Should Omnicom Merge With Publicis

Madison Avenue advertising titan Omnicom and France's Publicis have announced their merger,resulting in a firm with a combined worth of just over 35 billion dollars,with more than 130,000 employees.The deal promises to achieve 500 million dollars in cost savings and a combined annual revenue of around 23 billion.The deal could face objections by regulators fearful of the decreased competition in the advertising industry that would result.*Omnicom CEO John Wren will eventually become sole CEO of the combined firm,and Publicis CEO Maurice Levy will be non-executive chairman after a period of being co-CEOs.The new company will be stronger in the emerging markets and better equipped to compete with Google and Facebook in the digital ad realm.Most of the time,Google collaborates with Omnicom,Wren said;sometimes it competes with us.*Omnicom faces a new world.Revenue is slowing down on the difficulty of adjusting to new places where the ads go,Google and Facebook's new way to advertise,according to Julie Roehm,Senior Vice President of Marketing at SAP.The merger makes perfect sense.It's a very good opportunity for them and their customers,taking the inefficiencies to invest them in big data and analytics.Mobile is a huge opportunity.Very few companies have cracked that code.They're going to take traditional creativity and merge it with the digital side.They are representing lots and lots of customers.They want to get ahead of the ball,Ms.Roehm noted.*Omnicom Group Inc(OMC),Publicis Groupe SA(Paris:PUB)

Who Sings On The Citibank ThankYou Card Commercial

The Citibank ThankYou Card commercial joins soaring video with a breezy song.The song is called "Into the Wild."It is by the American singer songwriter known as LP(Laura Pergolizzi).
The video features professional climbers Katie Brown and Alex Honnold,not actors.They are shown climbing one of the Fisher Towers in the Utah desert,about 27 miles from Moab.The pinnacle Brown summits is not considered the most difficult climb at the Towers.Several other ascents there are regarded as being among the most challenging desert climbs.
LP has been prominent since 2006,although for some years she was better known for her songs written for or covered by other performers.Among those credits are recordings of her work by Backstreet Boys;Heidi Montag;Christina Aguilera;and Rihanna.
A New York native,LP now resides in Los Angeles.She's been touring very extensively over the years.You can sample her music on YouTube-including the Citibank track.
The commercial is quite an effective promotion for the credit card,perking groggy viewers up with an outdoor adventure.
Citigroup(C)

Who Sings On The Liberty Mutual Commercial

It sounds like Cat Stevens on the Liberty Mutual "Doing The Right Thing" commercial.It isn't.The song is called "Amen,Omen."It is by the American singer songwriter Ben Harper.At a full length live performance,it was about seven minutes long,and close to six minutes long in the studio version.
Another hidden gem was uncovered for us by advertising.
"Responsibility:What's your policy?" is the compelling slogan for the Liberty Mutual commercials.Congratulations to the Boston ad agency Hill Holliday and the company for this effective corporate communications effort.It has generated thousands of positive emails from viewers.
The commercials are part of the company's "The Responsibility Project."It was conceived in 2005 when the firm made a push to become a top five insurer,instead of a top ten.According to insurance company rating firm A.M. Best,they have achieved that goal,being the third largest property casualty insurer in the U.S. as of 2010.
"The Responsibilty Project" also incudes a website with short films on the responsibilty theme as well as discussion videos and tips on property and casualty topics,along with the company's philanthropic efforts.NBC Universal has partnered with Liberty Mutual on the project,which Liberty Mutual says reflected the company's strong existing corporate culture.
The commercials may be viewed on YouTube.Ben Harper's music is widely available on the web.

Madison Avenue Shocker:Nation Horrified By Sensational Accident

Americans have been digesting the horrible mishap that claimed the life of 41-year old advertising executive Suzanne Hart on Wednesday.Ms.Hart,who worked for noted Madison Avenue's Young&Rubicam,Inc.-also called Y&R-was crushed to death when the elevator she was entering shot upward for no apparent reason.
It is common to fantasize about being stuck in an elevator;being crushed by one,however,isn't a possibility one normally contemplates.Eyewitnesses were taken to the hospital for psychological screening after they saw and heard the horrific event.Frankly,just hearing about it is enough to give many the creeps in a big way.
The elevator in question has a long history of violations.
Y&R,a marketing and communications company,employs 6500 people at 186 offices in 90 countries.It is owned by British advert titan WPP PLC.