Studio Taps Creative Production Veteran Kathrin Lausch as CEO, Brand and Creative Veteran Mike Karam as Chief Strategy Officer
NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, has launched Studio Cadeaux, a specialty studio designed to elevate brands in fashion, beauty and luxury. The Studio is led by creative and production veteran Kathrin Lausch (CEO) and seasoned brand and creative strategy expert Mike Karam (CSO).
Studio Cadeaux is part of a Stagwell “Studio” model of vertical offerings of expertise, an effective solution for brands looking to work with a small team of industry experts who have access to a full-service global marketing network. Powered by Stagwell, Studio Cadeaux is seamlessly connected to a digital-first global marketing network housing some of the world’s most renowned agencies such as 72andSunny, Allison+Partners, Code and Theory, and Forsman & Bodenfors.
With work for Calvin Klein and MAC already underway, Studio Cadeaux is currently shooting for Tequila Komos at Pier 59 Virtual Production Studio as part of its AOR relationship with Casa Komos Brands Group, which includes Komos, its flagship line of luxury tequilas, and Superbird, a line of canned cocktails.
“Studio Cadeaux is the first Stagwell Studio to be launched, part of a new model designed to uplevel client partnership that rivals global consultancies,” said Julia Hammond, president, Stagwell Global Solutions. “The intent is to offer clients a very senior, high-touch, strategic and creative offering with deep vertical knowledge, backed by the capabilities and scale of our Stagwell network.”
“Because we come from in-house backgrounds, we understand the intricacies and expectations of our clients’ needs, which gives us the ability to seamlessly support, and sometimes even become part of the in-house team,” said Kathrin Lausch, CEO, Studio Cadeaux. “We saw a need to serve premium brands that require both the intimate attention of a niche expert team and the scale of a full-service global network. Studio Cadeaux offers a new modernity to some of the world’s most renowned brands.”
“As an international luxury brand, we needed an innovative global partner who understands our need to showcase a grandeur lifestyle with a modern vision for social, which made Studio Cadeaux an obvious choice,” said Lisle Friedman, VP, marketing, Casa Komos Brands Group.
Lausch, who joins from Media.Monks where she served as SVP, growth, brings over 20 years of experience across TV, film and digital production, new business development, and entertainment and international law, including founding and selling Compass Films, a TV commercial production company. Mike Karam brings 20 years of experience shaping some of culture’s most iconic brands, including Tom Ford, Tiffany & Co., Clinique, Google, and ABSOLUT. He was previously Chief Strategy Officer at fashion and luxury agency Laird+Partners.
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.
Contact:
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com
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Stagwell Global Affiliate Partner Coconuts Media Supported In-Market Research
NEW YORK and JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — National Research Group (NRG), a global insights leader at the intersection of technology, content and culture, today released “Exploring Indonesia,” the second research installment of its “Capstone Series,” a first-of-its-kind exploration into the culture, content and technology driving leading-edge global growth markets. Conducted with Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) Global Affiliate Network partner Coconuts Media, a leading alternative media company representing Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, the study examines the consumer behaviors, tech adoption, content preferences and other attitudes that are shaping Indonesia.
“Indonesians consider themselves a hospitable nation: honest, respectful, and family/community-conscious, with 84% residing in a multi-generational households, and we see that reflected in the trends of our research,” said NRG SVP, Content & Strategy Sushma Panchawati. “For tech and media companies that are attuned to these attributes, Indonesia’s mobile-first practices and appetite for global content provide a wide platform for entering the market, predicted to be one of the top 5 largest global economies by 2050.”
“As Southeast Asia’s largest economy with a population 270M strong, of which 60% are below 30 years of age, Indonesia’s rise in urbanization and consumer spending power is a force to be noticed by the world stage,” said Stagwell Managing Director, Asia-Pacific Randy Duax. “For global brands to be part of this growth story that is helmed by a tech and social media-savvy Indonesian generation – that in particular has an urban-empowered female consumer – brands must authentically mirror the trust and consumer understanding of local brands by bringing integrated online-offline experiences to earn wallet share.”
“Working on the Capstone Series has allowed us to really delve into the diverse nature of our audience in Indonesia; in fact, this is one of the most extensive deep dives into the country’s culture, people and digital consumption habits,” said Coconuts Media Managing Editor, Indonesia Andra Nasrie. “Global media, tech and entertainment companies will discover that Indonesia is a great place for investment due to its digital aptitude which permeates nearly every facet of daily life. This is a future top world economy and the opportunity to support Indonesians is here and now.”
Exploring Indonesia: Key Findings
- In mobile, they trust: Cost-effective Android products released since the mid-2010s have made smartphone ownership accessible across income levels – in 2022, 75.4% of respondents owned a smartphone, with 92% on Android.
- Super-apps: Apps like Grab and Gojek that consolidate services (e.g. finance, messaging, ride share, food delivery) are a unique phenomenon. In the country, 96% are familiar with both.
- Gaming: The Indonesian gaming market is ranked 1st in Southeast Asia and 17th in the world, with the local gaming sector growing 37% annually (Indonesian Gaming Association). Of these, 88% use a smartphone to play.
- Cash is king, with mobile pay close behind: While cash makes up 49% of payments, mobile wallet transactions (33% of payments) are diverse, with the most popular uses including mobile recharge, fund transfers, family/friends reimbursement, and investing.
- Paid streaming is for the wealthy: With limited high-quality internet access, paying for streaming is a luxury that has not trickled down to lower-income or rural populations; 69% of low-income Indonesians do not subscribe to any services.
- Fifty-seven percent of respondents list lower cost options/tiers as the top reason to pay for a new service
- Sports fandom goes “all out”: Indonesians express excitement and support for their favorite teams on TV and social media in sheer numbers.
- Sixty percent of men watch live sports on TV or streaming services weekly
- According to Safenet Indonesia Co-founder Damar Juniarto, “To have the highest ratings for TV in Indonesia you have to have sports channels – especially football, and second you must cover badminton. It’s about national pride, they also connect with the national league.”
- Move over, Netflix? Vidio is “really, really Indonesian,” but Western services are fast learners: Investment in live sports broadcasting, including access to FIFA World Cup and the Premier League, as well as local content has made Vidio the fastest-growing streaming service in Indonesia
- Affordability is another plus, with plans starting at less than $2 USD – a metric not associated with Western services
- That said, younger streamers (under 35) demand variety in their content, with 59% saying it’s “very important” a service has new, relevant content to watch, something Vidio may have trouble keeping up with compared to its Western competitors
- K-Dramas are critical: A variety of streamers have tapped into the “K-Wave” of growing popularity around Korean dramas (“Drakor”), which makes up 51% of Indonesians’ favorite streaming genres in movies, and 48% on TV.
- Short-form social reigns: Ranked the no. 1 entertainment activity, Indonesians turn to social media most (30%) over music (17%), streaming movies or TV (15%), or watching an online short-form video (13%), when they have a short period of time.
- Instagram is the most frequently used social media app, while TikTok is quickly outpacing Twitter – 61% use TikTok multiple times a day vs. Twitter (55%). Seventy-nine percent use TikTok to view entertaining content, while 72% of Twitter users visit to keep up with news.
- About 8 in 10 Indonesians watch short-form content daily, consuming an average of 14.6 hours of online video content a week.
- YouTube: Still the fan favorite: The platform Indonesians enjoy using most – by a wide margin – YouTube is used by 84% of Indonesians weekly for their entertainment needs, primarily to watch how-to tutorials (28%), comedy content (28%), and sports (23%).
- YouTube also outperforms top streamers on leading attributes such as ease of use and content variety, affordability, diverse representation, and for teaching positive lessons.
Boundaries and guardrails
- Explicit content is unwelcome: Pornography and nudity is banned in all entertainment – along with platforms such as Vimeo and Reddit – while nearly three-quarters of Indonesians would refuse to watch or be less likely to watch a new film with LGBTQ+ themes.
- Podcasters, such as PODKESMAS, a comedy talk show, and other online content creators are the ones who push the boundaries with controversial discussions on sexuality, drugs and religious taboos.
- Crypto is surging, despite being banned as a form of payment: 1 in 4 currently trade/invest in crypto; with more than 14M crypto users in the country, it surged 300% over the pandemic.
- Women are more open to content that pushes the boundaries of gender roles, such as not wearing hijabs on TV and playing important job roles.
NRG’s planned upcoming Capstone Series research markets include Argentina (Q1 2023), Saudi Arabia (Q2 2023), Thailand (Q3 2023), and Turkey (Q4 2023).
Study Methodology
NRG conducted an online survey in November 2022 among a nationally representative sample of 5,005 internet-enabled Indonesian consumers aged 16-64. Quantitative fieldwork was enhanced by integrating expert interviews with five in-market academic, media, and tech interviews as well as six in-depth interviews with Indonesian consumers.
About National Research Group
National Research Group is a leading global insights and strategy firm at the intersection of entertainment and technology. Rooted in four decades of industry expertise, the world’s leading marketers turn to us for insights into growth and strategy for any content, anywhere, on any device. Working at the confluence of content, culture and technology, NRG offers insights for bold storytellers everywhere. To learn more, please visit www.nationalresearchgroup.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
About Coconuts Media
Coconuts is Asia’s leading alternative media company. Our mission is to inform and entertain by telling true stories that matter to our audience through a wide portfolio of publications and in-house studios. Each month, we reach an audience of millions across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong through digital, print, audio, and video. Our passions are simple and unwavering: journalism, the media industry, and telling the untold stories of our region.
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.
Media Contact:
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com
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Assembly also announced three new CEO promotions in North America, MENA and APAC
NEW YORK and LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Global omnichannel media agency Assembly today announced the appointment of Matt Adams as CEO of Europe, joining the agency on March 27. Adams will oversee all Assembly operations in continental Europe and the UK, with a focus on accelerating the agency’s business development and driving sustainable growth and impact across the region.
With over 20 years of senior leadership experience working across both the media owner and agency sides of the business, Adams is a transformative leader with an exceptional reputation for growth, business development, and client relations.
“We are delighted to welcome Matt to Assembly, where he’ll lead our European business and bring our proposition, ‘find the change that fuels growth,’ to new heights. He is someone who knows how to unlock the potential of his teams, provide immense value to clients, and build strategic and innovative business solutions to drive success. I look forward to our European business continuing to change and grow under his leadership,” said James Townsend, Global CEO of Assembly and Stagwell Brand x Performance Network.
Adams comes to Assembly from Brainlabs, where he was the Global Chief Operating Officer and is credited with scaling the company from a predominantly PPC agency to a full-service digital first media agency. Adams more than quadrupled its size while delivering strong organic revenue growth. He also helped acquire and integrate eight companies across the marketing funnel to bolster the agency’s capabilities. Prior to Brainlabs, Adams was the UK and Ireland Chief Executive of Havas Media Group, working with some of the UK’s most prestigious brands including O2, BBC, Hyundai, PayPal, Emirates, and giffgaff. While at Havas Media, Adams successfully executed a three-year turnaround strategy that culminated in the agency leading the UK New Business Leagues for 2019 and being one of the most awarded UK agencies for its work. Before these responsibilities, Adams led Dentsu’s iProspect, the largest digital agency in the UK at the time.
Adams’ professional accolades include: Chairman of the Content Marketing Association; recognized as one of the top 10 media planners in the UK by Campaign in 2014; named one of Campaign’s top 10 agency leaders in the UK in 2019, 2020 and 2021; member of the IPA Media Futures Group; and was co-chair of the UK’s Campaign Media Week Awards in 2019.
Over the last two years, Assembly has successfully transformed its business from the inside out – resulting in more media AOR engagements and double-digit growth globally and over 1,600 employees across the world. In late 2021, Assembly merged with ForwardPMX to become the flagship omnichannel media agency within Stagwell’s portfolio, and just last year, the agency refreshed its brand identity to signal its next era of growth.
In addition to Adams, Assembly is elevating three agency leaders in its fastest growing regions to CEO:
- North America President Valerie Davis has been promoted to North America CEO
- APAC Managing Director Richard Brosgill has been promoted to APAC CEO
- MENA Managing Director Faisal Dean has been promoted to MENA CEO
Adams’ appointment and Davis, Brosgill and Dean’s elevations are on the heels of a series of global new business wins, product launches, and partner announcements over the last few months. The agency kicked off 2023 with the launch of Clean Media Lab, a new, technology-powered media decarbonization offering first available in Europe, joined Ad Net Zero in the US and UK, and continues on its journey to becoming a B Corp, all tangible evidence of the agency’s ambition to continue developing sustainable and innovative media solutions. The agency also welcomed new clients Mandarin Oriental and T. Rowe Price into its roster and significantly increased its engagement with Lenovo globally.
“Assembly has more than its fair share of top talent, is globally scaled and regionally relevant,” said Adams. “In today’s environment, winning agencies are able to effectively generate value while delivering on smart and innovative marketing and media solutions that fuel growth, and Assembly has that in spades. I couldn’t be joining at a better time.”
Adams, Davis, Brosgill and Dean will report to James Townsend, Global CEO of Assembly and Stagwell Brand x Performance Network. These appointments are effective immediately.
ABOUT ASSEMBLY
Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,600 people around the world. We’re purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. For more information, visit assemblyglobal.com.
Press Contact:
Jess Santini, VP Global Marketing
Jess.santini@assemblyglobal.com
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Stagwell’s Annual Competition Acts as Incubator for Tech-Focused Marketing Startups with $1M in Funding to Start
NEW YORK and LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) Marketing Cloud has announced the winner of its 2022 Innovation Competition, a program designed to unleash employee innovation and fund technology that solves the modern marketer’s pain points. SmartAssets is an AI-powered SaaS platform that uses AI to extract creative components from ads. It then uses performance data from those ads to guide and support the creative process by reporting, forecasting, and optimizing ads for effectiveness. With AI-powered asset categorization, performance analytics, and instant creative adjustments, brands can better optimize production timelines and overall media performance.
“We were inspired once again by the visionary ideas that were presented in this year’s internal ‘Shark Tank,’ where the competition was fiercer than ever,” said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. “The potential and capabilities of SmartAssets perfectly align with the needs of modern marketers – bringing data-driven decision making to the creative process – and we’re excited to leverage the Stagwell ecosystem to perfect the platform, bring it to market and let it go to work.”
SmartAssets was developed by a team from multilingual content and media consultancy Locaria, part of Stagwell’s Brand Performance Network: Chief Operating Officer Lindsay Hong, Data Scientist Eric Walzthöny, and Innovation Lead Vitaly Boitelet. The platform has three core capabilities:
- AI-powered asset management: SmartAssets reads the full content of a brand’s creative library and categorizes its attributes. It ensures assets meet industry and brand standards.
- Performance analytics: By connecting with a brand’s advertising platforms, SmartAssets provides performance reporting data not only to the creatives, but to media teams.
- Instant creative adjustments: After identifying opportunities, SmartAssets lets users quickly act on them by adjusting creative within the platform instantaneously.
“Global brands know that great creative drives performance just as much as a smart media strategy, and are looking for greater understanding and control of their increasingly complex creative asset portfolio. They want to be sure that the assets they produce not only meet quality and branding guidelines but will also land with the intended audience and drive results,” said Lindsay Hong, COO, Locaria. “By leveraging AI and the existing media infrastructure of the Brand Performance Network, SmartAssets will derive insights at scale to inform the creative process and expedite media strategy activation, allowing brands and agencies to unite their creative and media teams around one goal.”
Stagwell Marketing Cloud’s Innovation Competition provides funds and expertise for Stagwell’s 13,000+ employees to develop transformational ideas for technology-driven marketing solutions. The brief is simple: create a concept for a client-facing product at the intersection of technology, marketing, and business transformation.
“Our annual innovation competition, which we colloquially refer to as ‘Shark Tank,’ taps into the network’s global, cross-functional talent and deep understanding of the modern marketer,” said Stagwell Marketing Cloud Chief Marketing Officer Elspeth Rollert. “We pair that industry knowledge with the vast technical resources we have at Stagwell to build SaaS solutions that solve some of the industry’s biggest pain points.”
Past winners of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud Innovation Competition have developed into successful products, including:
- Harris Brand Platform (2018 Winner), an industry-leading brand management software tool that collects critical brand and marketing data on brand competitors and consumers, to help marketers segment, target, measure and optimize campaign effectiveness.
- PRophet (2019 Winner), the only generative and predictive A.I-driven PR tool that helps professionals draft releases and social content in minutes. PRophet was recently named the winner of the Innovation SABRE Awards North America 2023 in the PR Software and Services category.
- ARound (2020 Winner), a first-of-its-kind fan engagement platform that delivers stadium-level augmented reality experiences, in use by the MLB, NFL, and launching soon in the NBA.
- WonderCave (2021 Winner), a peer-to-peer texting solution helping to grow brands and build communities with 1:1 text conversations at scale. WonderCave was crowned the 2022 Campaign Tech Award Winner for Best Texting Platform.
About Stagwell Marketing Cloud
Stagwell Marketing Cloud (SMC) is a suite of data-driven SaaS solutions built for the modern in-house marketer. Born out of Stagwell’s network of award-winning marketing agencies, SMC’s technology empowers marketers to drive business impact by giving them intuitive tools equipped with proprietary, actionable data. SMC’s portfolio of solutions powers strategic customer research, communications, and media activation for brands worldwide by leveraging technology such as generative artificial intelligence, shared augmented reality, and more. Get your head in the cloud at www.stagwellmarketingcloud.com.
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.
Media Contact
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com
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New York – Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, announced today it will report financial results for the three and twelve months ended Mar. 31, 2023, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, before the market open.
Stagwell will host a video webcast to review those results the same day at 8:30 AM (ET). To register and view the webcast, visit https://stgw.io/Q12023Earnings
A replay of the webcast will be available following the event at Stagwell’s website, https://www.stagwellglobal.com/investors/
About Stagwell Inc.
Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com
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Stagwell and our partners at Infinite Reality teamed up at SXSW 2023 to explore the ways that fandom, technology and consumers are converging in immersive experiences, helping bring consumers closer to the sports, entertainment, music and games they love. Hear from leaders at United Masters, Napster, AFROPUNK and more about how the consumer imperative for more immersive experiences are shaping early entertainment and commerce in the metaverse. Stream episodes from the SXSW 2023 Podcast Lounge below.
– Alexis Williams, Chief Brand Officer, NA
Talent in the Metaverse
What’s next in connection, community, and commerce for avatars, athletes and artists? Hear from Tracy Benson, CEO and Founder of Obsesh, Nova Han of Nova Han Productions, and Helix Wolfson, President of Metaverse Operations at Infinite Reality. Stream the episode.
Creator Economy and the Metaverse
How are creators and platforms envisioning the future of fandom and engagement in the metaverse and other immersive realities? Maggie Malek, CEO, MMI and John Rough, SVP, Enterprise for Untied Masters, discuss. Stream the episode.
Fandom, Music, and Metaverse
VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi, Jonathan Vlassopulos, CEO of Napster, and Animal Concerts Executive Producer, Music, Anthony Mazzo discuss how brands can connect with artists, music, platforms and communities in the metaverse. Stream the episode.
Inclusivity in the Metaverse
AFROPUNK founder Jocelyn Cooper and Shelby Larkin, Director, Global Partnership development at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park discuss diverse communities can benefit from the Metaverse. Stream the episode.
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By: Ray Day
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We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking (fielded Mar. 31 – Apr. 2):
WORRIES ABOUT ECONOMY UP AGAIN
Today, 85% of Americans are concerned about the economy and inflation – up 2 points from last week and up from December’s 82% rate.
- 82% worry about U.S. crime rates (up 2 points)
- 81% about a potential U.S. recession (no change)
- 77% about political divisiveness (up 4 points)
- 72% about the War on Ukraine (down 2 points)
- 71% about affording my living expenses (up 3 points)
- 58% about a new COVID-19 variant (no change)
- 52% about losing their jobs (down 2 points)
YOUNG PEOPLE SPEND BIG ON CARS
Young people are spending as much as 20% of their budget on car expenses, and 25% of Americans who own a vehicle today worry that the price of fueling or charging will affect their ability to pay for other necessary goods or services. That’s according to our survey with NerdWallet.
- The average cost of car ownership in the U.S. rose 16% from 2019 to 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
- Half of Americans (53%) say they plan to buy or lease a personal vehicle in the next 12 months. Of those potential buyers/leasers, 48% plan to buy/lease a used car, and 68% say they will buy/lease a new car – with some planning to buy/lease more than one vehicle.
- Overall, 43% of vehicle owners say $1,000 in monthly vehicle costs is too high.
- Yet 20% of Gen Z and 18% of Millennials are willing to spend more than $1,000 on a vehicle (compared with 6% for Gen X and 3% for Boomers).
- In actual spending, Gen Z and Millennial vehicle owners spend an average of $921 and $821 per month on their vehicles. Gen Xers spend $433 monthly, and Boomers spend $308.
- 35% of Gen Z vehicle owners say their vehicle expenses make up a significant portion of their monthly budgets.
- Parents also pay more for vehicles: Vehicle owners with children in their households spend an average of $792 per month, while those without kids spend an average of $430.
WOULD YOU BUY FROM THAT CHATBOT?
Five years ago, “conversational commerce” was the rage for online retail – with promises of widespread adoption of chatbots to place orders, resolve customer service issues and receive personalized product recommendations. Yet U.S. consumers resisted the idea, while at the same time wildly embracing generative AI. What does this mean for business? Stagwell’s National Research Group’s study on “Generative AI: A Lifeline for Conversational Commerce” takes a look at the future of digital shopping and key lessons for retailers.
- Fewer than half of Americans (47%) say they are willing to use conversational commerce to buy goods or services on social media platforms.
- Americans are most willing to buy products using conversational commerce on a social media platform from large retailers (50%), small retailers (43%) and sports brands (30%).
- The refusal of Americans to embrace conversational commerce is particularly stark when compared to the attitudes of Chinese shoppers. In China, more than 8 in 10 consumers are comfortable with the idea of buying from chatbots.
- At the same time, Americans are expressing a newfound openness to the idea of using AI-powered chat services. Among those who have heard of the concept of AI-powered search, for example, 71% say they’re excited to start using it.
ICYMI
In case you missed it, check out some of the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:
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As the marketing landscape continues to evolve, Stagwell is proud to lead the charge as the only digital-first marketing services network. Today, we’re excited to announce that 9 of our network agencies have been recognized by the prestigious Webby Awards for their outstanding work in pushing the boundaries of the internet. They include Anomaly, ARound, 72andSunny, Code and Theory, GALE, HUNTER, Instrument, Observatory, and YML.
With a total of 13 Webby Award nominations and 14 honors received to date this year, Stagwell’s agencies are shining bright on the shortlist. It’s a testament to the innovative and creative minds within our network who are driving forward the future of digital marketing. Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement and cast your vote for Webby’s People Choice Award by Thursday, April 20th.
72andSunny
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare “Squad Up” – Nominee – Video > General Video > Trailer – VOTE HERE
- NFL “We See You” – Honoree – Advertising, Marketing & PR > Advertising Campaign > Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign – VIEW THE WORK
- HubSpot “Success Stories” – Honoree – Advertising, Marketing & PR > Craft > Best Copywriting – VIEW THE WORK
- Bumble “Fall in Love with Dating” – Honoree – Advertising, Marketing & PR > Individual > Video Ad Shortform > VIEW THE WORK
- Google “Helping You Help Them” – Honoree – Advertising, Media & PR – Advertising Campaigns – Best Partnership or Collaboration – VIEW THE WORK
Anomaly
- Make Time for the Life Artois – Nominee – Advertising, Media & PR > Craft > Best Video Editing – VOTE HERE
ARound
- ARound Stadium – Honoree – Apps, dApps and Software > App Features > Best Use of Augmented Reality – VIEW THE WORK
Code and Theory
- Skidmore, Owings & Merrill – Nominee – Websites and Mobile Sites > General Websites and Mobile Sites > Architecture, Art & Design – VOTE HERE
- Code and Theory Inclusive Design & Marketing – Honoree – Video > Branded Entertainment > Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – VIEW THE WORK
- Windows (Consumer) – Honoree – Websites and Mobile Sites > General Websites and Mobile Sites > Web Services & Applications – VIEW THE WORK
- Fatherly – Honoree – Websites and Mobiles Sites > General Websites and Mobile Sites > Travel & Lifestyle – VIEW THE WORK
- Amazon Ads – Honoree – Advertising, Media & PR > Branded Content > Products & Services – VIEW THE WORK
GALE
- 26.2 You’re Gonna Need Milk For That with MilkPEP – Nominee – Advertising, Media & PR > PR Campaigns > Best Event Activation > VOTE HERE
HUNTER
- Johnnie Walker and Lilly Singh Join Forces for Gender Parity in Leadership – Nominee – Video > Branded Entertainment > Corporate Social Responsibility – VOTE HERE
Instrument
Observatory
- “Live From The Upside Down” Netflix Stranger’s Things and Doritos from Observatory & Slap Global – Nominee – Advertising, Media & PR > Branded Content > Media & Entertainment – VOTE HERE
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By: Ray Day
CONTACT:
We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking (fielded Mar. 24-26):
WORRIES ABOUT ECONOMY DECLINE
Today, 83% of Americans are concerned about the economy and inflation – down 2 points from last week and back near December’s 82% rate.
- 79% worry about a potential U.S. recession (no change)
- 78% about U.S. crime rates (down 3 points)
- 73% about political divisiveness (up 1 point)
- 71% about the War on Ukraine (down 1 point)
- 68% about affording their living expenses (down 2 points)
- 67% about a banking crisis (new)
- 66% about the solvency of U.S. banks (new)
- 59% about the security of deposits in banks (new)
- 55% about a new COVID-19 variant (down 3 points)
- 46% about losing their jobs (down 7 points)
INFLATION STILL TOP CONCERN; BANKING CRISIS IS NOT
While Americans remain concerned about inflation, they’re not worried about the recent banking crisis and are divided on the TikTok debate. That’s according to our latest poll with the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University.
- 67% agree with the Biden administration’s decision to step in and guarantee all customer deposits from Silicon Valley Bank and other failed banks.
- 77% of voters think the government should fully insure deposits at all U.S. banks, not just systematically important firms.
- 71% think the bank failures will affect them “not at all” or “only a little bit.”
- 67% think the deposits in their own banks are safe.
- Americans care more about inflation than the banking crisis: 54% believe the Federal Reserve should prioritize fighting inflation even if it means allowing banks to fail and could lead to a financial crisis in the short term.
- 75% see China as an enemy of the U.S., and 80% think China seeks to replace the U.S. as the key player in global affairs.
- 55% of voters think Biden’s foreign policy is too weak on China.
- At the same time, 75% are split on how to handle TikTok: 45% support a ban in the U.S., while 46% support allowing the app with conditions, such as forcing it to undergo regular security reviews or forcing its Chinese owners to sell their stakes.
MANY AMERICANS STILL FEEL ‘WEALTHY’
Even as the average American household has seen purchasing power and wealth erode, many are still feeling at least somewhat “wealthy,” according to our poll with Fast Company.
- 68% of Americans define wealth as comfort and necessities, as opposed to extravagance and excess.
- 48% say wealth is the ability to comfortably afford necessities like food and shelter with some money left over.
- 20% indicate that being able to afford necessities alone defines wealth.
- 11% define wealth as being able to afford “extravagant purchases.”
40% WORRY AI WILL TAKE THEIR JOB
Generative AI continues to be the headline of 2023 – including in the work place – with 74% of Americans having used the technology for work-related tasks yet 40% worried that the technology is going to replace them.
- The C-suite debate about ChatGPT is intense, with 56% of workers reporting their companies already have implemented discussions or restrictions about using ChatGPT.
- 38% say that the technology will make them more useful in the workplace.
- 42%, however, believe the new tool will make it harder for them to find a new job – with more than 7 in 10 believing AI will replace roles with a heavy focus on data entry and processing, media and communications, coding and even hiring. Roles expected to be replaced the most: data analysis (77%), data entry and processing (75%), media and communication (74%), content creation (73%), PR (72%), coding (71%), customer service (71%), administrative roles (71%) and hiring (71%).
1 IN 2 CAREGIVERS SUFFERING MENTALLY, FINANCIALLY
Caregivers today need support just as much as those they care for, according to our survey with CVS Health.
- 28% of Americans consider themselves to be caregivers – yet 41% say they never wanted to be a caregiver.
- 22% are not compensated for their time, with most taking care of children under the age of 18 (40%), aging parents (35%) or caring for a partner or spouse (21%).
- 47% said that being a caregiver is a financial burden, and 49% report their mental health suffers.
- 37% said they’ve had to quit their job or cut back on work hours due to caregiving responsibilities – especially younger caregivers (57% for Gen Z and young Millennials).
- Caregivers also are making sacrifices in their personal lives: 45% have spent less time participating in their hobbies, have seen their friends less (39%), are falling behind on managing their health (34%), rearranged their home to accommodate people they care for (29%) and have formed unhealthy lifestyle habits (28%).
ICYMI
In case you missed it, check out some of the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:
- Physical and mental health, DEI and workplace flexibility revealed as top employee priorities
- Americans don’t assume moms will stay home with their kids, but the gender pay gap, motherhood penalty, and childcare crisis makes it hard for them to keep working
- 27% of Americans think texting while driving is socially acceptable
- Athletes Maria Sharapova, Allyson Felix and Spencer Dinwiddie Join Stagwell, United Airlines, Diageo, Penske Media Corporation and Axios at Cannes Lions 2023
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First Stadium-Level AR Platform for Large-Scale Venues, ARound Builds on 2022 Experiences with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Rams, with Opening Day Launch at Kauffman Stadium
NEW YORK and KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — ARound, a next-generation fan engagement platform designed to enhance gameday fun with live, real-world augmented reality (AR) experiences – and part of the Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) Marketing Cloud – has expanded its professional sports partnerships to include the Kansas City Royals for the 2023 baseball season. Launching in Kauffman Stadium today, “Crown Vision AR” provides the venue’s 38,000 fans with a shared AR experience that includes interactive follow-along features after base hits and plays, contests, fan loyalty features, and brand sponsorships custom to the Royals.
“Our launches with the Twins and Rams last year showed us how engaging AR can be when it offers immersive in-game experiences while allowing fans to share in those experiences together. With the Royals, we’re bringing even more interactive and collaborative gameday features to their fingertips,” said ARound Founder and CEO Josh Beatty. “Rather than detract their attention with apps that take them away from the action on the field, ARound keeps fans focused on the real-world plays, their favorite players, and the energy around the stadium, allowing them to engage with the game like never before.”
“As we look to excite and engage the next generation of baseball fans, we know that ARound’s technology provides an amazing opportunity for the Royals,” said Kansas City Royals Vice President of Brand Innovation Tony Snethen. “Not only does augmented reality make the game more interactive, but we also believe it will serve to help users see the game in a whole new way.”
Building on its launches with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Rams in 2022, ARound’s stadium experiences are becoming more immersive and interactive. Crown Vision AR features include:
- Real-Time Integration: Provides automatic follow-along effects like player hit graphics and fireworks after home runs, which are based on real-time action to both educate and entertain fans with relevant connected content.
- Fire-Breathing Dragon: ARound turns the Royals stadium into an interactive castle, with a fire-breathing dragon that fans can control, and make other teams feel the heat.
- Mass Gaming: The entire stadium can participate in the same gaming experiences, such as the Hot Dog Derby race, Mow Monster, and BatterUp, where fans can compete for in-stadium discounts and prizes.
- In-Venue Broadcast: Integration with the venue’s videoboard brings stadium AR to the masses and creates new second-screen experiences for fans to enjoy.
- Team IP and Sponsor Content: Characters in Royals jerseys, background signage and other brand activations keep the team and sponsors top-of-mind for fans. Additional opportunities for fan activations and sponsor integration include Royals promotional tie-ins, virtual rewards, and a prize launcher featuring a giant Pasquatch.
- Live 3D Stats: Later this season, ARound will also feature live 3D stats and play-by-play graphics for a broadcast-level experience in the stadium.
Crown Vision AR is powered by the ARound Stadium app on iOS and Android. Journalists interested in covering the launch can access the press kit here.
About ARound
ARound is a first-of-its-kind stadium-level shared augmented reality platform and is part of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud, a proprietary suite of SaaS solutions built for the modern marketer. ARound keeps audiences engaged by capturing their attention through immersive, interactive and shared experiences with fellow fans across the venue. Where other AR products offer isolating, singular experiences, ARound’s massive multi-user AR – which uses 3D spatial computing to localize content – redefines what it means to be part of a connected fan experience. It was the winner of Stagwell’s annual innovation competition which invests in new product ideas proposed by the network’s 13,000+ employees. ARound and the Stagwell Marketing Cloud are a part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network build to transform marketing.
About the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The team competes in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. The Royals have won two World Series championships, in 1985 and 2015.
Media Contacts
For ARound
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com
For the Kansas City Royals
Sharita Hutton
816.504.4398
sharita.hutton@royals.com
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