Monte Carlo Resort & Casino is not a fan of luxury that's exclusionary. The Las Vegas property wants everyone to experience "opulence and superior hospitality" and believes they can open open up "a whole new world where extravagance is accessible to all and where everyone can feel rich." That's why LA-based David&Goliath, spelled "debauchery" wrong in the ad above. To make the place seem "approachable" and …
Content Investments Need Time To Mature
Adweek's Brian Morrissey argues that "branded content has yet to take off" despite all the "hype, rounds of venture capital investment and a flurry of activity." Mark Beeching, CCO at Digitas, which created a dedicated unit to produce branded content called The Third Act, said, advertisers have lurched from strategies that relied too heavily on destination sites to a love affair with viral videos to a tendency to …
Continue Reading about Content Investments Need Time To Mature →
Amsterdam At the Head of The Creative Class
Ad Age is running an interesting feature on Amsterdam and how the Dutch city actively courts creative companies from overseas. Taxi Chairman Paul Lavoie said, "They had a day for us where we met with lawyers, accountants, and they explained some of the fiscal advantages of moving our business to Amsterdam." From there, Mr. Lavoie and Taxi CEO Rob Guenette were whisked on a tour of established agencies such as Wieden …
Continue Reading about Amsterdam At the Head of The Creative Class →
Reaching For the Knob
I love when a commercial comes on the TV that is noticeably louder than the program I'm watching. Without the blasting sound from the set, I miss out on a deal or something. Plus my local auto dealers and pawn shops are paying all that money to run their spots, the least I can do is listen. But not everyone feels that way. According to The Wall Street Journal, a California legislator is trying to turn it down a …
Can An Aspirational Web Character Sell Cognac in China?
According to The Wall Street Journal, "the line between advertisers and entertainment producers is rapidly blurring in China, as many brands go online with their own films and Web series, taking advantage of the shortage of popular shows on China's state-controlled TV." Among the latest to jump on the bandwagon is French liquor company Pernod Ricard SA. In late April, Pernod launched an interactive online movie to …
Continue Reading about Can An Aspirational Web Character Sell Cognac in China? →
No Room At Bonnaroo For Verizon’s Network
AT&T's live stream from Bonnaroo is a best-in-class example of brand-sponsored content. I just watched Animal Collective and later today I'll drop back in to see Galactic perform. Bonnaroo.com also offers a stream from Radio Bonnaroo, 101.5 fm. Neither match the experience of being in Manchester, TN but I appreciate the offerings all the same. …
Continue Reading about No Room At Bonnaroo For Verizon’s Network →
Better Hope The Brand’s Lawyers Never See This One
This spot reminds me of Cutwater's viral video work for Levi's where the guy jumps into his jeans, but I like it anyway. Agency: Bates United in Oslo [via AdFreak, which is becoming a veritable vault of TV spots.] …
Continue Reading about Better Hope The Brand’s Lawyers Never See This One →
IE8 Users Help Feed America’s Hungry
According to Alana Semuels of Los Angeles Times, the following commercial starring Superman Dean Cain is from Indiana ad agency Bradley and Montgomery. But is a new commercial enough to get you to download a new browser (when you're already running Firefox)? Probably not, so Microsoft is appealing to your better side. The tech giant will donate eight meals to Feeding America for every person who downloads the …
Continue Reading about IE8 Users Help Feed America’s Hungry →