Ad Age

📉 Thousands of agency jobs lost 📈 Revenue at an all-time high 🥇 A new No. 1 agency company takes the lead Our 81st annual Agency Report breaks down where the agency business stands today. We pulled 7 must-know numbers that highlight record revenue, employment shifts and which legacy firms are still standing. Swipe through for the stats shaping the industry in 2025, from Accenture Song's rise to Omnicom’s big bet. Looking to go deeper? For a limited time, get 50% off an All Access subscription to unlock the full Agency Report, including rankings, employment data, company profiles and more: https://lnkd.in/eerjsfBe

Welcome back to Ad Age Briefly! In this week’s edition, Influencer Marketing Reporter Gillian Follett shares the trends she’s keeping a close eye on—from brands leaning into hyper-local communities to her take on how influencers will show up in next year’s Super Bowl. Plus, an injury law firm ad sparks “shot-for-shot” copycat claims, reports Creativity Editor Tim Nudd. We’ve also got plenty of 🎁 links for you to explore. —Senior Engagement Editor Mark Fischer.

POVs to purchases: What TikTok users will be searching and shopping for this holiday season. #ad Read more from our Publishing Partner, TikTok for Business. https://lnkd.in/gHZxhyhe

🥑 While Avocados From Mexico has not run a TV ad in the Super Bowl since 2023, the organization remains very committed to football. It is now just spreading its bets with more marketing around the college game. “If you add up all the college football opportunities you have in a season, it’s more than 1,600 times that consumers get together in front of a TV to watch a game,” said Alvaro Luque, CEO of Avocados from Mexico. “We know there’s a strong association of guacamole and football, so our opportunity to develop the category and the consumption of avocados through the college football season is huge. And in the past two years [that] has been our most important investment because we see a lot of future in terms of consumption.” 🎧 Listen to the full episode of the Marketer's Brief podcast: https://lnkd.in/dei3wb9y

This week’s best campaigns swung wildly in tone, from raunchy humor to poignant history. One brand gleefully played with taboos. Another pushed back against conventional finance with choreography and satire. A fashion drop bridged heritage and design. A dog food brand found more fresh stories among our four-legged friends. And a snack brand brought the heat—but not too much—with an amusing porn parody. See the full top 5️⃣.

Zendaya is back with a new spot—and sneaker—for Swiss performance brand On. 👟 A campaign themed “Be Every You” launched Thursday as the latest chapter in their ongoing partnership. The campaign celebrates identity and freedom of expression, spotlighting Zendaya in On’s Fall/Winter 2025 apparel collection and unveiling her first co-designed shoe with the brand: the Cloudzone Moon. Styled by longtime collaborator Law Roach, the campaign showcases Zendaya both as muse and creative force. 📲 Read about the full campaign: https://lnkd.in/gssppGf9

The new white paper from PatientPoint offers practical guidance for health brands looking to prioritize audience-first strategies, ensure brand safety and drive stronger ROI. #ad To learn more, download this white paper today! Made possible by PatientPoint. https://lnkd.in/gWDb5uxB

Today's TV Ad Highlights: 🍔 McDonald's promotes its McValue breakfast deals.  📻 Portable speaker brand Turtlebox Audio serves up a music video–style ad that shows various people having a blast while engaging in outdoor activities, from surfing to golfing. 📺 Disney+ hypes the new Marvel Animation miniseries “Eyes of Wakanda.” Watch the newest commercials from McDonald’s, Turtlebox, Disney+ and more: https://lnkd.in/gsv79nfv

A small, ash-covered doll holding a “Remember Hiroshima” sign that was discovered inside Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World” ride on Sunday was the work of agency DCX Growth Accelerator, which teamed up with Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing in Japan. The act, which drew coverage from POLITICO, Fox News and others, was carried out under the banner of Up In Arms, a new activist initiative launched by Cohen to protest unchecked Pentagon spending and promote redirecting funds toward social needs like education, housing and health care. The sooty doll, set against the colorful backdrop of “It’s a Small World,” was intended to spark debate on what war does to children. 📲 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/dziv9sPa

Victoria's Secret's Pink scores a Gen Z win with LoveShackFancy and Celsius makes the most of a bad situation—plus, why it was a bad week for Claire's, Zara and Celsius.