MediaLink

We're thrilled to share that MediaLink's Melanie L. Washington, Esq. (Principal and Head of Global Contract Advisory) will be inducted into the American Advertising Federation's prestigious 2024 Advertising Hall of Achievement!    The AHOA recognizes individuals ages 40 and younger who are driving the advertising industry forward. Melanie is one of only nine executives who’ll be inducted into the 2024 class.    Melanie joined MediaLink in 2018; soon after, she established a new specialty practice called Contract Optimization and Risk Evaluation, or C.O.R.E. The practice has reshaped how brands, agencies and their legal teams structure deals, drive growth, and navigate an ever-changing economic, regulatory, geopolitical, and environmental issues. Known as the “Contract Whisperer,” Melanie has architected contractual terms that have influenced $45 billion of global media spend.   She will be featured on an upcoming episode of AAF's podcast "Future Legends of Advertising" and honored at AAF's November ceremony, alongside writer-producer (and United Talent Agency client) Issa Rae, recipient of the AAF's 2024 Cultural Force Award.   Congrats, Melanie!

Congratulations to MediaLink’s Donna Sharp on being named as an honoree for the She Runs It Changing the Game Awards in the Quantum Leap category! She Runs It has unveiled the remarkable winners of the 2024 Changing the Game Awards, celebrating exceptional contributions in marketing, media, and technology. This esteemed recognition highlights Donna as the go-to expert on designing modern marketing organizations that get brands closer to their customers, transforming marketing functions from “cost centers” to growth levers. #MarketingTransformation #MediaLinked

“This is a moment in time that you can’t take a step back and watch go past you – AI is transformational for all businesses,” - Mark Wagman    MediaLink’s Mark Wagman joined Sally Bundock on BBC News Business Today to discuss AI’s growing presence in our everyday lives and the challenges the technology is facing when it comes to implementation.    Watch it here (UK only): https://lnkd.in/epqQgtcs   #AI #LLM #Technology #MediaLinked

Private equity firms and strategics are leaning into platform-type investments that position themselves for growth in an advertising landscape where brands are increasing spend on digital-first creators, retail media, and culture-shaping marketing services. These market dynamics make this a very exciting time at MediaLink. MediaLink has rapidly expanded its private equity and deals practice. We have quickly become the go to advisor for media and technology focused private equity firms and strategic acquirers. Through UTA’s AGM Securities unit, we are now also delivering buy- and sell-side investment banking services alongside MediaLink's strategy consulting services. This combination creates a powerful and highly differentiated advisory platform for clients.    Some of the key industry themes and deal types that we have recently supported:   ✅ Transformation of Global Agency Networks: Defining the talent, technology, and operating playbook to deliver increased value for CMOs and shareholders ✅ Explosion of Creator Marketing: Industry-shaping acquisition of an independent creator marketing platform ✅ Convergence of PR, Social and Integrated Marketing: High-growth agency services at the center of entertainment, launch culture, and celebrity ✅ Growth of Retail Media: In-store digital platforms engaging audiences with dynamic messaging at key moments in the path to purchase United Talent Agency Andrew White Alex Goldberger Reed Edmiston Himanshu Agrawal Mark Wagman #privateequity

“The industry is hungry for better data, better quality experience of targeting and knowing the result of your media. And one could argue that no one is better positioned than a large financial service provider.” - Donna Sharp   After correctly predicting the wave of financial media networks at CES in January, Donna sits down with Ad Age’s Jack Neff to discuss why the trend is taking off now. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eyJcHq9g   #RetailMediaNetworks #FinancialMediaNetworks #MediaLinked  

MediaLink is proud to have partnered with The Hershey Company in their US media agency review. We’re delighted to have worked with the team at Hershey to enable the search for a best-in-class partner that supports their vision to be the leading snacking powerhouse. We wish Hershey and Publicis all the best in this exciting partnership. Read more about Hershey’s review in Ad Age via Erika Wheless here: https://lnkd.in/dnrNRb4a #agencyreview #MediaLinked

In our annual Cannes Lions 2024 Trends & Takeaways, we bring you the insights from the conversations that emerged on stage and in boardrooms, offering our perspective on what marketers can bring back to their desks in the coming months. If you missed our Daily Double content sessions, you can also catch-up through video on demand.    “Cannes is a melting-pot of creativity and innovation – whether it’s a moment at MediaLink Beach, a casual gathering at the Carlton Terrace, or an immersive experience along the Croissette, these could shape the most exhilarating and enlightening moments of your week.” - MediaLink’s Michael Burke.    Get the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e7bUqnky   #Creativity #Marketing #AI #CannesLions2024 #MediaLinked

The Kansas City Chiefs have transcended from a local team to a global brand at a time when sports has become the beachfront real estate in media and marketing. Today, YouGov ranks the Chiefs as the NFL’s number one team in terms of fandom. At our MediaLink Beach panel “Building Ambitious Brands,” moderated by Christopher Vollmer at Cannes Lions, Chiefs’ Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lara Krug discussed the strategies used to grow the team’s brand, from leveraging on-field successes in its storytelling to engaging with fans in international markets. "We had a big challenge in that we had a legacy brand that was not resonating as well locally. And so our brief was, how do we do creative work that actually moves the business?” Krug said. Creating relatable content that resonates globally, and with agility, is key. Chiefs safety Justin Reid added that athletes are also working to expand their personal brands through global engagement, which in turn stimulates the team’s brand growth. “What has been so fun about where culture and sports have been progressing is that athletes are able to tell their brand story, or their team's brand stories, in places and ways that they haven't before,” added Mona Munayyer Gonzalez, Chief Growth Office of Pereira O'Dell. "From the ring ceremony to the red carpet to the draft walk to the locker room — these moments are being covered like the Met Gala. And from the perspective of fans, they're suddenly getting so much more content and access.” 📸 James North #kansascitychiefs #ambitiousbrands #brandbuilding

Jessica Alba’s new film “Trigger Warning,” out now on Netflix, is the first she’s executive produced through her new production company, her latest entrepreneurial endeavor. At Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Alba stopped by MediaLink Beach to discuss how founding her own purpose-driven company in 2012 — and becoming the youngest Latina to take a company public — shapes her vision as a producer committed to disrupting the status quo. It requires balancing values with investors’ metrics of success, she said, and knowing how to “move and flow” with the industry versus “trying to push a boulder uphill.” “With ‘Trigger Warning,’ I wanted to disrupt the action genre that’s dominated by men. The director, cinematographer and co-writer are all women,” Alba said. “It’s a raw and gritty action movie.”

#CannesLions2024 was an amazingly impactful week for MediaLink, United Talent Agency, our clients, and our teams. #MediaLinkBeach was buzzing every day with senior media and marketing leaders as well as elite creators building connections, sharing insights, and forging commercial deals to propel their businesses forward. A few key observations from the week: 🎯 major media companies are all touting full funnel capabilities to gain share of ad spend: 1). scaled, strategic audiences that command attention, 2). tech/processes that make video easy to buy for clients large and small, and 3). attribution data that shows outcomes. ⚽ 🏈sports leagues, teams and athletes are increasing in value as their strategic importance to live events, streaming, social, & commerce only grows 🎥 big marketers and media companies are leaning in more than ever with creators as they seek to attract younger audiences, find innovative ways to tell their stories, and refresh their own brands 💲private equity investors are eagerly exploring new deal opportunities and are poised to play an even bigger role in reshaping media, advertising, and marketing services #MediaLinked