Monday, December 8, 2014
- MJD
San Diego-based MJD has been named mobile partner for the 57th and 58th Annual Grammy Awards. The multi-year partnership is the first major music industry win for MJD, which has been working with Hollywood film and television companies, creating "Godzilla" Comic-Con Digital Experience for Legendary Studios and SEGA's "Alien: Isolation" game. The agency has also worked with Walt Disney Company, NBC/Universal and Riot Games, among others. The mobile assignment includes revamping the overall design, user experience and mobile development of both tablet and phone, iOS and Android mobile experiences for the music awards. The Grammy Awards will air on Sunday, February 8, 2015, on CBS.
- Publicis Worldwide
Publicis Worldwide was named global creative agency of record for Cadillac, replacing Lowe & Partners. The automotive brand spent $279 million on measured media in 2013, according to Kantar Media. - M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment
M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment was named agency of record for Bomber Ski, a New York-based company that designs and builds performance skis. Every pair of Bomber skis is handcrafted in a race lab in Italy. The company is also an official supplier to the U.S. and Canadian Ski Teams, creating products for all ski disciplines, including mountain, race, powder and freestyle (twin-tip and mogul). The agency is tasked with overseeing PR and events for the upcoming ski season, and helping Bomber Ski tell their story of an artisan approach to ski design and development. Bomber Ski will soon unveil new designs for limited production runs from its ongoing Artist Series Ski collections, featuring selected artwork images created by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. - George P. Johnson
The American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL), a professional ultimate disc league, entered into a multi-year agreement with George P. Johnson (GPJ) Experience Marketing. The agency will develop game day fan experiences and ways for sponsors to interact with the league's fan base. Founded in 2012, the AUDL currently features 24 teams across the United States and Canada, up from the original eight teams, as well as approximately 500 players, coaches, and team personnel involved in league operations. In April 2014, the AUDL entered into a multi-year agreement with ESPN to broadcast 18 regular season and playoff games on ESPN3. "Our collaboration with GPJ is the biggest news for our teams and players since we announced the multi-year partnership with ESPN," said Tim DeByl, co-owner of the Madison Radicals and a member of the AUDL Executive Council. "Heading into our fourth season we were looking for new ways to showcase the athleticism and spirited competition that defines the AUDL. This partnership helps us achieve that goal and brings a new level of exposure for our players." Earlier in 2014, GPJ created a formal Sport Marketing practice to help brands capture more value from integrated activation and fan experiences. This is the first official win for the new unit. GPJ is part of Project: WorldWide, an independent, global network of wholly-owned agencies. - Smith Brothers
Smith Brothers was named digital agency of record for Wonka Ice Cream, tapped to handle strategy, creative execution and management of digital and social elements. The Wonka brand expanded beyond the candy aisle this year into the ice cream snack category. The agency will lead digital efforts to drive awareness of the brand extension. "We selected Smith Brothers Agency based upon their strategic and creative capabilities, as well as their proven track record in leading digital efforts on our Drumstick brand for the past five years," said Lisa Williams, Marketing Manager of the brand's All Family Snacks unit. "SBA combines a strong understanding of our category with a unique ability to create compelling digital content and experiences." - Zellmer McConnell Advertising
Following a review of six Austin-based agencies, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority awarded its MoPac Improvement Project to Zellmer McConnell Advertising. The agency formed from a merger of Zeehive and 10 Miles West, whose founders held leadership roles at Lowe Worldwide and GSD&M. Zellmer McConnell Advertising will create a yearlong marketing and advertising campaign to engage area motorists in anticipation of the opening of Express Lanes along an 11-mile stretch of the MoPac corridor. The Express Lanes are currently scheduled to open in the fall of 2015. The $1 million dollar marketing campaign will inform the public about how the Express Lanes will function including usage, variable tolling, express bus and van pool services, and managing expectations. "As Austinites, we were excited to learn of the Mobility Authority's plans for the Express Lanes," said Stefani Zellmer, Partner and Creative Director at Zellmer McConnell. "We're honored to partner with them and we believe wholeheartedly in this new infrastructure for MoPac." The Mopac Expressway (or Loop 1) is named after the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
