Advertising
Gillette Defends Image of Plus-size Model After Accusations of Promoting Obesity
Alexandra Jardine, Ad Age
Gillette has defended a social media post for its Venus razor product featuring a plus-size model, after it caused a furore online.
Stephen Curry Is the Star of Facebook’s Pitch to Advertisers
Garett Sloane, Ad Age
Facebook is flaunting the star power of its new show with Stephen Curry as it tries to convince advertisers that its Watch video portal is the place to spend.
New York Times Pairs With Everlane for Earth Day Ad Push
Kali Hays, WWD
The publisher is hoping to keep driving subscriptions with a new campaign around its climate change coverage.
This Macallan Ad Was Just Banned in the U.K. for Promoting ‘Extreme Risk-Taking Behaviour’
David Griner, Adweek
A soaring ad for Scotch brand The Macallan has abruptly crashed to earth in the brand’s home country of the U.K., where advertising regulators today ruled that the ad be banned from broadcast for showing a man leaping off a cliff in a way that was “very dangerous, potentially fatal, and consisted of extreme risk-taking behaviour.”
Social Video App TikTok Is Steady-Stepping Into Shoppable Ads in the U.S.
Ann-Marie Alcántara and Kelsey Sutton, Adweek
Every major social platform is attempting to understand shopping behavior. On Snapchat, that means testing out exclusive drops with Jordan Brand or Adidas.
6 brands that got sucked into #BlackHoleDay fun
Diana Bradley, PR Week
After the much-anticipated image was released on Wednesday, social media users weighed in on what it looks like — mostly the Eye of Sauron from “Lord of the Rings” and, well, donuts. There was also a fair share of black-hole jokes on Twitter.
Media and Entertainment
Disney’s Next Big Remake: Itself
Erich Schwartzel, The Wall Street Journal
To battle Netflix, Disney is launching a new streaming service built around popular franchises, from ‘Star Wars’ to ‘High School Musical.’
Netflix is getting into radio with a full-time comedy channel airing on SiriusXM
Nick Statt, The Verge
Netflix is branching out beyond film and TV with its first audio-only broadcast in the form of a full-time comedy channel that will air exclusively on SiriusXM satellite radio.
Netflix to Launch Its Own Publication to Tout Awards Hopefuls
Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter
Tentatively titled Wide, the publication will tout the streamer’s many Emmy hopefuls to the roughly 15,000 members of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Discovery says new Chip and Joanna Gaines to debut next year
The Associated Press
The lifestyle team of Chip and Joanna Gaines will launch their own Discovery-affiliated television network in the summer of 2020.
Social Media and Technology
Republicans dig into Facebook and Twitter over concerns of ‘conservative bias’
Makena Kelly, The Verge
On Wednesday, a panel of mostly Republicans, led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), laid into representatives from Facebook and Twitter over concerns that conservative speech is actively being censored on both platforms.
Amazon Workers Are Listening to What You Tell Alexa
Matt Day et al., Bloomberg
A global team reviews audio clips in an effort to help the voice-activated assistant respond to commands.
Kids Love These YouTube Channels. Who Creates Them Is a Mystery.
Yoree Koh and Betsy Morris, The Wall Street Journal
Almost anyone can upload videos to YouTube—but the difficulty identifying kids content creators fosters a ‘lack of accountability,’ a critic says.
Conde Nast now has 28 shows on Snapchat, with plans for more
Kerry Flynn, Digiday
In the early days of Snapchat Discover, Condé Nast, like other publishers, converted some of its magazines into digital editions that were exclusive to Snapchat, first with Vogue and then followed by Wired, GQ, Self and Teen Vogue.
Influencers, Events Drive Hair-care Searches — for Big and Small Brands Alike
Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD
After analyzing 491 million hair-care searches over a one-year period, researchers at search intelligence firm Captify and project partner Publicis Media found some startling data along with insights that can help brands better leverage consumer trends.
PR and Marketing
Jeff Bezos Dares Retail Rivals to Raise Minimum Wage in Investor Letter
Spencer Soper, Bloomberg
Amazon.com Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos is daring rival retailers to raise their minimum wage to $16 an hour. Bezos laid down the challenge in his annual shareholder letter, published Thursday.
Bed Bath & Beyond Has First Yearly Loss, Sales Decline as a Public Company
Maria Armental, The Wall Street Journal
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., under pressure to turn around operations, reported its first annual loss and sales decline in its nearly three decades as a public company.
737 Max Won’t Fly Until F.A.A. Is ‘Satisfied,’ Elaine Chao Says, Defending Agency
Glenn Thrush, The New York Times
The United States will not clear Boeing 737 Max jets for flight again until federal officials are satisfied that Boeing has fixed its flawed flight control system, Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said in testimony on Wednesday.
Delta profit surges and releases strong outlook
David Koenig, The Associated Press
A new credit card deal and rising corporate travel boosted profit for Delta Air Lines in the first quarter, a trend it predicts will continue this spring.
Ford’s Top Deputies Shuffle Roles as Mobility Chief Retiring
Keith Naughton, Bloomberg
Ford Motor Co.’s two company presidents are shuffling roles — with one taking responsibility for the business of today, and the other the approach to tomorrow — as a third executive prepares to retire.
MaxMara Allegedly Stole Designs From A Laos Community For These Pricey Dresses
Lauren Strapagiel, BuzzFeed News
A group in Laos says designer MaxMara ripped off designs from a local ethnic group with zero compensation or acknowledgment.
3M Sticks Together, as Rivals Break Apart
Austen Hufford, The Wall Street Journal
The maker of Post-its and adhesives says its sprawling operations are more efficient because of similarities in its products.
How a LA shoe brand made the direct-to-consumer switch
Libby Banks, Vogue
Haley Boyd has moved Marais USA from wholesale to a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business built around her personal style. Here’s how she did it.
Stitch Fix’s head of men’s clothing is leaving to become CEO of online retailer Mizzen+Main
Lauren Thomas, CNBC
Chris Phillips, the head of men’s and kids’ clothing at Stitch Fix, is leaving the subscription-based styling platform to become CEO of online-based menswear brand Mizzen+Main, known for its moisture-wicking and wrinkle-free shirts, CNBC has learned.
Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research
HUD’s Ben Carson Seems Confused About Online Advertising
Steve DelBianco, Morning Consult
Ben Carson, the secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, recently sued Facebook for failing to show certain housing ads to all 218 million Americans who use Facebook. Rather than just prosecuting the advertisers who placed the ads, Carson wants to hold Facebook liable for discrimination in how these advertisers directed their ads to be shown.
The best $20,000 I ever spent: Starbucks every day of my adult life
Mae Rice, Vox
Paying for a tiny dose of luxury doesn’t make me an irresponsible millennial.
‘Fyre’ Danger! 7 Ways Influencers, Brands and Agencies Can Avoid Getting Burned for Not Disclosing Endorsements
Paul Menes, Entrepreneur
Is your company promoting itself via influencers? Tread very, very carefully. The FTC is watching.
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