This year, numerous publications (including AdExchanger) have reported stagnation in the gaming segment of the advertising ecosystem. These reports reference recent studies by the IAB and WARC/Dentsu, which found that brand advertising spend on video games still lags behind audience time spent playing these games.  For those who have been championing in-game advertising for years, […]

As we look toward 2025, marketers are facing a host of challenges and opportunities brought on by a tumultuous 2024. Even for an industry that likes to talk about transformation, the degree to which the old order is changing in the digital advertising ecosystem is truly rare.

The outlook for agencies is “steady.” Satellite offices are popping up, business is on the rise, and development, hiring, marketing and launching new services are among the major investments that agency leaders say they are making for 2025. A three-year trend continues with creative and account services roles serving as top headcount growth areas, as […]

Only 49% of companies have a formal crisis plan. And less than 25% of companies practice those crisis plans and conduct active drills.

Not many brands can say they created their own category based on an ancient family recipe, but such is the case for Lifeway Foods and kefir, the storied fermented milk beverage it sells. In 1986, Michael Smolyansky launched the company with a mission to transport his ancestors’ formula for kefir from the mountains of the […]

Welcome to the latest event marketing industry news digest, featuring updates on new hires, promotions, acquisitions, and launches. Submit your news here.   Promotions & Hires Renée Austin has joined Civic Entertainment Group as managing director, head of growth. Austin’s 21-year career has spanned roles at IPG and The Weber Shandwick Collective. Cheerful Twentyfirst has announced […]

Over her 20-year tenure as the group ceo of FIRST, a global brand experience agency which creates global events leveraging content, creative, digital technology, management and delivery, and data and insights, Maureen Ryan Fable has leaned on a formula for success that involves creating opportunities for clients and employees, and executing on a variety of […]

According to findings from EventTrack 2025, EM’s annual research report on experiential marketing, eventgoers are preparing for an active 2025, with 56 percent of respondents planning to show up to more b-to-c and b-to-b events in the coming year than in 2024. Add to that the fact that 74 percent of Fortune 1000 marketers expect […]

In 2023, global brand activation agency DesignScene acquired Secret Theatre, led by artistic director Richard Crawford, known for immersive productions like Edward Scissorhands in New York and the internationally acclaimed Hell Hath No Fury, which toured London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It’s a partnership and evolution for both companies, as the worlds of immersive theatre […]

Curation continues to gain momentum in our industry, yet the current dialogue seems to be missing some important nuance.  On one side, the value argument for curation highlights its ability to refine audience targeting, increase efficiency and reduce waste, creating more meaningful connections between brands and consumers.  Meanwhile, the ad network argument emphasizes the role […]