Marketing news

• The Digital Trading Awards USA 2017 finalists have been revealed

  01-08-2017 21:00
  If you have been waiting in anticipation to see if you are shortlisted for the 2017 Digital Trading Awards USA, then get ready because the complete list has been announced.
  Judging took place on Wednesday July 26 with Wayne Blodwell of The Programmatic Advisory chairing the panel.
  Did you enter the Best Overall Technology category? The bar was set high this year as judges were enormously impressed by the calibre of entrants.
  Those that impressed the panel and nominated are: AdCellerant, Cadreon,
  
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• Why big brands are increasingly putting small agencies on their radar

  01-08-2017 20:51
  Straight out of portfolio school, I went to a 30-person shop in Atlanta, GA and fell in love with advertising. The agency where I worked has since been sold, but at the time, it was amazing. We won tons of awards, did lots of great work and had a great time doing it. But because I was young and naive, I felt like I needed to move on. And so I did...too soon; moving all around the country to work at bigger shops on bigger brands. And I fell out of love with advertising.
  6 years ago, I took a long
  
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• Google boosts visual search with badges prompting discovery

  01-08-2017 20:30
  As brands like eBay, Pinterest, Bing and Amazon introduce or enhance visual search functionality, Google, too, is making a move to augment its own image search results.
  The search giant is doing so by adding badges to images found via the Google app for Android and the mobile web indicating what related content is also discoverable.
  The badges appear in the bottom lefthand corner of images. They help users find images “where next steps or more in-depth information is available —
  
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• Now Alexa can change the channel for you, too

  01-08-2017 20:14
  Amazon has announced Alexa features for Fire TV that allow users to control their viewing experience with their voices.
  In other words, US consumers will be able to pair any Fire TV with any Echo device and tap into voice control, asking Alexa to start a show, help find a good movie and control playback like play, pause and fast forward.
  For consumers with only one Fire TV, the Echo device will pair as soon as they ask Alexa a question that includes "Fire TV," like, “Alexa, watch
  
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• The pay-for-play problem in PR - let's talk influencer programmes

  01-08-2017 20:11
  A few weeks ago, I received an email inviting me to a webinar titled:  “What’s Wrong with Your Influencer Program?” It made me think about the question asked in the title and try to address it here.  The answer isn’t simple, so to fully understand what’s wrong with influencer programs it’s important to look at how and why they have become so prominent… and it’s not because they work. 
  The Integrated Model
  Beginning in 2010, as digit
  
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• The pay-for-play problem in PR

  01-08-2017 20:11
  A few weeks ago, I received an email inviting me to a webinar titled:  “What’s Wrong with Your Influencer Program?” It made me think about the question asked in the title and try to address it here.  The answer isn’t simple, so to fully understand what’s wrong with influencer programs it’s important to look at how and why they have become so prominent… and it’s not because they work. 
  The Integrated Model
  Beginning in 2010, as digit
  
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• Nostalgic 4th graders reminisce about simpler times in funny Go-Gurt ads

  01-08-2017 19:03
  Go-Gurt’s latest campaign features two curmudgeonly fourth graders who are fed up with just how easy life is for the third graders below them. 
  The tongue-in-cheek spots feature Tim & Charlie, two friends who spend their days reminiscing about the good old days when hoverboards didn’t exist yet and kids actually had to use their feet to get around. In one spot, the pair roll their eyes when they realize that gym class for third graders consists of “sitting around on ma
  
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• Martin Freeman returns as Vodafone’s Mr Interruption, held up in an underground car park

  01-08-2017 18:36
  Martin Freeman has reprised his role as ‘Mr Interruption’ in the franchise that is Vodafone’s UK ad campaign. This time, he finds himself held up by a suspect gang in an underground car park in a spot to promote the brand’s indoor coverage.
  ‘The Chase’ sees Freeman packing up his car after a trip to the shops when a speeding ruffian in a police chase pulls up alongside him, and tells him menacingly to “keep packing”. A helpful bystander offers to c
  
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• How brands are tapping into consumers’ faces – and brains

  01-08-2017 18:14
  Apple will reportedly enable users to unlock the upcoming iPhone 8 with their faces.
  This type of facial recognition technology is also being used at airports to both improve the boarding process and to enhance security – at least allegedly.
  But it can also help marketers determine consumers’ emotions. This burgeoning field includes startups like Affectiva, Eyeris, Kairos and Realeyes, as well as larger players like Microsoft and Apple (which acquired startup Emotient
  
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• Fashion Fix Daily becomes first fashion magazine to launch on Amazon Echo

  01-08-2017 17:49
  Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa can do many things, from ordering products to controlling a smart home and playing music. Now for the first time it can read the latest fashion updates as part of a partnership with Fashion Fix Daily.
  Fashion Fix Daily is an independent online magazine written by influencers, and the first fashion magazine to be read aloud on Amazon Echo, the smart speaker.
  The magazine will write daily content specifically for voice-first tech devices, focused on fashion news, t
  
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• YouTube says AI better than humans at removing extremist videos post-brand safety crisis

  01-08-2017 17:27
  YouTube has said AI is, in some cases, better than humans at purging extremist videos from within its walls, and that machine learning tech has helped it double the speed at which it is able to take down content which violates the rules.  
  According to YouTube its AI systems have proven more effective than human beings at flagging videos which need to be removed. 
  Just over a month ago the platform’s parent company announced plans to increase its use of machine learning tech
  
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• TV convergence gains momentum as first party data use grows exponentially

  01-08-2017 17:22
  Advertisers are increasingly comfortable using first party digital targeting data on linear TV campaigns with nearly 150% growth this past year.
  A recent report by Videology, a software provider for converged TV (CTV) notes that the rapid adoption of advanced data targeting grew quarter over quarter from Q1 2017 to Q2 2017 with 50% more advertisers using first part data since 2016, a number that has tripled when compared to 2015. The report looked at 1.9 billion total impressions between Ap
  
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• Subway calls on workers to ditch 'blandwiches' in new campaign

  01-08-2017 17:08 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Subway is flagging up its new rotisserie-style chicken flavour in a new TV ad featuring a talking sandwich.
  
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• In the (near) future, everything is programmatic

  01-08-2017 16:54
  Catching up on some of the latest marketing news recently, I found myself drifting off into a deep sleep (keyboard as pillow). My dream, quite predictably, was all about the future of digital media.
  Here’s what I remember of it...
  In the agency of the future there are robots. Well, a robo-receptionist at least, who sends an email to the relevant member of staff when a guest arrives, and offers a coffee while they wait.
  Manual media buying is basically dead, save for the last few scraps of
  
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• Big brands’ insight innovations help level the playing field for everyone

  01-08-2017 16:51
  Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Diageo, AOL, Microsoft. What do these brands – some of the biggest in the world – have in common? They all value the power of insights to drive growth. Not only do they value insights, but they are at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of how data can be collected, and how insight can be used to drive growth. What’s more, these brands celebrate the power of insights and data.
  The research industry over the past decade has faced significa
  
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• Northern Ireland anti-abortion ad escapes ban - but only just

  01-08-2017 16:34 via campaignlive.co.uk
  A poster ad from "pro-women and pro-life" campaign group Both Lives Matter has been given a pass by the ad watchdog, despite the group receiving a mixed scorecard for its maths.
  
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• Bob Wootton: Don’t be fooled by the AI snake oil

  01-08-2017 16:26
  What do marketers really need to know about artificial intelligence (AI)? First let’s define it, as the name itself gives vital clues. It’s more than automation: ‘intelligence’ suggests that it can adapt and learn, and implies that it does this in a human-like way. But ‘artificial’ means it’s not human.
  Oxforddictionaries.com defines AI as “the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, s
  
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• Barbour launches 'Dog's Life' loyalty scheme to reward faithful hounds

  01-08-2017 15:55
  British lifestyle brand Barbour has launched a unique loyalty scheme to reward dogs, after spotting a gap in the market to drive engagement with consumers and reward them with treats for their four-legged friends.
  The brand's 'Dog's Life' scheme will invite shoppers to provide information on their dogs in return for exclusive pooch-themed content, free gifts, birthday messages and invitations to dog friendly events. 
  The move follows on from the success of the lifestyle retailer's dog-theme
  
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• Movers and shakers: Numis, Grey, Pizza Hut, Jellyfish

  01-08-2017 15:51 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Numis' long-serving head of media, Lornia Tilbian, is leaving, Grey has a new global CEO, while Pizza Hut has hired new marketers in the UK and Europe.
  
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• Hobbycraft appoints iCrossing as its digital marketing agency

  01-08-2017 15:37
  Hobbycraft has selected digital marketing agency iCrossing as its global digital partner following a competitive pitch.
  iCrossing’s approach will focus on PPC, SEO, paid social and display advertising, as well as integration with creative and offline media, to deliver growth for the business.
  Using their consumer-centric approach, iCrossing will combine Hobbycraft’s rich customer data with market-leading insight and automation to drive efficiencies and grow the retailer’s loyal
  
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• Grey Group promotes Michael Houston to worldwide CEO while James R. Heekin remains executive chair

  01-08-2017 15:24
  Grey Group is officially 100 years old as of today (August 1) and to mark that point, the global WPP agency has announced that it is promoting Michael Houston to worldwide chief executive officer.
  Grey also stated that James R. Heekin, who has led the company as chairman and chief executive since 2007, will remain as executive chairman. Heekin will work closely with Houston, global management and clients to ensure a smooth transition.
  Houston is a 10-year veteran of Grey and has served as global
  
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• Amazon outbids Sky for the exclusive broadcast rights to the ATP World Tour

  01-08-2017 15:13
  Amazon has snapped up its first major live TV sports rights deal outside the US after outbidding Sky for control of the ATP World Tour.
  The deal will see Amazon broadcast the majority of top flight men’s tennis outside the four grand slam tournaments and will include the end of year ATP World Tour finals at the O2 Arena in London.
  Sky’s current agreement with the ATP is due to expire in 2018 at which point Amazon will begin showing the sport on its Prime Video subscription service.
  A
  
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• YouTube: machine learning has doubled speed taking down extremist videos

  01-08-2017 15:01 via campaignlive.co.uk
  In an update on its efforts to create a brand-safe environment, YouTube reported that in the past month its use of machine learning has doubled the number of videos removed for violent extremism.
  
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• On 100th anniversary, Grey Group appoints Michael Houston worldwide CEO

  01-08-2017 14:40 via campaignlive.com
  James Heekin III stays on as executive chairman as agency continues creative and economic ascent.
  
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• What to see at the Festival of Marketing

  01-08-2017 14:33
  The Festival of Marketing, which this year is taking place in Tobacco Dock in London on 4 and 5 October, features more than 200 speakers across 12 stages. The first agenda has been released today (1 August), showing top marketers from brands including John Lewis, Unilever and Direct Line, as well as disruptors such as Starling Bank and Laundrapp, talking across a broad range of topics from diversity to in-house creative and what to do when ads appear in unsavoury places.
  Two headliners have so f
  
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• Ad of the Day: American Lung Association and the Ad Council raise awareness about lung cancer screening

  01-08-2017 14:23
  The American Lung Association and the Ad Council are hoping that more people are ‘Saved By The Scan’ in a new campaign that debuts today (August 1) on World Lung Cancer Day.
  To raise public awareness of lung cancer, which is the leading cancer killer of men and women, the American Lung Association’s Lung Force initiative – a national movement to defeat lung cancer – has partnered with the Ad Council to launch the first national public service campaign to educate Ame
  
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• John Kelly – the Trump tranquiliser keeping a lid on White House chaos

  01-08-2017 14:15
  Firing White House director of communications Anthony Scaramucci was a direct hit for chief of staff John Kelly – a hit with a tranquiliser dart.
  Trump might think Kelly is the perfect military muscle to orchestrate his moves, but the reality is this straight-talking general has the president in a sleeper hold.
  The straight-talking former head of homeland security has become a better PR than all the president’s men put together. Far from increasing the chaos with this latest sacking,
  
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• Marketing to young Muslims: how brands are waking up to this change-making consumer group

  01-08-2017 13:30
  The Halal cosmetics market is forecast to be worth $58.4bn by 2025, and it is younger Muslim consumers driving this growth, according to new research published by Credence.
  This will come as no surprise to Shelina Janmohamed, vice-president of Islamic branding agency Ogilvy Noor, who describes this savvy, affluent, demographic of Muslim millennials as ‘Generation M’ in her recent book. The latest issue of The Drum investigated this change-making group which is all too often
  
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• Just Eat’s Rebecca Brown snapped up by digital agency Builtvisible

  01-08-2017 13:27
  Just Eat's global content developer, Rebecca Brown, has joined the team at Shoreditch-based digital agency Builtvisible, where she has been appointed head of content.
  Brown's previous role focused on app store optimisation and SEO to develop the company’s growing portfolio. In the new role she aims to expand Builtvisible's international outreach.
  From a digital agency background, Brown is adept at accelerating demand for content products in a fast-paced environment.
  Speaking on h
  
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• Russia VPN ban a ‘major blow to internet freedom’ says Amnesty International

  01-08-2017 13:17
  A new law signed by Russian president Vladimir Putin banning online anonymisers and virtual private networks (VPNs) is a major blow to internet freedom in Russia, Amnesty International has said.
  The law, signed by Putin on Sunday (30 July), prohibits technology that allows internet users to access websites banned in Russia, including VPNs and anonymisers.
  The same law gives Russia’s communications regulatory body, Roskomnadzor, additional censorship powers. After the law comes into force o
  
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• Swindon, notorious for its 'crap town' status, finds its inner beauty in retro poster campaign

  01-08-2017 12:58
  Swindon, the much-lambasted Wiltshire town once home to Billie Piper and Melinda Messenger, has found itself on the receiving end of some creative love thanks to a new campaign from agency Jazzbones.
  The creative shop has previously worked on campaigns for the likes of Honda, Virgin Media and Miele, but for its latest project it took inspiration from outside its front door in Swindon’s Old Town. Led by designer and illustrator Mitchell Nelson, Jazzbones’ design team were inspired to
  
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• Why Morrisons is right to bring back the Safeway brand

  01-08-2017 12:56
  Morrisons is relaunching the supermarket brand Safeway as part of a deal with convenience retailer McColl’s in a move that positions it even further into wholesale.
  Under the deal, Morrisons will supply the high-street chain’s 1,300 shops and 350 newsagents with Safeway branded own-label food and drink products. McColl’s will have one year of exclusivity for the brand with Morrisons then potentially looking to distribute Safeway branded products to other convenience retailers.
  
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• Watch Polaroid celebrate 80 years with a camera filled pop-up

  01-08-2017 12:30 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The brand is celebrating 80 years by setting up a pop-up shop in Shoreditch's Box Park.
  
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• WATCH: A camera filled pop-up to celebrate 80 years of Polaroid

  01-08-2017 12:30 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The brand is celebrating 80 years by setting up a pop-up shop in Shoreditch's Box Park.
  
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• Campaign TV: A camera filled pop-up to celebrate 80 years of Polaroid

  01-08-2017 12:30 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The brand is celebrating 80 years by setting up a pop-up shop in Shoreditch's Box Park.
  
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• KFC complaints show us that marketing is not an exercise in wish fulfilment

  01-08-2017 12:12
  Haven’t our mothers always told us that the best way to get people to like us is simply to be ourselves?
  The wisdom of this old cliché can take a long time to dawn on us, but at some point in our lives we tend to wake up to the fact that nothing is less attractive than trying to be something we’re not; and any type of person can be cool so long as they occupy that type wholly and with integrity.
  It seems, however, that no matter how old brands get, this realisation never quite
  
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• Speedo makes a splash with online audience participation tool

  01-08-2017 12:02
  Swimwear specialists Speedo has launched an online audience participation platform in partnership with Mediablaze in an effort to get members’ competitive juices flowing with challenges designed to track individual performance against peers.
  Speedo On is geared toward professional and amateur swimmers alike to add some vim to the drudgery of a weekly fitness regime by serving up a regular diet of tips, motivation and suggestions for both water and dry land.
  Intended to address a drop in th
  
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• John Lewis gives boost to female entrepreneurs in JLAB's class of 2017

  01-08-2017 11:56 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The John Lewis Partnership has revealed the latest set of start-ups to take part in its retail accelerator JLAB, now in its fourth year.
  
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• Post-election jitters have worn off, but consumer confidence stays low

  01-08-2017 11:50 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Consumer confidence in the UK has increased slightly on June's level, according to the latest consumer confidence index from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research.
  
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• UK Top Shazamed Ads: Nissan Qashqai, Emporio Armani and San Pellegrino enter the chart while Samsung remains at the top

  01-08-2017 11:46
  The Drum's Shazam chart is based on the number of times each ad has been Shazamed over the past week using the music identification app.
  While Samsung, McDonalds and Lloyds TSB continue to dominate, Nissan Qashqai, Emporio Armani and San Pellegrino have snapped up three spots.  
  Nissan Qashqai has taken eighth place with the help of Black Sabbath's Paranoid, which backs the advert's movie car chase style. Meanwhile, Emporio Armani shows the limits to which some peop
  
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• The Drum Digital Trading Awards Asia Pacific entry deadline extended

  01-08-2017 11:46
  With the first deadline for The Drum Digital Trading Awards passing last week, there is one more chance to make sure your work is in the running.
  It is the first year for The Drum Digital Trading Awards in Asia Pacific and yet it’s set to be the biggest celebration of excellence for the ad tech and programmatic industry in the region.
  By contacting The Drum, you can find out how to gain an extension to enter the awards and be in a chance of winning during the inaugural event.
  Last month, t
  
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• Rebecca Daugherty heads up trio of ABC marketing appointments

  01-08-2017 11:39
  Rebecca Daugherty has been handed the reins to ABC’s promotional activity after being appointed as executive vice president of marketing by the US television network.
  Replacing former marketing chief Marla Provencio in the hot seat, Daugherty moves from her previous role as vice president of dramas, movies and specials for ABC marketing having also spent time with the marketing team at Fox television network.
  ABC president Channing Dungey said: “As a leader in an industry filled with
  
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• Manchester United to swipe away scoring woes with reports of Tinder sleeve sponsorship

  01-08-2017 11:39
  Manchester United’s inability to score more was the defining problem of their 2016/17 season, however the club are reportedly making moves to ensure the upcoming season sees more action with the help of online dating service Tinder, which could be United’s shirt sleeve sponsor.
  The Premier League is now allowing clubs to sell the rights to their left shirt sleeve from the start of the 2017/18 season and United could be the 10th club to take up the new commercial opportunity according
  
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• What are the most popular search trends for Game of Thrones?

  01-08-2017 11:36
  The return of  Game of Thrones is one of the most anticipated TV events of each year, and with the seventh series having recently started, London-based agency Latitude decided to research trends with fans searching online for details related to the show in an attempt to identify some correlations and discover what viewers were most interested in. 
  Fancy Dress
  As far as costume-related search trends are concerned, Daenerys Targaryen is the most popular female character to dres
  
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• M&S looks to augmented reality to boost GM sales

  01-08-2017 11:29
  In an intensely fierce retail environment where just about everybody is looking over their shoulders and seeing Amazon, Marks & Spencer isn’t alone when it comes to looking to innovate how it reaches shoppers. But with many questioning the historic British retailer’s long-term future, it perhaps needs to exercise more urgency than most.
  In the three months to 1 July, M&S saw like-for-like sales for its struggling general merchandise business fall 1.2%. And although this rate
  
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• Net-A-Porter's global autumn-winter 2017 campaign forecasts five trends

  01-08-2017 11:21 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Luxury online retailer Net-A-Porter's global autumn-winter campaign this year highlights five key fashion trends for the season ahead.
  
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• Amber Rudd issues rallying call to tech firms to tackle extremism

  01-08-2017 11:17
  Home secretary Amber Rudd has echoed calls from the prime minister for internet giants to do more to crack down on extremism and is set to meet with tech firms in Silicon Valley to discuss a potential solution.
  Rudd’s crusade got off to an inauspicious start however after her efforts were ridiculed by technology website The Register which dryly observed that Silicon Valley executives were tiring of posturing politicians.
  Rudd is threatening to introduce new laws to tackle the spread o
  
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• Yamaha picks FCB Hamburg for Europe brief

  01-08-2017 10:35 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Yamaha Music Europe, the European headquarters of the Japanese company, has appointed FCB Hamburg to its creative account after an international pitch.
  
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• Google facing possible regulatory review over offline tracking

  01-08-2017 10:32
  Google is bracing itself for a fresh regulatory review after privacy campaign group Epic lodged a complaint with America’s Federal Trade Commission in a bid to stop the tech giant’s Store Sales Measurement service.
  Created to track what customers spend offline to support its advertising sales with real-world data the practice has outraged privacy campaigners who fear it is an infringement too far on personal space.
  Launched in May the advertiser tool enables marketers ‘to measu
  
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• Honda launches karaoke-inspired spot to promote car range

  01-08-2017 10:10 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Honda has turned to karaoke to back its latest lines in a 30-second spot created by Mcgarrybowen London.
  
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