Advertising
Ad-Industry Analyst Brian Wieser to Join WPP’s GroupM Alexandra Bruell, The Wall Street Journal
Brian Wieser, a high-profile analyst of the marketing and media industries, is joining WPP PLC’s media-agency conglomerate GroupM as global president of business intelligence.
Gun Safety Devices Get Caught in Online Advertising Bans Zusha Elinson, The Wall Street Journal
As more Americans keep loaded guns in their homes, efforts to sell them new kinds of safety locks are getting stuck by policies intended to block ads for firearms online.
Harley-Davidson Hires Droga5 to Help Redefine Its Iconic Brand Patrick Coffee, Adweek
America’s most historic motorcycle manufacturer has named a new agency to help expand its appeal to more riders around the world.
Media and Entertainment
BBC and Discovery to pool wildlife programmes in streaming deal Matthew Garrahan, Financial Times
The BBC and Discovery, the US media group, have struck a deal to pool their vast natural history and wildlife programming libraries in a new global subscription streaming service aimed at viewers from the Netflix generation that have embraced on-demand viewing.
AT&T Becomes NBA Sponsor Starting During All-Stars Jon Lafayette, Broadcasting & Cable
After acquiring long-time National Basketball Association television rights holder Turner, AT&T has signed a broad, multi-year marketing deal with the league that will tip-off at the NBA All Star Game.
Spotify has bought two podcast startups and it wants to buy more Peter Kafka, Recode
Spotify is a streaming music company that wants to become a podcast company, too.
Viacom’s Netflix deal highlights content strategy; earnings mixed Kenneth Li and Akanksha Rana, Reuters
Viacom Inc announced another film production deal with Netflix Inc through its Nickelodeon kids division, fleshing out a strategy to produce more shows and movies for others as streaming video giants battle for viewers.
Facebook to Publishers: We Are Not Here to Save You Garett Sloane, Ad Age
When Facebook’s Campbell Brown addressed an auditorium full of magazine executives in New York Tuesday, she did not mince words: The social network is not here to save their businesses.
Social Media and Technology
Facebook removes 22 more pages connected to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and InfoWars Oliver Darcy, CNN
Facebook on Tuesday removed 22 pages connected to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his fringe right-wing website InfoWars.
This Video-Chat App Wants to Be More Like Fortnite, Less Like Facebook Betsy Morris, The Wall Street Journal
The video-chat app Houseparty has built a core audience among fickle teenagers through a strategy that is pretty much the opposite of its larger social-media rivals, including Facebook Inc.
Reddit is raising a huge round near a $3 billion valuation Josh Constine, TechCrunch
Reddit is raising $150 million to $300 million to keep the front page of the Internet running, multiple sources tell TechCrunch.
Electronic Arts Ran Into a Wall in Holiday Quarter Sarah E. Needleman, The Wall Street Journal
Shares of Electronic Arts Inc. tumbled more than 17% after the videogame maker swung to a profit but reported revenue for the holiday quarter shy of its already reduced forecast.
Even YouTube CEO’s kids said Rewind was ‘cringey’ last year Joan E. Solsman, CNET
“One record we definitely didn’t set out to break was the most disliked video on the Internet,” YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said.
New Outerwear Brands Ride the Instagram Wave Kati Chitrakorn, The Business of Fashion
From Kassl Editions to Common Leisure, a flurry of emerging labels are challenging mainstay names like Moncler and luxury brands like Gucci in the fast-growing outerwear category.
Meditation App Backed by Ashton Kutcher Valued at $1 Billion Krista Gmelich, Bloomberg
Calm.com Inc. — which makes an app that guides people through relaxation exercises and encourages users to breathe — has been valued at $1 billion in a funding round led by TPG Growth, the startup said on Wednesday.
PR and Marketing
Delivery Startups Are Using Tips To Fulfill Pay Promises, And Customers Are Mad Caroline O’Donovan, BuzzFeed News
Instacart customers are quitting the service because the company is using customers’ predelivery tips to fulfill the base pay minimum it guarantees delivery workers.
Facebook to link employee bonuses to progress on social issues Hannah Murphy, Financial Times
Company sets new criteria after facing criticism for ‘growth-at-all costs’ mentality.
Saks Turns Prime Space Into a Handbag Emporium Suzanne Kapner, The Wall Street Journal
Flagship store devotes coveted ground floor to luxury satchels, even though category’s growth has slowed.
As DTC brands open storefronts, Shopify expands along with them Shareen Pathak, Digiday
Walk a block in New York’s Soho neighborhood, and you’ll find a storefront for what was formally known as digital brands.
Opinions, Editorials, Perspectives and Research
Gillette’s ‘We Believe’ ad took a stand. And I’m proud of the conversation it started
Marc Pritchard, CNN
Our team at Gillette sparked an important worldwide conversation with the new “We Believe” ad. The film shows men being role models by stepping in to stop bullying and harassment and demonstrating how to treat people with respect.
Fortnite Is the Future, but Probably Not for the Reasons You Think Matthew Ball, REDEF
Much has been said about Fortnite’s revenue, users, business model, origin and availability. But these narratives are overhyped. What matters is what these, plus Epic Games, are collectively in the process of building.
Brands No Longer Want Your Loyalty. Now They Want Your Love Janine Wolf, Bloomberg
For direct-to-consumer companies, a new paradigm was required to win over the “digital native.” Brick-and-mortar retailers should take notice.
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