Ad agencies spend an inordinate amount of time positioning themselves as different from the sea of sameness -- which, when you think about it, is really pointless. All agencies do the same thing.

The AICP has announced the AICP Show & AICP Next Awards Shortlists. Winners will be revealed during AICP Week in June. Shortlisted pieces and credits may be viewed on the AICP Web site. Chairing the 2015 AICP Show is Kerstin Emhoff, president/co-founder of PRETTYBIRD. Judging Chair is Rob Reilly, global creative chairman of McCann Worldgroup. On the AICP Show Shortlist, the top five production companies mentioned are: Biscuit Filmworks, with 21; Smuggler and O Positive, with 16; Park Pictures, with 13; and MJZ, with 12 mentions. For agencies, the top five mentions included work from various …

We often hear of ads being given the label of "banned" because they are too racy. This happens in all media including New York's MTA. The organization recently banned ads for Bravo's "Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce." Now the organization has banned an ad for Dumbo Moving. And it's actually a favor to Dumbo Moving, as the ad looks like a contraception ad instead of a moving company ad. That commentary aside, it wasn't actually the MTA that banned the ad. The organization's advertising partner, Outfront Media -- which sells ads for the MTA -- rejected the …

ANZAC Day occurs on April 25 and is a national day of remembrance for both Australian and New Zealand commemorating those who served in wars together from both countries.

Kevin Foreman, whose creative career spans 25 years at shops such as Backer Spielvogel Bates/NY, The Richards Group, Publicis, Tribal DDB, Rapp Worldwide and SHOP.COM, will join Moroch Partners as the agency's Digital Creative Director. Which, when you think about it is pretty awesome because Foreman has to be at least 47 so props to the agency for going against the grain and entrusting an "old guy" with your digital creative. Of selecting Foreman for the position, Moroch Partners ECD Kevin Sutton said, “Having Kevin on board will ensure the agency remains ahead of industry shifts …

The New York American Marketing Association will hold its 2015 Marketing Hall of Fame event May 21 from 6 PM to 9 PM at JWT, 466 Lexington Ave., New York City. This year, NYAMA will honor four "marketing innovators" who have made outstanding contributions to the field of marketing. The four honorees are David Aaker, vice chairman, Prophet and professor emeritus, BerkeleyHaas School of Business, UC Berkeley; Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard; Nike Brand President Trevor Edwards, and Ogilvy & Mather Chairman Emeritus Shelly Lazarus. Adding the requisite social media aspect into the event, anyone can win 5 free tickets, otherwise priced at …

The news follows several recent account wins, a Super Bowl ad, a public thank you from client Arby's and getting named Comeback Agency of the Year by Advertising Age.

The Big Ten Network has announced it officially named Fallon its agency of record following the agency’s development of a fall national campaign focusing on BTN’s college sports focus and ever-expanding reach. Of Fallon's work and selecting the agency as AOR, BTN VP of Marketing Erin Harvego said, “The fall college sports campaign was a huge success for the Big Ten Network. We look forward to continuing the momentum with dynamic, original creative that showcases what the Big Ten and college sports are all about. What we enjoy most about working with Fallon is the agency’s ability …

In partnership with the Dodgers, R/GA has launched Dodger Accelerator, a program that aims to guide 10 start-up companies who come up with ideas to better the stadium experience for fans. The Dodgers and R/GA will invest $20,000 into each of the 10 start-up ventures in exchange for a 6% stake in the companies. Free Playa Vista office space and mentors including Dodgers owners Mark Walter, Peter Guber and Magic Johnson will also be provided. The effort hopes to identify solutions that will enhance stadium operations such as food service efficiencies, second screen experiences …

Just last week naming agency CBX placed a full page ad in Advertising Age to run an open letter urging Cannes Lions, CLIO and Pencil to consider adding an award category for naming. In the letter, CBX wrote, name (or verbal identity as they call it) "is the most enduring aspect of any brand; without it, there would be no identity at all. No big idea. No creative campaigns. No trophies in the lobby." Apparently, none of the award organizations saw the ad or if they did, they took no action. Now, as if a petulant child, CBX is …