Wanted to briefly revisit the recent story featuring ex-General Motors VP-marketing and advertising Mike Jackson, as it connects to other MultiCultClassics perspectives and posts on the automaker.
Jackson criticized the automaker for having a “PowerPoint Culture” that crushed “all passion and creativity” in nearly every area. Plus, he questioned GM’s ability to truly evolve.
One has to seriously wonder about the advertising agencies that have serviced GM throughout the decades. It’s no secret that BDAs are quick to appease and even mirror clients. And everyone knows the typical shop is also addicted to PowerPoint—it’s an account person’s crack.
General Motors has been put on notice. The corporation must demonstrate extraordinary changes as part of the deal for bailout funds. Marketing budgets have already been slated for slashing. Product lines are being cut too. The contrived new commercial talks about a reinvention, where GM will be leaner, greener, faster and smarter.
What about the advertising agencies? There’s been little indication in the past years that BDAs are capable of operating lean, green, fast or smart. Yet the dinosaurs are begging to remain GM AORs, and many will likely retain their status.
Why?
Let’s be completely honest. Advertising agencies share responsibility for the auto industry’s demise. The campaigns churned out were as uninspired and unoriginal as the vehicles on the assembly lines. The Madison Avenue business model is as broken as anything in Detroit.
MultiCultClassics has offered recommendations again and again and again. It’s time to consider shops that know how to be leaner, greener, faster and smarter—and reject the fatter, Whiter, slower and dumber car wrecks.
No comments:
Post a Comment