In a inner electronic mail obtained by Advert Age, Kelly Clark (GroupM’s former international CEO who was replaced by Christian Juhl in October and now serves as government director) referred to as Smith “a supply of inspiration, perception, friendship and humor” in addition to “a beautiful man, husband, father, colleague and a real good friend to many people.”
“He established our forecasting and publishing operations, constructing it from scratch with lots of you,” Clark writes. “He at all times requested us difficult questions, and the solutions illuminated the information and created fascinating tales. He made GroupM and WPP the trade chief in understanding media markets, and in defining the necessary contribution of promoting to the enterprise world and the broader international financial system.”
Smith is broadly identified by trade execs for establishing GroupM’s international forecasting apply, which presents in depth perception into the well being and route of the advertising and marketing sector.
WPP has now renamed its annual Atticus Awards’ Grand Prix—which honors authentic considering in communications—to The Adam Smith Award in his reminiscence. Smith is survived by his spouse Maria; youngsters Sam (14) and Poppy (12); mom Barbara; and sister Diana.
Vivendi’s Common Music Group sale
French media conglomerate Vivendi—the proprietor of company holding group Havas—has bought a 10 % stake in Common Music Group to Chinese language tech big Tencent Holdings for $three.four billion, in response to The Wall Street Journal. Beneath the deal, Tencent additionally has the choice to double its stake—to as a lot as 20 % by Jan. 15, 2021—within the Santa Monica, California-based report label firm behind top-100 artists like Billie Eilish, Drake and Put up Malone. Vivendi has been criticized for seemingly dragging out the sale course of—it first introduced plans to unload as a lot as half of the UMG enterprise in July 2018.
In its 2019 third quarter earnings report, launched in October, through which Vivendi confirmed it was negotiating a sale of a 10 % stake in UMG to Tencent, the corporate additionally famous that it will be seeking to promote a further minority share within the firm “to different companions, a few of whom have already expressed an curiosity in investing at an identical value degree.” Within the first 9 months of 2019, Vivendi reported that income from recorded music rose 15.6 % and streaming gross sales climbed 23.four %. By comparability, Havas’ income grew 2.9 % within the first 9 months of 2019, whereas its natural progress declined by zero.6 %.
A spokesperson for Havas deferred remark to Vivendi, which didn’t reply, so it’s unclear what affect, if any, the sale might have on the company community. The Annex, Havas’ culture-focused company arm, partnered with UMG’s Capitol Music Group in August 2018 to increase to Los Angeles with the launch of Annex Tower Inventive. Positioned within the Capitol Data Tower in Hollywood, Annex Tower Inventive acts as an alliance between the U.S. inventive company and report label—fueling collaborations between manufacturers and artists.
Do not knock these boots
Tecovas is attempting to promote the cowboy boot because the “official shoe of America.” As everyone seems to be clearly already properly conscious, they’re the best footwear for the farm, enterprise conferences and weddings, the DTC model argues in two new adverts—“Official Present” (under) and “First Rodeo.” The spots had been created by Austin, Texas-based company and manufacturing store Best Frequent Manufacturing unit. The most recent marketing campaign builds on Tecovas’ “New Frontiers” mantra that goals to drive “lasting worth” for the model. Tecovas, the maker of shoes and leather-based items, has been increasing into different attire in addition to opening bespoke retail shops in sure markets. The model first started partnering with Best Frequent Manufacturing unit, which was based in 2011, a 12 months in the past. The company created an preliminary marketing campaign final spring that includes a rugged cowboy who doesn’t draw back from something–pink drinks and snakes included. The most recent marketing campaign options 15- and 30-second spots which can be operating throughout TV networks and websites like MSNBC, ESPN and Fox.
“We need to make Tecovas imply confidence to hundreds of thousands extra folks to make sure the model a spot of their futures,” says John Trahar, head of Best Frequent Manufacturing unit. “New frontiers will at all times be related. So will western items and self-confidence.”