In response to the growing popularity of spirits drinks, especially among younger consumers, America's leading brewer is testing a new non-beer product called Jekyll & Hyde. Anheuser-Busch announced the drink will be marketed by a new A-B spirits unit dubbed Long Tail Libations. Jekyll & Hyde comes in two bottles that are mixed in a single drink - Jekyll is a 60-proof wild-berry-flavored liquid and Hyde is 80-proof with a hint of licorice. Like a Black and Tan, the drink is layered when mixed with Hyde's black hue floating on top of red Jekyll. Tests are now in about 40 …

A surge in new products, advanced search technology, attendance at Internet marketing conferences and similar trends all signal that interactive advertising and marketing are playing a more significant role than ever in marketing plans. In an in-depth interview, DoubleClick research director Rick E. Bruner discusses Internet advertising spending growth, innovations in search marketing, mature rich media tools, broadband growth, ad pricing, podcasting, RSS, and other factors that are changing the interactive media and marketing landscape.

When it comes to advertising, bloggers are apparently more discriminating than most. During a recent panel at the Ad:Tech conference in New York, Nick Denton, head of Gawker Media, told attendees he would reject an ad from Wal-Mart. Other panelists agreed with Denton and added that they also encourage their readers to critique the ads they do allow on their sites. Those criticisms are then directly routed to the advertiser. The session was called "Blogvertising Opportunities," and Denton was joined by Shawn Gold, vice president-sales and marketing at Weblogs Inc., among others. Panelists said the newest trend is getting bloggers …

A major carmaker and a top airline are joining forces in a new promotion targeted to the millions of Americans who travel over Thanksgiving weekend. Lincoln Mercury and American Airlines are joining forces in the effort, which publicizes the automaker's new Zephyr sedan. The plan calls for Lincoln to sponsor complimentary "Dinner and a Movie" offerings on select transcontinental American flights, neck and shoulder massages at both New York's LaGuardia and Dallas/Fort Worth Airports, and free buffets at seven select American Airlines Admiral's Clubs, in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Lincoln will also sponsor a sweepstakes tied to Celebrated …

Advertising executives seem unruffled by the news that NBC and CBS will begin offering some of their prime-time programming for viewing on demand. In fact, some of them appeared downright sanguine, which was surprising because much of the VOD programs will be commercial free. But the ad community is apparently growing up and realizing that the role of TV is changing dramatically and that the great behemoth that was once network television is now yet one more arrow in an increasingly crowded quiver of marketing tools.

Anarchy. That's apparently what Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Kevin Roberts thinks today's advertising business resembles. In a keynote address at the Ad:Tech conference in New York, Roberts said, "There are no rules, there are no formulae, there is no best practice"--and agencies and advertisers alike are clueless about how to successfully market products to the masses. However, there is hope, which can be found in a new concept Roberts has coined called Sisomo, which also happens to be the title of his new book. It stands for the combination of sight, sound and motion as experienced on digital screens, and …

For the first time in 18 years, it appears that General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet division might overtake archrival Ford Motor Co. as the leading American auto brand in the U.S. So far, through the first 10 months of this year, the two brands each had 15.7% of the U.S. market for new cars and light trucks, and each automaker is currently restructuring its North American operations following heavy losses due to high costs, changing consumer preferences and competition from foreign car makers. Because of the current environment, each company is keenly aware of the marketing value of being able to …

Marketers and retailers are not paying enough attention to targeting the Hispanic market via the Internet, according to DM News. The magazine says that last year marketers spent more than $3 billion targeting Hispanics in America, but only a small fraction went toward online advertising. The bulk of the spending was earmarked for print, radio, and TV. This is a mistake because with annual incomes exceeding $100,000, Hispanics are among the fastest-growing upwardly mobile segments of American society.

For Gary Hirshberg, guerrilla marketing is where it's at. As the head of Stonyfield Yogurt, Hirschberg says a company blog, free samples, and snappy packaging work considerably better than traditional advertising campaigns in mainstream media. "When Coke and Pepsi spend all that money, they're trying to buy not only your trial and your interest, but your loyalty. And you know what, it doesn't work, for them. It only works as much as they're spending," he said in an interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader. He said the company's Web site boasts 750,000 subscribers. "Dannon doesn't have that"--and neither do …

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is dragging out all the tools in its marketing kit with a new, integrated holiday ad campaign that includes TV, print, direct mail, online, in-store and event marketing elements. For the first time, the retailer is advertising in national magazines and is also using a viral presence with a one-day only presence in Times Square: a three-story snow globe complete with snow and real actors inside, playing a family engaging in holiday preparations. The campaign, via Y&R Chicago, began this week with a 60-second spot running on national, syndicated and cable TV, and several 30-second ads.