Ad Matters 23.08.2024

It’s hard not to be drawn this week towards political events and their direct/indirect impact on advertising. Firstly, the news that the Scottish government will be making budget cuts which may well include significant changes in advertising and marketing spend. The SNP conference is just days away so more should become clear soon. Secondly, across the Atlantic. Aside from the astonishing razzmatazz of the Democrat’s convention, what caught my attention was the jaw-dropping sums being lined up to spend on campaign advertising. Billions of dollars ready to power the campaigning of parties and candidates in the run-up to the election this November. On the one hand, the spend will be a welcome boost, not just in the US, but to the global ad market, with funds flowing into agencies and media owners. On the other, there is the challenge always thrown at advertising and its reputation during election periods, depending on how the competing campaigns play out. The rules around advertising by political parties are different in the US to here. How and where the Presidential candidates advertise over the coming weeks will no doubt be under great scrutiny. Whether in Scotland or the US, the link between politics and advertising is as clear as ever.

In other news, the process for identifying the UK juror line-up for Cannes Lions 2025 has begun. We are the UK rep for the world’s biggest festival of creativity and are tasked with helping the organisers find the leaders who will award the next tranche of winners. More details on how you can apply are available here.

Our must-reads:

• We, along with IPA and Leith, have commented on the Scottish government’s possible freeze on public service advertising in this article. (Campaign)
• Always wanted to know what TV leaders watch on TV in the summer? Look no further. (The Media Leader)
• Hot on the heels of our AI report, the 4A’s launches new resources, guidance and training to empower agencies for effective GenAI integration. (LBB)
• And an article we’ve spotted from earlier this year, how has digitalisation changed the economics of the creative industries? (Economics Observatory)

Our pick of ads:

• Our ad in the A is BBH London’s new work for Audi, which features a moth falling in love with the car’s headlights.
• Interesting use of AI in advertising in a new campaign by Tesco starring Jessica Ennis-Hill.
• Refugease has launched “The unsafest journey” by Havas London to urge commuters to donate the cost of their journeys to help refugees.
• Writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth has teamed up with Specsavers for its latest “Misheard” campaign, this time exploring misheard sayings, created by Golin.

Dates for your diary:

• Our Head of Policy and Government Affairs, Chris Walker, will be sharing exclusive insights into the Labour party conference at Adwanted Events’ The Future of Media Manchester on 26 September! Register here.

We are delighted to bring LEAD Scotland to Glasgow on 10 October. Book your tickets here.