Kraft Heinz ramps up consumer-facing spend
Kraft Heinz, whose brands include Heinz and Philadelphia, is working to significantly increase the percentage of its marketing spend that is consumer-facing – from 65% to 85% of the total.
Fewer streamers launched in 2024, more being pulled
Streaming TV is definitely slowing down, still there was a net gain of streaming “platforms available†at 745 — up from 722 in 2023 and 669 in 2022.
Alexa+ gets agentic, smarter and more conversational
Technology was added that enables the LLMs to string together multiple API calls, so Alexa+ can do things like book a reservation but also send a text message to contact to let them know about the dinner plans.
WPP lost ground in 2024, expects to lose more this year
WPP reported a 2024 net organic revenue decline of 1% and a fourth-quarter shortfall of 4.2%. Investors sent the stock down 15% on the London Exchange after the firm released the results Thursday morning.
OOH’s rising influence, AI disruption, and the battle for consumer attention
OUTFRONT released “The New Currency: Why Out of Home Earns Attention and How Consumers Spend It,†covering trends for consumers, media, and OOH. This report provides valuable information for brands and advertisers wanting to make an impact.
Pay-to-play pitches risk ‘fair competition’, trade body warns
So-called pay-to-play pitches require agencies to pay an intermediary (either an upfront fee or a percentage of client billings) to take part in a review. In some cases, the advertiser does not pay the intermediary for its services, meaning competing agencies bear the full cost.
Bizcommunity launches BizTrendsTV
Bizcommunity has announced the launch of BizTrendsTV — a first-of-its-kind venture for Bizcommunity’s annual trend content.
Koert succeeds Barty in Accenture Song’s strategic leadership change in South Africa
Accenture Song has announced that, effective immediately, Celeste Koert has been appointed as the new lead, succeeding James Barty, who has been in the role since April 2024.
Primedia Studios nabs formats of entrepreneurial reality shows Side Hustlers and Double the Money for South African TV versions
SA’s Primedia Studios has secured the format rights and will be working with ITV Studios to bring two localised versions of the entrepreneurial reality shows Side Hustlers and Double the Money to South African TV screens.
New Gen Conference 2025: Shaping future marketing strategies with technology
The New Gen Trends in Marketing and Technology Conference, hosted by the New Gen Awards, will be held on Friday 23 May 2025, at The Venue in Melrose Arch. This event will bring together industry professionals to examine how emerging technologies are shaping the future of marketing strategies.