AI in Advertising

In the world of advertising, the surge in generative AI usage has been remarkable in 2023. Now, nearly a year later, its impact is undeniable.

For instance, Trivago, a leading hotel search company, recently unveiled a rebranding ad campaign with a twist. Instead of hiring multiple actors for its global market, it employed a single actor and used AI to translate his voice into nearly a dozen languages. Trivago's CEO, Johannes Thomas, highlighted the efficiency of this approach. Previously, the company required 35 productions and 20 actors for 40 markets, which was costly and time-consuming. Now, AI enables quicker, more versatile content creation for diverse markets.

Trivago's AI exploration doesn't stop there. They're running numerous tests to enhance their product and even considering AI-generated characters tailored for each market. They've streamlined their internal processes with an AI-assisted "fast pass" for approvals, allowing rapid testing of new tools while maintaining data security.

Thomas emphasizes the importance of innovating with AI, suggesting it enables more tailored and cost-effective marketing strategies.

Trivago isn't the only company leveraging AI. For example, the meditation app Calm used AI to recreate James Stewart's voice, known for his role in "It’s A Wonderful Life," for a holiday special. This project, in collaboration with Ukrainian AI voice startup Respeecher, showcased a human-centered approach to AI, combining the efforts of sound editors, producers, and AI experts.

The use of AI in marketing has expanded across various sectors:

• Orange created an AI deepfake ad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to tackle sexism in soccer.

• WWF Deutschland leveraged AI in campaigns like "Bee Radio," turning bee hums into songs, and "Climate Realism," using AI to predict climate change impacts on landscapes.

• Burger King's "A.I.LLOWEEN" campaign featured a unique AI-generated commercial.

• Volkswagen crafted a deepfake video of Elis Regina, enhancing its brand narrative.

Moreover, Coca-Cola was an early adopter of generative AI for its "Masterpiece" ad.

Beyond individual companies, the industry is seeing broader collaborations and innovations. Axel Springer teamed up with OpenAI for AI-summarized news, and Google Cloud and Accenture formed an "AI Center of Excellence."

In the realm of entertainment, musician Grimes introduced AI-infused plush toys for kids in association with Curio.

A Gartner survey revealed a strong belief in AI's productivity impact, with analysts predicting significant changes in organic search traffic and creative roles due to AI.

However, alongside these advancements, there are growing concerns about ethical issues and misinformation. A report uncovered a Pro-China YouTube network using AI for misinformation, and there's a push in Washington state for ethical AI legislation. The Irish Council For Civil Liberties is advocating for user control over Big Tech algorithms.

Concluding with analyst Benedict Evans' predictions for 2024, it's clear that AI will continue to be a major focus in the tech and marketing worlds.

100 years: Young & Rubicam

In October, WPP decided to (once again) merge agencies Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R into VML. Just five years earlier, the agency network merged iconic agencies Young & Rubicam & J. Walter Thompson with VML & Wunderman, respectively. Y&R would have celebrated its 100 year anniversary.

Founded in 1923 by John Orr Young and Raymond Rubicam, Y&R is not just a story of an advertising agency; it's a tale of innovation, creativity, and cultural influence. By 1985, Y&R was the largest independent ad agency in the world. WWP acquired the shop in 2000 for $4.7B, a record at the time.

The Founding Duo

John Orr Young and Raymond Rubicam, both seasoned in the advertising world, came together with a vision to create an agency that valued creative advertising as a powerful tool for business. This was a novel approach at a time when advertising was more focused on straightforward sales techniques. Originally founded in Philadelphia, the agency moved their headquarters to NYC three years later.

A New Approach to Advertising

Y&R pioneered the concept of "soft sell," emphasizing creativity and customer engagement over aggressive sales tactics. This approach was revolutionary and laid the groundwork for modern advertising techniques.

Pioneering Creative Campaigns

The Jell-O Success

One of Y&R's early successes was the Jell-O campaign for General Foods. Faced with the challenge of marketing an unknown product, Y&R created a campaign that not only introduced Jell-O to America but made it a household name. This campaign showcased Y&R’s ability to blend creativity with market research, a hallmark of their approach, along with the help of an obscure comedian named Jack Benny.

The Impact of Radio

Y&R was one of the first agencies to harness the power of radio. They understood the medium's potential to create emotional connections with audiences, leading to memorable and effective campaigns. Some of their early shows were produced for clients including Santa Coffee, Packard Motors, and Gulf Gasoline.

Expanding Horizons

Global Growth

In the mid-20th century, Y&R expanded globally, understanding early on that a presence in key markets around the world was essential for a modern advertising agency. This expansion allowed Y&R to gain a deep understanding of various cultures and markets, further enhancing their ability to craft impactful campaigns.

Diversification

Y&R diversified its services to include public relations, marketing, and brand management. This expansion was part of their strategy to provide comprehensive solutions to clients, a trend that many other agencies would follow.

Iconic Campaigns and Lasting Impact

Memorable Ads

View movies from every angle. Y&R for LG.

Y&R created some of the most iconic ads in history. Their campaigns for brands like Ford, Kraft, and Colgate are studied in marketing courses around the world. They had a knack for creating slogans and jingles that resonated with the public, often becoming part of popular culture.

A Legacy of Creativity

Y&R’s legacy is not just in the campaigns they created but also in how they shaped the advertising industry. Their focus on creativity, understanding of consumer behavior, and ability to adapt to changing markets set a standard for the industry.

Conclusion: A Beacon of Creativity and Innovation

As the Young & Rubicam name retires into the history books, it stands as a beacon of creativity and innovation. From pioneering the "soft sell" to creating globally recognized campaigns, Y&R’s journey is a testament to the power of creativity in shaping not just brands, but also the cultural zeitgeist. The legacy of Young and Rubicam is not merely in the ads they created but in the way they redefined the art of advertising.

Advertising and African Americans

The Museum recently contributed to an NBC story about the representation of African Americans in advertising. Founding Director Glenn Pajarito spoke about the history and evolution of the portrayal of the African American community. See the full story here.

In fact, some of the earliest ads from 1707 until 1862 advertised the sale of African slaves or the reward of runaway slaves. It wasn’t until the 20th century that we begin to see a transition of African Americans portrayed as slaves and servants into everyday citizens, consumers and even pop culture icons. Racial equity in advertising and media isn’t just dependent on the work, but on the values of the organizations behind the work. The leadership of brands and agencies must be reflective of the communities and audiences they want to connect with. This is an important topic for the Museum which we’ll continue to address in future exhibitions and content.

Advertising the Exclamation Point

Prior to the late 1950s, the exclamation point was alive and well in advertising.

If we look back to 1940s war era, grabbing the public’s attention was of utmost importance, since the war effort was in dire need of help from men and women alike. Enter: the exclamation point (or mark, whichever you prefer).

Because it’s patriotic!

We’re not guilting you at all!

Commerce is alive and well back home!

After the war, America was in a good place to start amassing wealth again—namely with spending on cars and toys for the kids.

Interjections fuel our lives!

You can do it all when you rent a Chevrolet!

No guilt trip here, dad!

It wasn’t until around 1959 when we started to see the power of the period again, namely with the Doyle Dane Bernbach “Think Small” Volkswagen campaign.

Simple. Just right.

“

Marketing is being pushed in a more subtle direction, with native advertising and content marketing becoming more common as audiences grow dissatisfied with overwrought sales pitches. Hyped-up ad copy reads like ad copy. Hardly anyone wants to see that.”

— http://bizbuzzcreative.com/exclamation-points-advertising/

The exclamation point has had steady appearances since then, but lately we’ve been seeing the preference for periods to get across a poignant statement—and often no period at all.

“Yours, until opened.”

Print campaign by David, Argentina for Don Satur, 2017.

Wieden + Kennedy for Nike, 2018.

“If Nike’s goal with its Colin Kaepernick ad was to get attention, mission accomplished. The sports retail giant has stolen the spotlight in the sports world and beyond with the ad, which is largely seen as Nike supporting National Football League players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequalities.”

— https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/assessing-fallout-good-bad-nike-s-kaepernick-ad/314809/

Imagine this ad with an exclamation point. How would that change the message for you?

Kubrick: Out of Home

If you are in and around NYC through October, 

swing by the Museum of the City of New York to check out Stanley Kubrick's early photography for LOOK Magazine in their exhibit Through a Different Lens: Stanley Kubrick Photographs.

Kubrick for LOOK Magazine, 1945-1950.

In addition to seeing the early beginnings of his thought process and stylistic sensibilities, you'll find rarely known tidbits, like his capturing of innovative advertising campaigns that would be fitting, even today. 

Take this 1947 campaign for Peter Pan Bras, in which a live model posed in front of their product billboard for spectators on the street to watch in awe.

Utter. Awe.

Advertising Today: A Data-Driven Business

A must-read for your spare time—or anytime.

"The Death of Don Draper" by Ian Leslie for New Statesman

"Ad agencies no longer seem to know what they are for. Their executives like to declare that they don’t work in advertising, since 'ads' are associated with a pre-internet world. Yet when asked to say what it is they actually do, they become vague ('communication') or grandiose ('create culture'). The industry is Balkanised, the engineers talking a different language to the storytellers. Scott Galloway’s lecture articulates the worst fear of the latter: that there is no need for them any more. Yet not everyone is ready to accept redundancy."

7 Interesting Historical Facts About America's Advertising Industry

You can't walk down the street...

without being bombarded by advertisements and branding. And whether you realize it or not, the messages big business is sending you every day are leaving an impression -- although not always positive in nature.

The advertising industry has always fascinated the consumer. Since the 1960s, consumers have been wise to the tricks of the trade. But nevertheless, advertisers know human nature, and they know how to tap into it for commercial gain (no pun intended).

As these 7 interesting facts about advertising in America demonstrate, the industry itself is every bit as fascinating as the ads it creates.

1. IKEA Aired the First U.S. TV Commercial Starring a Gay Couple

Swedish furniture retailer IKEA took the bold step of using social diversity to sell its products, at a time when commercials were the domain of the quintessential American family. The 1994 ad featured a male couple shopping for a dining room table. Sadly, the backlash included death threats against IKEA stores, and the commercial was pulled shortly after it aired. Nevertheless, the Swedish company received lots of praise -- paving the way for more diversity on television.

2. The Internet Has Made the Industry a Lot of Money

According to Statista, revenue from online advertising in the United States was just a little over $8 billion a year. Fast forward to 2017, and that figure stood at $88 billion. A combination of social media, online video and the increasing use of mobile devices are believed to be responsible for this exceptional rate of growth.

3. Mars Missed Out on a Fortune Because of an Ugly Alien

The original script for Steven Spielberg's E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial included a scene in which Elliot lures the little alien from the woods with a trail of M&Ms. This was a great example of product placement that worked perfectly with the storyline. However, confectionery giant Mars thought the alien was ugly, and refused to allow their product to be associated with it. Instead, Reese's Pieces stepped up to the plate -- and enjoyed a sales increase of 65 percent shortly after the movie's release.

4. Billboard Advertising Owes Some of Its Success to Ford

Until Ford launched its famous Model T production car, motor vehicles were very expensive -- and beyond the budget of the masses. As a result, roads in America were relatively quiet places. Of course, billboards had been around for decades in 1908, but the sudden increase in traffic created by Ford's groundbreaking vehicle increased the demand for them significantly.

5. The World's TV Ad Was for a Watch

The Brooklyn Dodgers were taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in New York. The year was 1941, and the channel was WNBT (an NBC subsidiary). The simple TV commercial features a clock superimposed onto a map of America, showing the time on the east coast. The narrator says: "America runs on Bulova time." This simple ad for a watch company changed the world.

6. The Most Expensive TV Ad Ever Was for Perfume

Max Luhrmann's 2004 commercial for Chanel had a bigger budget than many Hollywood movies in production at the time. The two-minute ad features Australian actress Nicole Kidman as she struggles to cope with the constant attention of Paparazzi. In scenes similar to those in Kidman's Moulin Rouge, she jumps into a taxi to escape the photographers, and meets a young writer with whom she falls in love. The commercial purportedly cost $33 million to produce -- which included Kidman's $3 million fee.

 

7. The First Watch Commercials Depicted the Same Time

When commercials for watches first started appearing on our TVs, advertisers set the time depicted on their products to 10:10. Doing this spread the hour and minute hands equidistantly to showcase the brand name. In an effort to set themselves apart from the crowd, Apple now sets the time on its devices to 10:09.

These seven mind-blowing facts demonstrate that the industry itself is just as fascinating as the campaigns it creates.

From Exotic Berry to Social Network: A Brief History of Coffee Adverts

Since the 17th Century,

coffee has been promoted as the foremost social lubricant available. This pamphlet from England waxes lyrical about the benefits of this new, exotic berry, which 'groweth upon little trees' and 'quickens the spirits'.

The language and style have changed greatly since then, but the idea that coffee is some magical brew that will bring you friends, lovers and improve your life has remained constant. From 1950s black and white promises of catching that girl, to totally up-to-date YouTube videos designed to 'go viral' by painting coffee as the ultimate social network, you've always been told just how great coffee can be for your social life, your health and your happiness.

Advertising Wars

Coffee began the 20th Century with a fight on its hands. A company called Postum ran a $1.5 million smear campaign against coffee, citing health risks. Postum promoted its own product, a coffee substitute based on grain. However, in a real-life case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em", Postum eventually jumped on the coffee bandwagon, buying Maxwell House. Postum went on to become General Foods Corp.

Having survived the propaganda attack, coffee had another boost in 1919. Prohibition meant no alcohol, and with no bars to hang out in, all of a sudden, the coffee house was on the rise. Advertising followed suit, with companies like Maxwell House running huge campaigns. Their slogan was 'Good to the Last Drop', and they controversially claimed these were the words of President Theodore Roosevelt.

The Healthy Cup

Back in the 17th century, coffee was supposed to be good for your digestion. By 1942, racing driver Wilbur Shaw was telling America that 'Coffee wins races for me,' and actress Dorothy Lamour claimed that 'Coffee keeps me glamorous.' Of course, such claims are hard to make in advertising today, so it's no wonder modern marketing focuses on the social and happiness aspects, rather than health claims which could potentially be debunked.

The Coffee Break

In 1952, a Madison Avenue ad agency by the name of Federal Advertising Agency coined the phrase "Coffee Break" for the Pan American Coffee Bureau, launching a radio, newspaper, and magazine campaign. According to one source, "The bureau gave a name and official sanction to a practice that had begun during the war in defense plants, when time off for coffee gave workers a needed moment of relaxation along with a caffeine jolt." It was so well publicized that it became a part of our daily language. 

The Beverage of Love

Uploaded by Littlepixel™ on 2015-05-12.

So many advertising campaigns for coffee are based on relationships, marriage, and even enduring love affairs. In the UK, the Nescafe Gold Blend TV adverts in the 1980s depicted a blossoming relationship between a couple, which lasted for 12 'episodes', or 45 second installments. The ads were so popular that each new installment garnered immediate media attention, and catapulted the stars, Anthony Head and Sharon Maughan to fame. The campaign was adjusted for the American audience, and the slightly different brand name of 'Taster's Choice', and was just as popular.

Our love affair with coffee began way before this though. Look at this ad from the Pan-American Coffee Bureau, the company that apparently first coined the phrase 'coffee break'. Without being too overt, the ad heavily implies that you can win a girl over by inviting her for a coffee break.

A more risqué addition to the coffee ad archives is this saucy exhibit from Chase & Sanborn. While this might have been acceptable in the 1950s, you can imagine that this would not go down well with today's audiences.

A Modern Social Network

Uploaded by Lavazza on 2017-02-06.

Today's marketing world is a far cry from the wordy pamphlet of the past. Lavazza have taken the promises of coffee to new levels with a viral advertising campaign that combines a reworking of a much-loved song, with the idea that coffee is the real social network. Ironically, the coffee giant is using those much-maligned social networks to get its message across; make of that what you will. With the slogan 'Born Social in 1895', this campaign sums up the history of coffee advertising succinctly.

Coffee was first promoted as a social lubricant with health benefits, then fast became the ultimate pick-me-up, and is now an irreplaceable part of Western recreational and social culture. Where will coffee advertising go from here?

5 Companies That Practically Invented Modern Branding

The best brands are instantly recognizable.

The moment you see them on a computer screen or in a grocery store, certain mental images and emotions are evoked. And some of these brands are so strong, even a color or a particular font can identify them in the minds of consumers.

But this level of brand recognition is no accident; it's the result of a strong marketing proposition that gets into the hearts and minds of the public.

These five iconic companies developed a killer brand -- and each one now transcends its own particular industry.

1. Coca Cola

Coca Cola was developed by pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. He made a jug of the soda in his home, and carried it down the street to his local pharmacy. The store owner was so impressed, he immediately agreed to sell it for five cents a glass -- and the rest is history.

First ad for Coca-Cola, 1886.

Pemberton advertised in local newspapers, and advertised his new drink outside stores using hand-painted signs made with oilcloth. Crucially, the trademark white logo on a red background was created by Frank M. Robinson in 1886.

But it wasn't until a marketing professional bought Coca Cola from Pemberton that the brand began to develop a life of its own. Asa Candler bought the tiny soft drinks company, and plowed $11,000 into advertising. At first, branded soda fountains, pencils, clocks, and calendars were used to build the brand's national identity. By 1910, Coca Cola had a marketing budget of more than $1 million. The company began to advertise on huge billboards, and it wasn't long before expensive radio commercials were being played across America.

The Coca Cola brand has enjoyed several milestone moments over the years. In 1931, the iconic Christmas illustration put Santa in a Coca Cola-red suit. The first television commercial aired in 1950, and the company became one of the pioneers of celebrity endorsements shortly after -- thanks to collaborations with the likes of Joan Crawford and Aretha Franklin.

The first Coca Cola bottle was designed in 1916. The iconic contoured bottle was an attempt to distinguish the brand from the many competitors that emerged during the preceding 20 years. This shape became as much a part of the brand as the famous logo, and remained in production until 1955 -- when it was tweaked for a new age.

2. Apple

Apple's Macintosh personal computer was launched in 1984 -- via a Super Bowl TV commercial the company's directors hated. Indeed, Walter Isaacson described the ad as "The worst commercial they had ever seen."

Directed by Ridley Scott, the commercial portrayed a bleak, dystopian future in the mold of the one created by George Orwell in his famous novel "1984." The message was one of free-thinking, individuality and standing out from the crowd -- and it worked spectacularly. Apple went on to sell 72,000 units in the following 100 days, which was twice the board's forecast.

Despite several bumps in the road -- which included the infamous "Lemmings" ad and "The power to be your best slogan -- Apple had created a strong brand. That partially eaten apple stood for more than a simple home computer; it stood for style, free-thinking and innovation. When the digital age arrived in the early 1990s, two decades of brand-building was vindicated in spectacular style.

3. McDonald's

Salesman Ray Kroc was sold on the McDonald's brand the moment he walked into the San Bernardino restaurant in search of a sale. He loved the concept so much, he negotiated a franchise deal to open one of his own. Kroc eventually bought the entire company from founders Richard and Maurice McDonald.

Kroc was captivated by the glowing "Golden Arches," and he knew that the brand alone would be enough to build an empire. The premise behind this global brand is a relatively simple one: Good burgers served quickly. That, along with that famous logo makes this one of the most successful examples of aggressive branding in the history of modern consumerism.

4. Disney

Founded by brothers Walt and Roy Disney in 1923, The Walt Disney Company endured a tumultuous first few years of production. Walt's Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was a commercial hit, and made the brothers a lot of money. However, the cartoon's distributor had sneakily drawn up a contract gave him the rights to the character. Walt and his brother lost control over their own creation, and the Walt Disney Studio was forced to start again.

Walt created the character of Mickey Mouse in his Hyperion Avenue studio in Hollywood. Steamboat Willie was the short film that launched a cartoon superstar -- and one of today's most recognizable brands. The Walt Disney Company has built its brand on animation of the highest quality. Magical worlds of make-believe and family-friendly entertainment are now synonymous with Disney. And to this day, something as simple as Walt's own signature is the mark of quality entertainment for people of all ages.

5. Nike

Founded in 1964 in Eugene, Oregon, Nike is now the world's most recognizable sportswear brand. The original company was called Blue Ribbon Sports, and it sold running shoes imported from Japanese company Onitsuka Tiger. Founder Philip Knight sold the shoes out of the back of his car at athletics meetings across America, and within 18 months he and his partner William J. Bowerman had a small workforce and a large retail space of their own.

In 1971, the owners of Blue Ribbon Sports realized that they needed to rebrand in order to take the next step -- selling their shoes across America. They began to design their own shoes, and changed the company name to Nike, after the Greek goddess of victory. Graphic design student Carolyn Davidson was paid the princely sum of just $35 for her now iconic "swoosh" icon.

And the rest is history.

Memorializing the Great American Cookout

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, originated after the American Civil War. Before it became an official federal holiday in 1971 in honor of service men and women who gave their lives in service, American advertising had long connected the day of remembrance with name brands. A great example of this is Seagram's Beverage Company who, in the mid-1960s, created a backyard barbecue guide complete with drink recipes, party tips, and more ideas for entertaining your favorite people. Joe Kaufman, a notable commercial children's book illustrator, created the colorful and uplifting imagery of the American family. Since then, it is debatable that the original intent of the holiday has turned into a holiday similar to the 4th of July or even Labor Day, where Americans can enjoy a day to rest from the long workweek and be with their families and friends. Regardless of how it is celebrated, it's undeniable that advertising plays a vital part in this longtime tradition. 

Original article

The First Photoshopped Photo

Did you know?

The first Photoshopped image was of co-creator John Knoll's wife Jennifer while they were on vacation in Tahiti. The story goes like so: John and Jennifer traveled to Bora Bora after wrapping up work on the live action/animated film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and John snapped this photo just before proposing to her. (Anyone in the animated/digital arts fields knows how long those hours usually are, and destination getaways are a must. ) Post-vacation, John's brother Thomas was working on software that was similar to the "Pixar Machine" photo manipulation technology that John had encountered at ILM (Industrial Light & Magic), yet didn't cost thousands of dollars nor required a specially-trained operator. With their new hobby in motion, they needed more digital images for their demos, which were naturally scarce at the time. So while visiting friends at Apple's Advanced Technology Group lab, they were able to use their rare flatbed scanner to scan John's 4x6 photo of his wife—which is the only photograph he had available at the time. 

Now ILM's Chief Creative Officer, John has greatly expanded his digital advancements since then. That being said, it's important to consider how much the Knoll brothers' innovation has become vital to the world's creative fields—and advertising—forever. Sometimes the best inventions happen when they start out as a hobby.

More on John's story (and a recreation of his demo) here. 

"It was a good image to do demos with," Knoll recalls. "It was pleasing to look at and there were a whole bunch of things you could do with that image technically." 

The Economist

On this day in 2014, ad man (and co-founder of AMV BBDO) David Abbott had passed away.

For those who don't know, he was the man responsible for the eye-catching red and white print ads that make The Economist iconic. When David Abbott was hired to design ads for a small British newspaper, he captured the essence of their product in a simple, memorable way. 

Since then, this formula has been used time and again for hard-hitting cultural messages that grab readers' attention and delivers thought-provoking insight all at once. 

Can you think of other brands who use this simple, tried-and-true formula?

Hide your mothers—the Colonel is coming.

1968 print ad for Kentucky Fried Chicken

As of 2017, KFC boasts 21,000+ locations around the world. Founded in 1930 out of North Corbin, Kentucky, the Colonel has been charming us all for what feels like a lifetime. What may not be widely known is that Colonel Harland Sanders was, in fact, a real person who actually started the chain. The governor of Kentucky during Sanders' time had even designated him a colonel. More about his life here.

The Ad Business of Show Business

Have you ever heard of the industrial musical? Neither have we...until the Tribeca Film Festival, that is.

The Tribeca 2018 Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director went to Bathtubs Over Broadway, centering on the growth and fulfillment of former comedy writer of The Late Show With David Letterman, Steve Young. Young was a longtime fan of obscure "industrial musical" records which he wrote into the Letterman program for a segment where they lightheartedly poked fun at these vintage records. Directed by Dava Whisenant, who is a former editor at The Late Show, takes the audience through Young's quest and ultimate dream of meeting, interacting with, and ultimately honoring the people who made these musicals happen. 

As the documentary progresses, you can feel the shift in Young's life from the ending of the Late Show and the shift from a fun hobby to fully immersing himself in the culture and people he's investigating. And what turned into a 2013 book was also a filmed experience for us to see it all after the last curtain call. There's this entire world of advertising-meets-entertainment that the world at large did not know about and it's an intriguing adventure from the get-go. 

"Bizarre cast recordings - marked “internal use only” - revealed full-throated Broadway-style musical shows about some of the most recognizable corporations in America: General Electric, McDonald’s, Ford, DuPont, Xerox. Steve didn’t know much about musical theater, but these recordings delighted him in a way that nothing ever had." For more, visit: https://www.bathtubsoverbroadway.com/info

Industrial Musical 1963 -uploaded in HD at http://www.TunesToTube.com

Created for NY Eve at the Benjablums 12/31/58. Recording of My Bathroom is from an industrial musical called, The Bathrooms are Coming," produced by the American Standard Company in 1969 and included in the book and accompanying CD, "Everything's Coming Up Profits: The Golden Age of Industrial Musicals."

From Xerox to bathroom fixtures, the limits are endless when it comes to advertising and the musical numbers you can create for them. It was a small pocket of time before digital when companies showed their sales people rewards through high-production entertainment to get them excited for another quarter or year of selling. The line between advertising and entertainment is often blurred, and that's never been more true today. Though a few shows are still in existence today (like Walmart), it's still not really talked about in popular culture. And most of the records that Young collected are rare and often the last one in existence, it's amazing that he and a few other individuals thought to help preserve such important history in advertising and show business. What often helped pay the bills for entertainers also helped them do what they love when other jobs were scarce. For creatives and professionals in the industry, this film and book are a must-see and must-read for a fascinating era of pride and energy that still has roots in the business today. 

#DACA | Travel Ban

Look how far we've come.

In the news: a federal judge ruled Tuesday that the U.S. must keep DACA and accept new applications. Next up: Trump's Travel Ban goes before the Supreme Court today. To align with these momentous decisions, we're taking a look back at Lin-Manuel Miranda's 2017 Hamilton Mixtape: Immigrants, which was inspired by "Yorktown" from Hamilton. In addition to a campaign benefiting the Immigrants: We Get The Job Done Coalition in the form of a contest, his 2015 hit musical was started by a 2009 mixtape he had created. Then, another mixtape of those performances was recorded, followed by this 2017 release focusing on the plight of refugees.

Credits

There were also manifestations of protest that was expressed through art. The first, an art installation by Los Angeles artist Camilo Ontiveros, is a piece made up of belongings left behind from Juan Manuel Montes, who is believed to be the first dreamer. The second, an installation by French artist JR, whose black and white installation at the border is essentially a striking billboard with a higher purpose. "His imagery — dramatic photo crops, intense close-ups, cinematic poses — all rendered in a black-and-white palette on a very large scale and relying heavily on repetition, borrows heavily from the language of advertising." During a Culver City discussion about the piece, the artist gave his thoughts on why he suspected it was so impactful. "The fact that it was a kid...seemed to break all barriers.”

More on this 2017 story here.

Early Cannabis | #Happy420

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, It's 4/20. 

Marijuana has come a long way. Before being openly celebrated annually on this day alongside instantly gratifying munchies and the greasiest fast food hits, it was widely difficult to obtain because it was mostly imported. When raw botanical medicines became scarce during WWI, Americans turned to growing at home. Here's a 1917 print ad which supports American-grown cannabis as a near-equal substitution to the foreign variety. 

For a deeper dive, visit the Antique Cannabis Book for even more Victory Ads and other vintage  collections. 

And for extra credit, check out the self-proclaimed "World's First Cannabis Marketing Agency." 

The Philharmonic Turntable Orchestra

Oh, How the Turntables Have Turned.

Audio brand Technics put together an all-star ensemble of the world's top turntablists (DJs) like DJ Qbert, DJ Kentaro, and 2017 DMC World DJ Championship winner DJ Rena. (Rena is the youngest to have won the title at just 12 years old.) Check out this orchestra of talent where each artist is using the iconic Technics SL-1200 series turntable.

For hip hop fans new and die-hard, going to scratch sessions was a big part of your social life. From the early beginnings à la Grandmaster Flash and his student Grand Wizzard Theodore (who is widely accepted as the inventor of scratching), the mid-to-late 70s was the birth of an epic time in music history. Once DJing caught on, getting your hands on a turntable, building your record collection, and starting your own crew was the dreams of so many young kids. Ads like these would keep such dreams alive.

Print ad circa 1977.

For more on the beginnings, check out the reimagining of that time period with Netflix and Baz Luhrmann's two-part musical drama series The Get Down, which covers a time in New York's history where the city was on the brink of bankruptcy and concurrently gave birth to hip hop, disco, and punk. Though the series was short-lived, it put a spotlight on a scene that's never really stopped.

The First Web Banner Ad

If you’re a working creative in the industry, you’ve most likely created your fair share of banner ads. If you don’t remember or weren’t around—ever wonder what the first banner ad looked like?

According to a 2017 article by The Atlantic, the widely agreed upon first banner ad was a part of a 1994 campaign called "You Will" for AT&T.

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Hosted by HotWired, it had a 44% clickthrough. "The ad set off a chain reaction that altered the course of the advertising industry—and any other industry that overlapped with it. ('It’s almost like a prank that was played by the technology industry on the media industry 20 years ago,' Chris Dixon, the tech investor, told The New York Times in 2014.)'"

How far we've come.

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Bringing users from the banner ad to a landing page was a landmark event for advertisers. It got them to see what else customers would do. Hence, how ever-present they are today.

Of course, there has been backlash ever since, due to the eventual creation of "pop-up" ads that are even more disruptive.

"The person who created the first pop-up ad is similarly sheepish about what he wrought. 'I’m sorry,' Ethan Zuckerman, who coded the first pop-up ad, wrote for The Atlantic in 2014. 'Our intentions were good.'"

For more reading, visit the original article from The Atlantic. 

For the latest on what AT&T is cooking up, head here.

Meme Life: Staying Power

Meme, according to wiki: The word meme was coined by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene as an attempt to explain the way cultural information spreads;[7] Internet memes are a subset of this general meme concept specific to the culture and environment of the Internet. 

If you're like most people these days, memes are such a part of your daily routine that sometimes you don't catch yourself sending one to your friend until the reply with a fitting emoji. The idea of a meme is really an idea itself: or a concept, activity, catchphrase, or media that spreads with humorous purpose, often in mockery. If you remember, early memes with riddled with intentional misspellings, cute animals in jest, and even as GIFs. It would be easy to say that the first memes were emoticons, but if you're in the camp of a meme having to be highly influential, then we'd have to go with "All Your Base Are Belong to Us" from the SEGA Genesis 16-bit game, Zero Wing.

A bad translation turns into a catchphrase that morphed into several memorable spinoffs.

In 2013-4, advertising was also inspiring meme culture. 

Esurance Commercial - "Beatrice"

Adweek: 

"That’s not how any of this works."

Leo Burnett Chicago, 2014 “Beatrice” spot for Esurance.

According to an interview with Adweek, the creators were prepping their own GIFs but the internet beat them to the punch. After its initial run, it regained traction with reactions to the 2016 election. 

2013 print ad for M&Ms

adam&eveDDB’s 2014 “Be More Tea” spot for Lipton, featuring The Muppets

Gym Kardashian, 2018

As of this year, memes have largely taken the form of tweets, Instagram posts and the like. What seems to be sticking is an empathic message of "that is so me right now" to elicit feelings of rapport and common ground about anything under the sun, often at the expense of celebrities, public figures, and the like. It's constant, addictive elixir that heals the banality of everyday life, so to speak. This leads us to meme culture connecting to the idea of self-branding, which is of course, not a new notion but has been packaged by social media as something to strive for. 

The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival is set to screen The American Meme (a play on the notion of the American Dream) further supports how impactful the spread of catchphrases and images are — and continue to be. Written and directed by Bert Marcus, it also takes it a step further by exposing the often unglamorous life of major internet influencers while they desperately try to gain or maintain the spotlight with their followers. Self-branding takes on many forms and is, in and of itself, a major aspect of advertising. The selling of ideas and identity in exchange for notoriety or profit is still at the helm of popular culture, and the social impact is a direct commentary on our collective identity and changing values.

But attributing meme culture to fame and money would be too simple. According to a 2011 Smithsonian Magazine article What Defines a Meme by James Gleick, the basis for these sparks of lightning-fast pieces of information come down to a scientific level of understanding. 

"Memes emerge in brains and travel outward, establishing beachheads on paper and celluloid and silicon and anywhere else information can go. They are not to be thought of as elementary particles but as organisms. The number three is not a meme; nor is the color blue, nor any simple thought, any more than a single nucleotide can be a gene. Memes are complex units, distinct and memorable—units with staying power."

Staying power. 
 

March of Our Lives

March of Our Lives, a movement to speak out against existing gun laws and to demand safety first, is scheduled nationally for March 24th. Ad Age partnered with The Gun Safety Alliance to gather posters and social media imagery from the students themselves, filled with powerful messages of immediate reform. 

Here are a few of the submissions:

This isn't the first time in our nation's history that we've had hard-hitting messages about gun reform. Here are a few from 1968 which catalyzed the gun debate, in response to the 1963 shooting of JFK (and subsequently the Robert F. Kennedy assassination).