16216: Jo Muse (1951-2023).

From Adweek…

 

Jo Muse, Father of Multicultural Advertising, Dies at 72

 

By Kyle O’Brien

 

Jo Muse, founder of the first multicultural marketing agency died on April 9 at the age of 72. He was passionate not only about pushing boundaries in creativity but also about ending what he saw as segregation of the advertising industry. Because of that legacy, Muse was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 2022, one of many honors for Muse.

 

Muse broke barriers and continued to open doors to many people of color and women. He believed everyone with talent deserved a seat at the table. He co-founded Muse Cordero Chen, the first true multiethnic agency, when he, David Chen and Mavis Cordero were pitching the same client in 1987. But the seeds of that event were planted long before, when he graduated from the advertising program at Michigan State University in 1972.

 

“I was actively discouraged from pursuing employment at a traditional advertising agency. At the time, African Americans did not work in general marketing and advertising,” he wrote in the Michigan State alumni newsletter. “Like the Negro Leagues were to Major League Baseball, African Americans seeking employment in advertising had to take their game elsewhere.”

 

Muse knew that if he was to change that dynamic, he would have to start his own shop.

 

Rather than separate agencies siloed into separate markets, Muse Cordero Chen could target Black, Latino and Asian consumers. The idea worked, even if, as the New York Times called it, it sounded like a high-concept sitcom: “An advertising agency run by a Black entrepreneur, an Asian journalist and a Colombian would-be opera singer.”

 

At the center of Muse Cordero Chen’s approach was something Jo called the “Zones of Commonality”: it hired diverse people and cast individuals from ethnic backgrounds. “We wanted to reflect the end consumers our clients wanted to reach,” Muse had said.

 

Muse Cordero Chen became Nike’s first-ever ethnic agency in 1990. The agency focused on issues that were roiling the Black community at the time, including family values. One controversial print ad showed silhouettes of two basketball players talking about the dual sides of their fathers. “My dad runs around,” one boy says, while the other responds, “My dad runs 4 miles a day.”

 

Muse had a commitment was to diversity across the industry. His goal was to foster talent that was so good, alumni could go anywhere in the business. He particularly focused on creatives, and women of color. One of the greatest compliments he received was when Dan Wieden of Wieden+Kennedy told him that he could hire any of Jo’s people.

 

His employees were incredibly loyal, with many of them staying at the agency for a decade or more.

 

“He taught us so much. He showed us that creative brilliance has no gender or racial biases,” said his son, Jordan. “Most importantly, he showed us that race was an illusion. What’s real is how people act, feel and relate to each other. We will miss him deeply.”

 

While he didn’t push for his children to go into advertising, both of his children worked with him for a period of time. Jordan, now executive partner and head of account leadership at The Martin Agency, was admitted to the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement in the same year Jo entered the Hall of Fame. His daughter, Aireka, is a creative director, screenwriter and the founder of her own agency, A + B.

 

Muse sold his agency, by then Muse Communications, to Will Campbell of Quantasy after years of partnering together. Many of the Muse employees remain at Quantasy. “Jo’s legacy will always be embedded in the work we do,” Will says. “Jo was a brilliant ad man who understood culture and advertising like none other. Along with that, he was a compassionate and funny teacher, supporter, business partner, and mentor.”

 

After he retired, Muse hosted a podcast called Musings with Jo Muse, and served on the board of the Center Theatre Group. He wrote his first novel, “Mixed Blessings, Is Race Real?” and was working on an autobiography called “From Mississippi to Madison Ave.”

 

A family statement said: “Jo Muse was our guiding light and our immeasurable center. We have lost our father, husband, Papa Jo, brother and best friend.”

16215: Diagnosing DE&I In White Healthcare Advertising Agencies.

 

PharmaLive hosted a Healthcare Agency Roundtable on DE&I—and the cultural confab showed how White healthcare advertising agencies are no more evolved than regular White advertising agencies—and may even be more culturally clueless.

 

The publication posed a straightforward question: “What is your organization doing to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion continues to be a prominent part of the conversation, having actionable impact and results?”

 

The Healthcare Human Heat Shields (whose portraits displayed a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion) coughed up generic gobbledygook that could lead to serious side effects—or at least serious side eye.

 

The responses presented a wide range of labels (DE&I, EDI, DEI&B, DE+1, DEI, D&I), contrived commitment claims, diversionary drivel, heat shield schemes, and performative PR.

 

A few firms emphasized recognizing “an intersection between healthcare, environmental conditions, and racial disparities”—which means actual racial and ethnic hiring initiatives are being trumped by producing scammy campaigns that expose inequities in the healthcare system, embracing sustainability programs, and showing faux support for HBCUs.

 

Healthcare marketing has arguably held a lower subsegment position in the global marketing and advertising arena. The DE&I diagnosis, however, is not good—and may indicate advanced and progressive infirmities rooted in systemic racism. Ask your doctor if anti-racism is right for you.

16214: Morgan Freeman Practices Free Speech.

The New York Post reported on a Morgan Freeman interview with The Sunday Times, wherein the iconic actor declared “Black History Month” and “African American” are insulting to him. It’s hardly the first time Freeman has expressed such views—and news sources are arguably misinterpreting and sensationalizing his comments out of context.

 

Yet imagine if Freeman learned how Adland and advertisers disrespect the annual celebration with royalty-free stock photography and crumbs—or that he regularly appears in BHM promotions touting Black movies.

Morgan Freeman calls ‘Black History Month’ and ‘African-American’ terms an ‘insult’

 

By Jack Hobbs

 

Morgan Freeman slammed the terms “Black History Month” and “African American” on Saturday claiming that both terms were an “insult.”

 

The 85-year-old actor told The Sunday Times the annual observance — which takes place every February and recognizes the cultural achievement of black people — has a negative connotation to him and that it ‘regulates’ his culture to just 4 weeks.

 

“Two things I can say publicly that I do not like,” said the “Million Dollar Baby” star. “Black History Month is an insult. You’re going to relegate my history to a month?”

 

“Also ‘African-American’ is an insult. I don’t subscribe to that title,” continued Freeman. “Black people have had different titles all the way back to the n-word and I do not know how these things get such a grip, but everyone uses ‘African-American.’ What does it really mean?”

 

Last year, Freeman was slammed for narrating the FIFA World Cup opening segment, titled “The Calling,” at Al-Bayt Stadium in Doha amid ongoing allegations of human rights abuse in the Middle East.

 

Several online critics slammed Freeman’s involvement.

 

“For a man who played Nelson Mandela — who knew better than anyone the impact and importance of isolation on a country and its success on the ground to change that nation’s policy,” tweeted one angry fan. “It is so disappointing to see #MorganFreeman take the money and support an oppressive regime.”

 

“Morgan Freeman is really determined to go to the deepest level of hell huh,” tweeted another person.

 

“Qatar out there with Morgan Freeman spitting words like unity/inclusion in an effort to promote tourism, and then not practicing it,” chimed in a commenter. “For all the ‘their country their rules’ crowd out there, sure. But then they don’t get to lie bout what they’re really about just for a cash grab.”

 

16213: Backstage At Backstage.

 

Backstage appears to be oh-so-progressive with its diverse depictions of creative talent. Yet the company’s leadership shows a different scene—right down to including a White dog. All of which makes the promotional propaganda feel, well, performative.

 

16212: Biscuits Battle For Gender Equality In Croatia.

 

The Domaćica biscuit brand in Croatia produced a campaign explained as follows:

 

Croatia is a country where 83% of women in relationships do housework in addition to their main job. Client research before the campaign showed: 77% of women always clean the bathroom, 75% always iron, 77% wash the windows, etc. And only 38% of male teenagers believe that housework should be shared equally. Inequality is manifested at all levels: women are paid less, are significantly less represented in parliament and government, as well as in key positions in companies. And there is also inequality also in the official dictionary supported by the Ministry of education.

Domaćica biscuit, adored by generations of loyal consumers in Croatia, has decided to use the power of the brand to drive change. The word DOMAĆICA means (or should mean): a woman that takes care of her home and welcomes guests, but instead, definition in the official dictionary is extremely unfair, comparing to the male version of the same word.

 

While DOMAĆIN (translation: host at home) is defined: The head of a family, who takes good care of his home and guests, and the definition does not ask whether he is employed or married, the definition of the same word (female version) says DOMAĆICA is the wife of the host, who is unemployed, although most DOMAĆICAs actually work. We decided to use the power of the brand to drive change and to educate about inequality in households and in official dictionary because we believed that Domaćica (family brand) is appropriate to talk about such topics.

 

Never in the history of Croatia, a traditional, quite patriarchal country, has a national brand stepped forward in such a way to stand up for gender equality. A huge FUSS happened, but we succeeded.

 

Under public pressure, the publisher made a change in the definition in the official dictionary, and the definition of Domaćica an Domaćin (male version of the same word) is now equal. Furthermore, we made minimum 150,000 brand users aware of the need for a more equal sharing of housework, and introduced a campaign in the educational system: 30 schools and 900 pupils involved in the first year of the workshop Box of changes (Domaćica equality workshops).

 

 

Okay, but considering the country’s racial and ethnic demographics, don’t expect a campaign for Domaćica Dark to advocate for Croatians of color.

16211: Omnicom Consolidates Plantations & Port-O-Potties Across The US.

 

Advertising Age reported Omnicom Group is downsizing across the US—at least in terms of real estate. That is, the White holding company is reducing and consolidating office space as remote and hybrid working arrangements continue to increase. Besides, given that Omnicom has accelerated the commoditization of agencies—whereby Goodby Silverstein & Partners is no different than Fathom Communications or Zimmerman Advertising—why not throw every Omnicom drone into a single facility in each major city? All White advertising agencies look alike.

 

Omnicom Group Undertakes Real Estate Consolidation

 

With unoccupied floors throughout the U.S., holding company looks to downsize space—upsetting some markets such as Chicago

 

By E.j. Schultz and Brian Bonilla

 

Omnicom Group is downsizing office space in Chicago as part of what one executive described as a “massive” real estate consolidation across the country.

 

According to several people familiar with the plan, the holding company is looking to significantly pare real estate costs in markets including San Francisco, Dallas and now Chicago. In some instances, they said, Omnicom agencies will share space with other shops within the holding company as a means to utilize office space that has remained empty following COVID-driven closures.

 

While declining to comment on specific plans or specific markets, a holding company spokeswoman said, “with current occupancy, as low as 12%, on average, our real estate team has reconfigured our offices to accommodate 60%-70% of our staff five days a week (3 days a week of attendance).”

 

Those three days are Wednesday through Friday, which several people within Omnicom agencies said are the days the holding company is requiring in-person attendance. “You'll see some reports that we are consistently bringing people back at least three days a week. That will be finished and completed but way before the end of this quarter,” Omnicom CEO John Wren said on a February earnings call.

 

Some shops in the network said that they have at least one unoccupied floor; some said there are Omnicom agencies that once had four or more bustling floors in New York and L.A. down to a single occupied floor.

 

“Clients are not spending. Business is not changing as quickly as we would like,” said a senior executive with an Omnicom agency, explaining the move as cost cutting.

 

Lack of communication

 

But the way Omnicom is hurriedly going about the Chicago move is upsetting some employees.

 

Most workers are now housed across multiple floors in a building at 225 N. Michigan Ave. and it is expected that Omnicom will consolidate to fewer floors. On Friday, March 31, agency leaders were told by Omnicom Group corporate leaders that they would have to vacate their space by Monday, April 3—but were given few other details, according to an Omnicom employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

 

Workers were later told they would have more time to move, but many agency workers still don’t know where they are going, this person said. “How do you wake up in the morning and go to work for a holding company that treats you like this?” this person said.

 

Agencies housed in the building include DDB, Energy BBDO, Tracy-Locke, The Marketing Arm and Porter Novelli. It is expected that DDB will keep its space on the 10th floor of the building but will now have to share space with other agencies.

 

There’s also some concern, according to a senior Omnicom agency executive, that there could be an issue with consolidating agency brands within a single space. Unlike WPP, which has merged some of its creative agencies and has “co-located” many of its agencies into campuses such as New York’s World Trade Center, Omnicom has staunchly maintained independence for its shops. “They need to be careful not to muddy the agencies up to fix a real estate problem,” said the agency executive.

 

Some Omnicom agencies have already consolidated into one space. In January, TBWA\Chiat\Day New York moved into a new building that houses other Omnicom agencies including PHD Media, Organic and Cline Davis & Mann. A few years ago, DDB New York also left Madison Avenue for a building that houses DDB Worldwide’s corporate office on 195 Broadway.

 

The office space consolidation comes as agencies and holding companies across the country adjust to new working realities that have led to more people spending more time working from home. This has led to more office vacancies—but figuring out how to optimize space can be challenging, considering that many agencies are deploying hybrid models.

 

Omnicom’s Chicago shakeup follows a February move by Publicis Groupe to put 350,000 square feet of its downtown Chicago offices up for sublease. The property at 35 W. Wacker Drive is known as the Leo Burnett building. Publicis Groupe at the time stated that the sublease listing “is a normal course of business aligned with our future of work planning, rooted in purposeful time together in the office, with flexible models that benefit both talent and our business.”

 

Contributing: Judann Pollack, Lindsay Rittenhouse

16210: Please Scam Responsibly.

 

Alfred Creative Agency in Portugal hypes itself as a seemingly progressive enterprise via a revolutionary video, branding the staffers as “Responsible Rebels.” Yet the firm’s key players are suspiciously covert regarding their true identities, begging the question as to the authenticity of their inclusive and advocating spirit. Is their rebelliousness responsible or are they simply scam terrorists?

 

 

16209: ANA Survey Exposes DE&I BS. Again.

 

MediaPost reported on the latest ANA survey that showed a 3-to-1 gap between marketers’ interest and actual investment in diverse suppliers. That is, the DE&I talk doesn’t match the walk—and a sizeable majority have yet to walk at all. What makes it outrageous is that the ANA has annually conducted surveys revealing the same results over many years. For minority-owned enterprises, Adland continues to be a leading supplier of crumbs.

 

ANA Finds 3-to-1 Gap Between Interest And Actual Investment In Diverse Suppliers

 

By Joe Mandese

 

There is a three-to-one lag between the interest marketers have in investing more of their budgets with diverse suppliers and the actual increases they have made, according to a survey of diverse suppliers released this morning by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA).

 

The study, which is based on a survey of 89 certified diverse suppliers (agencies, media, consultants, researchers, etc.) in the fourth quarter of 2022, found a net 49-dpoint increase (*difference between those increasing or decreasing) in interest vs. a 17-point increase in actual investment by marketers.

 

The report, “The Marketing Community’s Support of Diverse Suppliers: The Supplier Perspective,” is part of an ongoing series of research studies and other initiatives by the ANA to boost its members’ investment in diverse suppliers.

 

According to the ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM), in partnership with Media Framework and Standard Media Index, only 1.85% of all ad spending currently goes to diverse-owned media, and only 1.2% of it currently goes to diverse-owned and targeted media.

 

By 2025, AIMM recommends that 6.5% of all ad spending go to diverse-owned media and 4.6% to diverse-owned and targeted media.

 

“One hypothesis about the gap between interest and investment is that many companies which have interest are still ‘sitting on the sidelines’ and don’t know how (or where) to get started,” the diverse supplier perspective report cites as a possible explanation for the gap.

 

Suppliers participating in the survey cited “lack of feedback,” “getting their foot in the door,” and “extended payment terms” as the top challenges in working with advertisers and agencies. 

16208: A Recruitment Video For The Ages…?

Branding In Asia and other trade sources reported on a video produced by the Federation Against Ageism Towards Ad Creatives (FAAAC) and directed by Kiran Koshy, the author of a recent rant on ageism in Adland published at Advertising Age.

 

Gee, there’s an anti-ageism federation for the industry—yet no anti-racist coalition in sight.

 

Regarding the silly video, its director declared, “Every line is rooted in the truth, and it’s a dark piece because the truth is dark, and we should all be outraged.”

 

Okay, but wanna know what’s not dark? The exclusively White advertising industry. Very few Old White Guys and Gals appear to be outraged about that historical truth.

 

Addressing Ageism in the Ad World – ‘The Last March of an Ad Creative’

 

“We worked on making sure the script didn’t rely on hyperbole as the truth was shocking enough and just needed to be told well.”

 

By Bobby McGill

 

Kiran Koshy of broadcasting & media production company Raucous Content has directed a new film in collaboration with the Federation Against Ageism Towards Ad Creatives (FAAAC), highlighting the Anti-Ageism Movement in the advertising space.

 

The dark yet comedic film exposes “the truth of ageism within creative departments,” with a Koshy and agency creatives teaming up to tackle an issue that hits close to home through the creation of the 2-minute and 30-second film that examines what it means to have a creative career in advertising today.

 

Koshy said the film was released with the intention to call attention to a worthy problem plaguing the industry.

 

“As a former agency creative, I’m very aware of this issue, and it’s something I care about deeply as most of my friends are still agency creatives,” said Koshy.

 

“I really gravitated towards the idea the FAAAC team had about creating the most honest recruitment ad for the ad industry ever, to expose the guts of the problem. We worked on making sure the script didn’t rely on hyperbole as the truth was shocking enough and just needed to be told well.”

 

Koshy adds that “Every line is rooted in the truth, and it’s a dark piece because the truth is dark, and we should all be outraged. However, we did balance it with deliberate humor to make for a more engaging piece.”

 

According to its website, the FAAAC was founded “to speak the truth about ageism towards creative people in advertising, build awareness about the problem—especially amongst those considering it as a career—and work on solutions to remedy it.” They add that “the industry owes creative people careers that last long enough to be considered a career.”

 

Koshy said: “I’ve seen a lot of my incredibly talented friends be discarded by the industry in their prime, and I’ve seen how it’s affected their mental well-being and family life.”

 

“Almost everyone in their 40s questions if they made the right choice in getting into the business and the industry has quite consciously promoted the myth that younger people are more creative because it lets them lower salaries and squeeze margins.”

 

The entire crew, and post, including Charlie Uniform Tango and Nice Shoes, donated time and resources to make the film. “It’s something they all believed in,” said Koshy.

16207: Wendy Clark Makes Like The Energizer Bunny.

 

Campaign reported former Dentsu International Global CEO Wendy Clark landed a new role at Consello, a financial services advisory firm whose not-very-diverse leadership includes NFL icon Tom Brady. Given how Clark managed to orchestrate corporate restructuring at Dentsu that eliminated her own position—and concocted the short-lived We Are Unlimited experiment—it will be interesting to see her provide sage financial advice to Consello clientele. Clearly, her hucksterism is intact.

 

Wendy Clark lands at financial services advisory firm Consello

 

By Sabrina Sanchez

 

Former Dentsu International global CEO Wendy Clark has started a new role as partner at financial services advisory firm Consello, the company announced on Monday.

 

She joins the firm after departing from Dentsu in September in a company-wide restructuring that led to the elimination of her role in a bid to further integrate Dentsu’s international operations with its headquarters in Japan.

 

In November, Dentsu consolidated its Japanese and global leadership teams under Hiroshi Igarashi.

 

“Having had the privilege of leading two different companies, and working on both the client and advisory sides of the business, has given me some unique insight and perspective that I look forward to leveraging on behalf of Consello and its clients,” Clark said in a press statement. “I am thrilled to begin this next chapter in my career journey.”

 

The news comes just a week after Dentsu also parted ways with global chief creative officer Fred Levron, a key player, alongside Clark, in consolidating Dentsu’s creative capabilities under the Dentsu Creative banner.

 

Moving to a financial advisory firm is an unexpected move from Clark, who is a prominent figure within the ad industry. Prior to her role at Dentsu, Clark also served as a marketing executive at Coca-Cola and CEO at DDB Worldwide.

 

Consello lists its services as investment, M&A advisory and investment banking, growth and business development and digital assets advisory. It does not list clients on its website.

 

In addition to the Consello role, Clark sits on the board of luxury jewelry brand David Yurman. Details of her responsibilities were not immediately shared.

 

Consello did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.