KFC Lures Gen Z Into Its Bizarre Cult—And Doesn’t Care if It’s Polarizing
A lost man meets a chicken in the woods. Transfixed by the bird's spell, he follows a group of mysterious strangers, who reverently carry a giant, golden egg to the shore of a lake. There, in a lake of gravy, he is baptized. When he emerges, he is transformed into a piece of fried chicken....
The Formula For Iconic Advertising Campaigns
Marketing leaders often focus on creative execution as the key to advertising success. But the most effective campaigns don’t start with creativity; they start with strategy. The brands that achieve long-term impact don’t just sell products; they embed themselves into consumer psychology, cultural conversations, and purchasing behavior. When executed well, advertising becomes a force that shapes how people think, feel, and behave. This article is part of Branding Strategy Insider’s newsletter. You can sign up...
Coca-Cola Co. moves North America media business from WPP to Publicis
Publicis Groupe nudges into the soda maker’s all-important market following closed review.
Chicago Dispensary Dishes Up the World’s Largest Weed Pizza for Pi Day
At "high" noon today, an Illinois-based dispensary chain called Ivy Hall and legendary pizza parlor Paulie Gee's will be dishing up THC-spiked slices from the world's largest infused, Sicilian-style pie. There's no actual Guinness World Record--the iconic stats-keeping brand is not cannabis-friendly--so you'll have to take the organizers' word that they have broken any previous...
Publicis Nabs Coca-Cola U.S. Media Business From WPP
Publicis Groupe has snagged The Coca-Cola Company's U.S. media and data business from incumbent WPP, two sources with knowledge of the matter told ADWEEK. The result came after the beverage company held a competitive closed door review with both holding companies, which ADWEEK reported on last week. It means a crucial piece of The Coca-Cola...
The FTC Is Taking a Closer Look at Omnicom’s IPG Takeover
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has requested additional information and documents ahead of Omnicom Group's proposed takeover of Interpublic Group (IPG). In a corporate blog post, Omnicom said the request formed "a standard part of the regulatory process." However, the FTC's second request for information could be a sign the government agency is reviewing...
Contextual Intelligence 101: The Future of Smart Advertising
The online advertising landscape is changing at a breakneck pace. Privacy regulations are getting tougher, and third-party cookies are already on their way out. That means advertisers must rethink the way they connect with audiences. For years, behavioral targeting has been the go-to method for ad targeting. But it’s becoming less and less reliable. And […]
Celebrity Dad Jokes With Nick Cannon Wants Brands to Get Last Laugh
If you've ever loved dad jokes, there's a new show dedicated to celebrities telling them--and brands get the last laugh. Digital video network Culture Genesis premiered Celebrity Dad Jokes this week on the All Def channel on YouTube, which tapped Nick Cannon as an executive producer and the host. The show, which Culture Genesis describes...
4 career tips for Gen Z to break into the ad industry
Speakers at Ad Age’s NextGen Marketing Summit Gen Z career forum share tips for breaking into the industry. (L-R) Emily Elyshevitz, Brittany Ramsey, Dawn Reeves, Geno Schellenberger.
Marketing winners and losers of the week
Paramount Pictures made a savvy plug for “Novocaine,” and Dick’s Sporting Goods was a “magnet” for holiday shoppers—plus, why it was a bad week for Southwest Airlines and Girl Scouts.






