Brian Wieser's contribution about new media-planning paradigms in a CIMM-commissioned report was the most-read "Planning & Buying Insider" column of 2024, a year that was also dominated by discussions of AI, alternative currencies and new generational cohorts.

Bill Bernbach famously said, “It may well be that creativity is the last unfair advantage we’re legally allowed to take over our competitors.” He was right, of course, but Bernbach might have been surprised to see how quickly creativity gave way to something else entirely. Today, the advertising industry – long celebrated for its capacity to enchant, surprise, and persuade – finds itself locked in a numbers game. And it’s a game it's at risk of losing. In a previous column, I explored how advertising has swung between its poles of “dust” and “magic” – from functional …

It will undoubtedly be remembered as the year women's sports broke through consistently, and in big ways. Which means investment will continue to pour in. Right? In theory.

If 2024 was the "Year Of Attention Metrics," it's ending with a bang, including news this morning that Nielsen is partnering with Realeyes.

An angry undercurrent of frustration with brands haunts the marketplace. This, perhaps, has never been more evident than in the recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, shot in the back in midtown Manhattan as he was walking to an investor conference. A 262-word manifesto found in the possession of the suspect now in custody appears to confirm early speculation that frustration with health insurance coverage was, at least in part, behind the shooting. More telling, this act of violence unleashed a torrent of angry, odious vitriol denouncing the health insurance industry. This outpouring …

As RFK Jr. steps into a pivotal role, there will likely be increased focus on data privacy at the federal level that could reshape the industry's approach to targeted advertising. State-level frameworks like Washington's My Health My Data Act are setting the stage for sweeping national changes.

A very, very short one, and an increasingly long one.

Sports is a great way to reach live viewers, but what if I told you there was another, more cost-efficient way. Allow me to introduce you to Saturday evening.

The agency tech provider also announced they are the first holding cos. certified to integrate and offer its tech to their clients.