sometimes came in the box with the speakers.

In 1979, Mr. Lee founded a company, Monster Cable, and created a proprietary audio accessory: 10 feet of Monster Cable speaker wire that cost 20 times as much. "You're kidding," the retailers said. "Sounds better," he claimed.

It did.

Exotic cables are still part of the package, but today, Monster (the "Cable" was recently dropped) is best known for an accessory far more hip than wire: Beats by Dr. Dre. And retailers, which will be flocking to Mr. Lee's suite at the upcoming Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, are believers.

His legendary parties have become a fixture at CES. This past January, Lady Gaga stopped by the Monster suite to chat up Mr. Lee. In the past, Mr. Lee has hosted Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles to serenade his dealers. Next month at CES, it will be '60s popsters band Chicago (or what remains of them).

Mr. Lee, who in a prior life was a design engineer at the Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory, is an unabashed self-promoter. In 2004, he bought the naming rights to Candlestick Park, home of the San Francisco 49ers. For four years it was Monster Park. He spent about $50,000 for his first CES event in 1979. "The cost was extravagant then," he said, adding that it consumed most of his marketing budget, and still does.

Monster Cables didn't fly off the shelves. "We did it the hard way, a demo at a time," said Mr. Lee, 63. "I went out to retailers and did thousands of demos. I used a switch box, Monster Cable on one side, regular cable on the other. People didn't believe what they heard."

While electronic accessories aren't particularly hot topics among consumers, they generally offer higher profit margins -- up to 40% or more -- than big-box items like TVs or computers. Apple retail stores do especially well with his merchandise, Mr. Lee said.

Audiophiles question the sonic integrity of the Beats line (the most expensive pair sells for $500), but annual sales are estimated at $500 million, and Beats have expanded the headphone market. Rappers 50 Cent and Ludacris have endorsed their own brands, and more are grabbing onto the branding trend.

A study earlier this year by the NPD Group, a marketing research firm in Port Washington, N.Y., found that artist endorsements ranked high in headphone purchases. Those priced at $100 or more grew to 3.5% of the market in 2010 from 2% the year before.

"Headphones have become as much of a fashion statement as an audio accessory," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis at NPD.

"The deal with Dr. Dre was collaborative," said Mr. Lee, who leveraged his relationships with high-profile musicians to get access in 2000. The rapper (real name Andre Young) and longtime rock producer Jimmy Iovine "were looking to do their brand on some product," he said. "They were looking at loudspeakers, but people don't buy loudspeakers any more. And we were already developing headphones at that time."

In a life-imitates-art twist, Monster has just released a slick, $750 speaker system-cum-iPod dock that's designed for music lovers who grew up listening with headphones. The company also plans to release a slew of new headphones and accessories at CES.

"Now we got to market this stuff properly," said Mr. Lee, who says he's never employed an ad agency and is actively shopping for one now to handle his account. Any takers?

JANET JACKSON NAMED NEW FACE & BODY OF NUTRISYSTEM + COMMERCIAL

2011-12-24T21:45:00.000-05:00

After writing the self-help book, True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, Janet Jackson has decided to use her personal experience to motivate women to conquer their battle with weight gain. How is she doing this you ask? By stepping forward as the newest spokesperson for Nutrisystem!

A few days ago, Janet stopped by ABC’s Good Morning America and revealed why she decided to be the face and body of the popular weight loss program:

“It’s a matter of learning how to keep it off, that maintenance and they have a program for that. My success plan is to just be healthy and feel good about me. All of us, we have that one pair of jeans that we have a relationship with…I’m able to look in the mirror. I couldn’t do that before. I’m very grateful to be able do what I love most, what I really feel I’m was here to do and that’s to help others.”

A few photos from her photoshoot were released earlier this week and Janet looks great! Check out her official commercial for the diet program below as well. I must say, Ms. Jackson has been glowing and looking very happy lately! I’m sure the new boo, Wissam Al Mana had a little part in this, too. *smiles*

JENNIFER HUDSON x WEIGHT WATCHERS

2011-12-24T21:08:00.000-05:00

McDonald’s Ad Features Craig Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear”

2011-12-21T13:12:00.001-05:00

Off top, this one isn’t an obvious example of tanning. A major corporation dropping a rap song in a commercial filled with African-Americans in an attempt to tap into the “urban” market isn’t exactly ground-breaking or all-inclusive. Target marketing is about as old as..well…marketing. At worst, this spot may be considered a bit generic.

To really grasp the underlining tanning taking place in McDonald’s latest Big Mac/Mac Snack ad, a brief foray into the annals of hip-hop history is necessary. In 1994, a visionary businessman and burgeoning label executive, Puff Daddy, came up with a novel marketing idea to promote two of his new acts: Craig Mack and The Notorious B.I.G. Craig Mack had just snagged a hit record with “Flava In Ya Ear,” which featured Biggie on the remix. To help push his two artists, Puff distributed CDs in actual McDonald’s Big Mac cartons—one side for Big, one side for Mack. It was a genius idea at the time, and helped build the buzz for one of the greatest emcees ever to do it: The Notorious B.I.G.

Although McDonald’s inclusion of Craig Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear” is targeting a specific market, in a sense the company is paying tribute. Whether this homage is intentional is uncertain, but it is a complete role reversal. 17 years ago, Puffy leveraged Mickey D’s to sell his artists. 17 years later, Micky D’s is leveraging Diddy to sell its burgers. Watch the full spot below.

Source: www.TanningofAmerica.com

DIDDY PRESENTS FULL LENGTH CIROC “RAT PACK” COMMERCIAL

2011-12-21T11:35:00.001-05:00

CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka and Sean “Diddy” Combs just released a full length commercial in celebration of the holiday season. The shorter version was released last week, but here is a version with a little more dialogue.

In rat pack style, Diddy along with a lot of his celebrity friends head to a holiday party in Las Vegas. The advert features music from the late Frank Sinatra’s song ‘Luck Be a Lady’ and features a plethora of stars including: Chad Michael Murray of ‘One Tree Hill’, Michael K. Williams of ‘Boardwalk Empire’, Jesse Williams of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, models Eva Marcille, Jessica White, actress Dania Ramirez and a list of others.

BLEU DE CHANEL - THE FILM

2011-12-16T23:28:00.000-05:00

Directed By Martin Scorsese.

The Key to Reserva (2007)

2011-12-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Starring Simon Baker, Kelli O'Hara, Michael Stuhlbarg, Christopher Denham and Richard Easton.

Collaborating with screenwriter Ted Griffin (Ocean's Eleven, Matchstick Men) and long-time editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Martin Scorsese directed and starred in The Key to Reserva, a 10-minute short film which was created as a long-form commcercial for Spanish wine company Freixenet.

The film begins with Scorsese giving an interview about a supposedly unfinished three-page screenplay by Alfred Hitchcock which has recently been discovered. Scorsese intends to produce a screen version, faithfully recreating Hitchcock's style as a tribute to the legendary British director, with the remainder of the short then intercutting between the interview, the production stage and the final 'film-within-a-film', The Key to Reserva.

Joining Scorsese in the cast for the short are Simon Baker (The Killer Inside Me), Kelli O'Hara (Sex and the City 2), Michael Stuhlbarg (A Simple Man), Christopher Denham (Shutter Island) and Richard Easton (Revolutionary Road), along with appearances by Griffen and Schoonmaker as themselves.

Robert DeNiro American Express TV Commercial - 2006

2011-12-12T14:33:00.000-05:00

Directed By Martin Scorsese

Al Pacino - Vittoria Coffee

2011-12-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

REVEAL BY HALLE BERRY

2011-12-12T13:01:00.000-05:00

LINDSAY

2011-12-10T11:55:00.000-05:00