Thursday, February 13, 2025

16960: Data Shows Super Bowl Advertising Casting Is Super White.

Adweek reported on data showing nearly 70% of Super Bowl commercials starred White men, up from 62% in 2023.

 

This runs counter to data indicating diverse depictions in advertising leads to greater loyalty from brand audiences.

 

The Super Bowl data also arguably underscores White advertising agencies’ loyalty to exclusivity and systemic racism.

 

So Many White Men Appeared in Super Bowl 59 Ads

 

The share of actors with light skin rose to nearly 70%

 

By Paul Hiebert

 

The list of famous white men who appeared in ads during Super Bowl 59 is long.

It includes Glen Powell, Adam Devine, Harrison Ford, Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, Post Malone, Shane Gillis, Matt Damon, David Beckham, Pete Davidson, Gordon Ramsay, and Barry Keoghan. Tom Brady, Payton Manning, and Matthew McConaughey all appeared in more than one commercial.

 

Overall, the share of light-skinned actors in this year’s lineup of national Big Game spots was 69%, up from 62% in 2023, according to estimates from XR Extreme Reach, a global technology platform that integrates data across creative, media, and production.

 

That percentage is higher than what appears in government statistics on the group’s size. Recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show white, non-Hispanic people account for 58.4% of the nation’s population.

 

The shift in more light skin tones appearing in Super Bowl 59 comes at a time when companies are rolling back their policies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Nevertheless, experts say brands that feature diverse people in their marketing campaigns are more likely to gain loyalty from viewers of a similar background compared to those that don’t.

 

“Ultimately, embracing diversity in advertising is not only a moral imperative, but also a strategic advantage for brands,” said Anjali Bal, an associate professor of marketing at Babson College.

 

Doug Shabelman, CEO of celebrity marketing agency Burns Entertainment, said the increase in white actors during Super Bowl 59 likely isn’t due to a conscious decision among advertisers and their agency partners. Rather, it might be that diversity, while still part of the mix, was not the focus.

 

“Story may be more important than anything in this current day,” said Shabelman.

 

At the same time, he added, brands should research who is the best actor to deliver that story to a modern audience, instead of relying on old, preconceived notions about the American population.

 

Still, some advertisers chose to showcase diverse talent. Burns Entertainment worked on a handful of this year’s Big Game ads, including Intuit TurboTax’s spot starring Issa Rae and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism’s two commercials featuring Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg.

 

Angeli Gianchandani, an adjunct instructor of marketing and public relations at New York University, described the overrepresentation of white men in this year’s Big Game as a major mistake.

 

“Ignoring high-spending consumer segments—especially Black, Hispanic, and Asian American audiences, whose collective buying power will soon exceed $5 trillion—isn’t just an oversight, it’s bad business,” she said.

 

Gianchandani noted that excluding diverse communities from marketing efforts leads to lower engagement, weaker brand favorability, and reduced purchase intent among those groups of shoppers.

 

“Inclusion isn’t a favor; it’s a growth strategy,” she added.

 

Figures from the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth indicate that while white U.S. consumers still account for the majority of the nation’s disposable income, buying power among diverse groups is rising.

 

Hispanic shoppers, for example, are on pace to control 12.1% of the country’s disposable income by 2026, up from 7% in 2000.

16959: BHM 2025—Nike.

From Hypebeast

 

On-Foot Images of the Nike SB Dunk Low “BHM”

 

Paying homage to Black cowboys and their contributions to the American West.

 

Nike brings history to life with its latest release, the SB Dunk Low “BHM,” designed for Black History Month 2025. This special edition honors the often-overlooked legacy of Black cowboys and their vital contributions to the American West.

 

The sneaker stands out with a “Tourmaline” green upper made from soft suede. Bright “Monarch” orange piping and a “Baroque Brown” heel panel add a bold, rugged look. A striking red outsole and black Swoosh provide contrast, while golden-yellow satin liners add a touch of elegance.

 

Every detail ties back to its cowboy-inspired theme. Thick, rope-like laces and lasso-shaped heel branding pay homage to iconic cowboy tools, while the heel showcases Western star embroidery reminiscent of cowboy boot designs. Inside, the insoles depict a cowboy silhouette riding through a sunset-lit desert, a motif mirrored on an accompanying yellow handkerchief. The handkerchief is inscribed with the phrase “What’s gonna happen is gonna happen,” encapsulating the resilience and spirit of cowboy culture.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

16958: IPG & Omnicom Peons Invited To Wedding Shower & Golden Showers.

 

Advertising Age reported IPG plans to prune even more under the guise of restructuring—saving $250 million in the process.

 

It appears to be the equivalent of desperately losing weight to fit into a bridal gown for an impending wedding.

 

Except this event will involve disowning and expelling family members from both sides of the aisle—before and after the big ceremony.

 

And only a select few expect to benefit from prenuptial agreements.

 

It’s a forced marriage—arranged by greedy old men.

 

IPG plans $250 million restructuring after quarterly revenue and profit fall

 

Holding company reports nearly flat organic revenue growth for the year

 

By Brian Bonilla and Ewan Larkin

 

Interpublic Group of Cos. CEO Philippe Krakowsky announced a plan Wednesday to save $250 million through restructuring within its agencies and other parts of the company in 2025.

 

The effort comes as IPG’s fourth-quarter revenue and profit declined. The restructuring includes plans to centralize corporate functions, offshoring and near-shoring in “corporate services and certain areas of client service delivery” and “accelerating progress” in areas such as production and analytics services, Krakowsky said on the holding company’s earnings call. The plan will also include operational and real estate changes for certain agencies.

 

Krakowksy also made a point to respond to “competitors” who have commented on Omnicom Group’s plan to acquire IPG, which was announced in December.

 

“While we understand that our competitors are trying to disrupt what we are looking to build, it bears repeating that the integration will remain very focused and not get in the way of the services we deliver to clients every day,” he said.

 

Krakowsky said that IPG’s $250 million restructuring plan would have “very limited overlap” with Omnicom’s plan to create $750 million in cost synergies detailed last week.

 

More details of IPG’s plan will be reported in April, said Krakowsky.

 

When asked if the restructuring would lead to job cuts, the company provided a statement. “The goal is to design and implement the right organizational and operating structure to ensure we remain innovative and competitive,” an IPG spokesman wrote. “This work will change the composition of some teams as we look to invest in talent and technology capabilities in areas such as AI, identity resolution, content management platforms, commerce and data.”

 

Revenue decline

 

IPG’s organic net revenue fell 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and rose 0.2% for the full year. IPG’s annual net revenue, or revenue minus billable expenses, declined 2.3% to nearly $9.19 billion.

 

IPG expects organic revenue to decline by 1% to 2% in 2025. (Last month, in a filing related to the Omnicom deal, it issued a forecast calling for a 3.7% decline in net revenue this year.)

 

Krakowksy attributed the fourth-quarter and full-year results to the “impact of account activity” throughout the year. In particular, Krakowsky called out the increased prevalence of principal-based media buying in media reviews.

 

“We were on the wrong side of the outcome in defending a number of very significant media accounts,” Krakowsky said. “It’s worth reminding everyone that the decisive factor on those largest decisions was principal media, and specifically the commercial terms enabled by principal media at scale.”

 

He also alluded to a large healthcare loss to a competitor that “was able to leverage its much greater size to win a significant portion of a large creative account that we had been awarded not long prior.”

 

This likely refers to Publicis picking up a chunk of Pfizer’s creative business last year; IPG declined to comment beyond the earnings report.

16957: BHM 2025—Pinterest.

From Pinterest

 

Pinterest unveils “Tailored” Black History Month campaign: A tribute to Black fashion

 

In celebration of Black History Month, Pinterest and Blackboard, Pinterest’s resource group for Black employees and allies, are proud to launch Tailored, a dynamic campaign honoring the history, present-day impact and future of Black fashion. 

 

Since its inception, Pinterest has served as a prime destination for tailoring your taste and curating inspiration from creatives around the world. This February, Pinterest aims to showcase how Black fashion forms legacies, inviting everyone to embark on their own style journey on the platform.

 

“It gives me a lot of joy that Pinterest is a place where so many come to tell their own story—and feel included and celebrated for who they are,” said Pinterest Chief Content Officer and Blackboard executive sponsor Malik Ducard. “That includes the many people who tailor how they define and present their personal story through Black fashion on our platform—drawing on the legacies of the past to shape their inspiration for the future. This Black History Month, I’m very proud that Pinterest is lifting up the beautiful, powerful role of Black fashion in the past, present and future of our society through the Tailored campaign.”

 

Tailored pays homage to the Black dandy, as fashion editor and stylist Ronald Burton III looks to his well-suited past to reimagine a dapper look on JoeKenneth Museau, a content creator and storyteller from Brooklyn. 

 

The 60-second spot illuminates how Black style is both generational and transformative, with Pinterest serving as an essential archive of its influence and resource for its innovation.

 

As part of this campaign, Pinterest will highlight Black creators and figures showing off all the ways they add their personal flair to their outfits. In addition, the Pinterest Shop profile will spotlight these influential brands for people to discover and shop this month. 

 

As Black History Month 2025 unfolds, find ideas and inspiration tailored for you on Pinterest.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

16956: DEIBA+ Rollbacks & Steamrolling—Roll With It.

MediaPost spotlighted a report indicating most Americans oppose DEIBA+ rollbacks.

 

Okay, but technically, most Americans voted for President Donald J. Trump, who openly expressed his DEIBA+ disdain and exposed his dismantling designs.

 

The report underscores the prevalence of DEIDICATION, whereby the talk has never matched the walk.

 

No one wants to admit that DEIBA+ rollback is systemic racism rollout.

 

Most Americans Oppose DEI Rollbacks

 

By Danielle Oster

 

Target faced calls for boycotts this week, including a protest outside its Minneapolis headquarters, after announcing last Friday that it would be rolling back many of its DEI initiatives.

 

The reaction to Target’s moves underscores the degree to which consumers disapprove of brands for abandoning DEI principles a point underscored by a new report released this week by Morning Consult.

 

Entitled “How Americans Feel About Corporate America Abandoning DEI to Appease Trump,” the study was a quarterly survey of 2,200 U.S. adults.

 

According to the report, 67% of U.S. adults said they believe speaking out on diversity and inclusion is “very important” or “somewhat important” – with even a slim majority of Republicans expressing support.  Morning Consult also cited research from late November 2024, which found that 60% U.S. adults said that DEI initiatives were important to business success, including 52% of Republicans.  Only 23% of respondents said that it was “not too important” to a brand’s business success.

 

“This data suggests that brands that abandon or curb their existing DEI commitments in an attempt to satisfy the current crop of political leaders are doing so at the risk of long-term favorability among consumers,” Morning Consult wrote in the report, adding that “it’s also generally not a best practice to take a position and then backtrack on it.”

 

According to the report’s findings, as of November, a plurality of Americans oppose corporations rolling back DEI policies, “on par with the share who said the same in July 2024,” while support for such rollbacks has declined, So “less than 1 in 3 U.S. adults favor brands reneging on DEI commitments” currently, according to Morning Consult.

 

Morning Consult’s findings align with another recent report by Cultural Inclusion Accelerator and the ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM), which found widespread support for inclusive marketing measures.  Seventy percent of consumers responded that in response to a brand reversing its DEI policies, they’d either “immediately stop purchasing/using” the brand's product, or continue to do so while seeking an alternative more aligned with social causes they care about.

 

So why are brands abandoning DEI, then? “Ultimately, these actions are a reminder that brands take cues from different forces at different times; right now, political forces are clearly trumping all else,” Morning Consult wrote in its report.

 

The Trump administration has made attacks on civil rights and DEI a priority, including an executive order reversing Civil Rights protections put in place by the Johnson administration in 1965. Another executive order implying the administration will investigate companies for their DEI policies was cited in a letter signed by 19 Republican state attorneys general to Costco CEO Ron Vachris, attempting to use implicit threats of legal action to pressure the company into repealing its DEI policies.

 

Morning Consult noted that “consumers have yet to punish any brand over a DEI policy reversal” despite falling support for such rollbacks – but Target’s high profile DEI withdrawal could change that.

16955: BHM 2025—Advertising Age.

 

Advertising Age celebrates Black History Month with Honoring Creative Excellence—spotlighting Black creators across Adland—now in its fifth year.

 

That’s five years of being progressively ignored and deprioritized behind the annual Super Bowl hoopla.

Monday, February 10, 2025

16954: US Adland Employment, How Low Can You Go?

Advertising Age published a lengthy report with the following headline and subhead:

 

US Ad Employment is Lower Than Previously Thought—Plus, Omnicom Cut Jobs In 2024

 

The ad business gained 300 jobs in January, while Omnicom’s U.S. employment tumbled last year by 11%

 

Regarding Omnicom, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

16953: BHM 2025—IPG.

 

So far this year, IPG acknowledged MLK Day, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Lunar New Year. However, despite being recognized for leadership in diversity and inclusion—according to its performative PR and gobbledygook—the White holding company has not yet saluted Black History Month.

 

Probably prioritizing pending purchase and pruning…?

 


Sunday, February 09, 2025

16952: Super Bowl Advertising Exclusivity Is GOAT.

 

Advertising Age published a super lengthy report on Super Bowl advertising and declared, “Super Bowl LIX advertisers appear to be dialing back efforts around diversity and inclusion.”

 

Reflecting Adland’s diminishing DEIBA+ dedication, most brands asked to participate in Ad Age’s survey declined—only 14 of 58 brands with in-game commercials responded. And many respondents delivered performative PR versus specific data.

 

In short, racial, ethnic, generational, and gender identity representation across all angles—concept, casting, directing, execution, etc.—sucked.

 

This is not news; but rather, an annual event—staged during Black History Month to boot.

 

For Adland, systemic racism is an unbeatable, unchallenged, undisputed dynasty.

16951: BHM 2025—NMAAHC.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture celebrates Black History Month with Invisible Changemakers of Industry—including a salute to Black Rosies.

 

 

Saturday, February 08, 2025

16950: BHM 2025—DiversityStore.com.

 

DiversityStore.com is offering a Black History Month poster highlighting the African Americans and Labor theme.

 

None of the depicted characters appear to be advertising executives.

Friday, February 07, 2025

16949: Advance Notice For Redundant Serfs At Omnicom & IPG.

 

Adweek reported Omnicom expects shareholder approval of the IPG acquisition scheme on March 18, 2025.

 

This means $750 million worth of current employees at lots of White advertising agencies have about one month to land a new job.

 

The challenge is guessing who’s redundant—it’s Russian Roulette RIF.

16948: BHM 2025—Google Gumbo Doodle.

This Google Doodle celebrates gumbo—a stew with West African roots, popularized in Louisiana.

 

Meanwhile, Google joined other US corporations by abandoning DEIBA+ initiatives.

 

Google DEIDICATION is more than performative PR—it’s gumbo mumbo-jumbo.