Born on August 3, 1984, India's football icon, Sunil Chhetri whose name resonates with passion, skill, and leadership both on and off the pitch has announced the news of his retirement from international football after the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait. In a nation where cricket often steals the spotlight, Chhetri stands tall leading the Indian national team for football representing the 'Indian Super League' and 'Bengaluru FC'. Being one of the fifth-highest international goalscorers

In the latest clash between music publishers and tech companies, Sony Music Group has issued warnings to hundreds of AI developers against using its music, which features artists like Harry Styles, Beyonc, and Adele. In a statement released on May 16, Sony Music declared that it expressly prohibits and opts out of any text or data mining, web scraping or similar reproductions, extractions or uses of its songs, lyrics, and artwork. This directive means that tech companies are being asked not to u

With girls as young as the age of eight getting their period there comes a lot of fear and misinformation about menstruation. Over the years, menstrual product ads have also been depicting a sanitised version of menstruation, replacing blood with blue liquid thereby ignoring the reality that menstruation involves the shedding of blood, typically around 2-3 tablespoons per month. Lets imagine a world where every person regardless of gender, is educated about these natural changes. A place where a

Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has appointed Dr Bikramjit Chaudhuri as its new Chief of Measurement Science & Analytics. He will succeed Dr Derrick Gray, a veteran Audience Measurement and Advanced Analytics executive, who has been a member of BARC India for six years. Dr Bikramjit Chaudhuri (Bikram) is a Ph.D. from IIT Bombay and holds a Master of Statistics degree from the Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi. He comes in with an experience spanning over three decades in the a

GroupM, WPPs media investment group, announced the appointment of Toby Jenner as Global President, GroupM Clients. In this newly created role, Jenner, who has led GroupM agency Wavemaker, will assume responsibility for leading the group's global proposition and go-to-market strategy as well as its growth, marketing, and communications teams and functions. Jenner will continue to oversee Wavemaker alongside his expanded remit. He brings over two decades of leadership experience in driving growth

The Indian E-bike market size is estimated at USD 27 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 60.93 million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 17.68% during the forecast period (2024-2029), as per a report by Mordor Intelligence. The report also suggests that an estimated 79.16 % of students and wage workers in the urban regions utilise bicycles for daily commuting and benefits such as time-saving and cheap maintenance. In this market, the electric cycle brand EMotorad aims to spread awareness an

Reddit and OpenAI today announced a partnership to benefit both the Reddit and OpenAI user communities in several ways: OpenAI will bring enhanced Reddit content to ChatGPT and new products, helping users discover and engage with Reddit communities. To do so, OpenAI will access Reddits Data API, which provides real-time, structured, and unique content from Reddit. This will enable OpenAIs AI tools to better understand and showcase Reddit content, especially on recent topics. This partnership wil

The industry of television has experienced a seismic shift with a focus on content consumption. The introduction of the internet has spearheaded an age where spectators have transferred from traditional linear programming to a more personalized and on-demand experience. This alteration has been powered by the enhanced competence and proficiencies of internet-based devices, which have redesigned the techniques via which people connect with content. Connected TV (CTV) has developed as a paramount

Havas Media Network India, the media division of Havas India has announced the elevation of two of its senior leaders to significant roles within the organisation. While Uday Mohansteps into the position of Chief Operating Officer of Havas Media India, R. Venkatasubramanianassumes the role of Chief Operating Officer of Havas Play. They will continue reporting to Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India. In his new role as Chief Operating Officer, Uday Mohan will spearhead the comprehensive o

Reckitt, a consumer health and hygiene company, announced the appointment of Kanika Kalra as the Regional Marketing Director, Health & Nutrition at Reckitt - South Asia. In this role, Kalra will lead marketing strategies for Reckitts portfolio of health and nutrition brands across India and other South Asian markets. Kalra brings with her over 20 years of experience in driving consumer, consumer technology and marketing practices ranging from a myriad of sectors, including personal care, beauty,

On May 13, a 120x120-foot hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump at Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, due to a dust storm and unseasonal rains. As per reports , the hoarding allegedly weighed 250 tonnes and killed at least 16 people while 75 others were injured. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai's civic body, the hoarding was erected by Ego Media without its permission and stood on the Government Railway Police's (GRP) land. As per a report by CNBC-TV18 , the body h

The ZBD Gen Z Gamer Study sheds light on the central role that video gaming plays in how 18-25 year olds play, socialise, express themselves and engage with brands and influencers. Based on a survey of over 2,000 Gen Z gamers in the US, the study is a deep dive exploration of what shapes Gen Z behavior, with invaluable insights for brands, advertisers, game developers and publishers. Its estimated Gen Z s spending power is upwards of $360bn in the US alone, with many more yet to age int

Microsoft's recent sustainability report reveals a concerning trend: despite its ambitious climate pledge in 2020 to become carbon negative by the end of the decade, the company's greenhouse gas emissions surged by approximately 30 percent in fiscal year 2023. This spike is attributed to the expanding energy demands of training and running AI models, a focus area for Microsoft as it strives to lead in artificial intelligence. The company's substantial investments in AI, including over USD 13 bil

Samsung, known for occasionally targeting Apple in its ads, released a 43-second spot on Wednesday that seems to serve as a follow-up to the Apple film that caused an uproar in the creative community last week. Created by BBH USA, the ad features a woman walking into a scene reminiscent of the Apple spot, with destroyed objects and a paint-splattered hydraulic press. She picks up a damaged guitar, sits down, and starts to play. The ad is titled 'UnCrush' which is a direct jab at Apple's original

OpenAI has experienced further leadership changes as Jan Leike, a key figure in the superalignment group, announced his resignation via X (Twitter). Leike, who co-led efforts to ensure AI systems align with human interests, follows Ilya Sutskever, the other leader in the same group, who revealed his departure earlier. Sutskever, a co-founder and former chief scientist of OpenAI, shared his departure plans on X. I resigned Jan Leike (@janleike) May 15, 2024 Leike's succinct resignation tweet is

Netflixs expansion into an ad-supported model is proving successful. At its 2024 upfront presentation, the streaming giant announced that its ad-supported tier now boasts 40 million monthly users globally. This is a significant increase from 23 million earlier in the year; it took six months for the ad-supported option to reach 5 million users after its 2022 launch. As of April, Netflix has a total of 270 million subscribers across all tiers. Additionally, in regions where ads are available, ove

Dear gentle readers, the ton has gathered once again to celebrate one of the most eagerly anticipated seasons of Netflixs Bridgerton. After a hiatus of nearly two years, the period drama produced by Shonda Rhimes under her 'Shondaland' banner is set to grace the streaming service on 16 May. Based on Julia Quinns book series, the third season of this OTT adaptation will follow the captivating tale of Colin and Penelope. Much like its preceding seasons, fans are predicting it will be a resounding

Meta's Facebook and Instagram apps suffered a global outage on Wednesday (May 15), as reported by Downdetector, a site that tracks such incidents. In March of this year, Meta faced technical glitches causing login disruptions for many Facebook and Instagram users. Downdetector recorded over 18,000 complaints about accessing Instagram, with 59 percent reporting app access issues, 34 percent facing server connection problems, and seven percent unable to log in. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring gr

In response to a series of ads criticized for allegedly shaming women who choose to not be sexually active, Bumble has issued an apology. The campaign, featuring messages like 'A vow of celibacy is not the answer' and 'Thou shalt not give up on dating and become a nun,' drew widespread condemnation. Netizens took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration, bashing Bumble for its misstep and calling them out for accountability. While Bumble explained that the ads were meant

Deloittes 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey explores how Gen Zs and millennials perceive the transformations occurring in the world around them. The survey delves into how the workplace experiences have evolved for these generations. While work-life balance flexibility is critical, having a sense of purpose at work is central to overall job satisfaction and well-being. The report further adds to how Gen Zs and millennials continue to make lifestyle and career decisions based on their values. The

toothsis latest brand film #AbBracesGaayabAapNahi has captivated audiences around the country with its humour, innovation, and message of confidence. Launched on Friday, May 10th, the 75-second digital film has taken the internet by storm, amassing 12.2 million views on Instagram within just 48 hours of going live. Leading up to the launch, toothsi teased audiences with mysterious social media posts about people disappearing from boardrooms, birthday parties, and even weddings, generating intrig

Late last year, Google launched its first natively multimodal model, Gemini 1.0, in three sizes: Ultra, Pro, and Nano. Just a few months later, the release of 1.5 Pro followed, featuring enhanced performance. This inspired further innovation, leading to the introduction of Gemini 1.5 Flash, a lighter-weight model than 1.5 Pro, designed to be fast and efficient to serve at scale. The company on Tuesday hosted its annual I/O developer conference, and rolled out its latest artificial intelligence p

AI has become indispensable across various industries, and the Advertising and Marketing (A&M) industry advertising is no exception. From crafting targeted campaigns to redefining internal workflows, AI has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of this industry. As Artificial Empathy gains traction, discussions around the rights of AI-driven ideas emerge, prompting agencies to ponder what it means to be AI-centric. This raises a broader question within the industry: how can we invest in AI eff

Qoruz, an influencer marketing analytics platform, has announced a new strategic partnership with Oasis Fertility, a comprehensive healthcare provider specializing in fertility treatments. This collaboration is set to redefine digital engagement strategies within the fertility sector by integrating Qoruz's influencer marketing solutions with Oasis Fertility's medical services. The partnership aims to deploy targeted influencer marketing campaigns that will amplify awareness and educate the publi

Sonic identities leverage the influence that sound has on the human psyche and approach sound through a strategic lens to create a comprehensive sonic identity system. This system empowers brands to express their distinctive personalities, emotions, and essences through sound, thereby elevating brand awareness and forging emotional connections with consumers. BrandMusiq uses the science of sound and the art of music to create sonic identities. In my view, the current focus on sonic branding is j

Publicis Groupe today announced the appointment of Nannette LaFond-Dufour as Chief Impact Officer. In this newly created global role, LaFond-Dufour will be responsible for driving immediate impact across the agencys long-term ESG commitments. A leading industry figure over the course of her 30-year career, Nannette joins Publicis from McCann Worldgroup where she was Chief Client Officer and McCanns inaugural Chief Sustainability Officer, responsible for driving sustainability goals across its gl

Adobe announced that Adobe Experience platform-based applications will be available for enterprise customers via an India datacentre later in the year. This will deliver on local data residency requirements and improve performance through lower latency. The data centre will allow Indian enterprises to access Adobe Experience Platform-based applications including A dobe Real-Time Customer Data Platform, Adobe Journey Optimizer , and Adobe Customer Journey Analytics , enabling real-time personali

Carat, the media agency from dentsu India, has been awarded the television media mandate for Waaree Energies Limited, a manufacturer of solar PV modules. As per the mandate, Carat will oversee the brand's television media across India exclusively. It will also support in strategizing and planning other traditional media and buying for print, radio, and digital. Furthermore, OOH (Out-of-home) will be executed by Posterscope, the OOH specialist agency from dentsu India. Carat aims to enhance the b

To celebrate the unsung heroes of rural India, Amul r ecently unveiled 'Floating Stories', a campaign designed to reach a wide audience across India, spanning rural and urban areas. Using an interactive exhibition featuring photo stories of women dairy farmers, the campaign reached 1.9 million views on Twitter. Here's a detailed case study on the campaign. Category Introduction India proudly holds the title of the world's leading milk producer, with Amul playing a significant role in shaping the

OpenAI is introducing GPT-4o, a new version of the GPT-4 model that drives its product, ChatGPT. This updated model is said to be 'much faster' with the ability to enhance 'capabilities across text, vision, and audio,' according to OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati. During a live stream announcement on Monday, Murati mentioned that it will be available for free to all users, while paid users will still 'have up to five times the capacity limits' compared to free users. In a company blo

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced Unilever as the 2024 Creative Marketer of the Year. The honorary accolade is presented to a marketer that has amassed a body of iconic, Lion-winning work over a sustained period of time, with Unilever establishing a reputation for producing brave, creative and innovative marketing solutions. Unilever was last honoured as Creative Marketer of the Year in 2010 and in the following years has amassed hundreds of Lions. At last years

Oralium has appointed Eggfirst as its creative, digital, media, and production agency of record. After a multi-agency pitch process, Eggfirst emerged as the agency partner to support and drive the expansion plans of the brand across existing and emerging markets in India. Eggfirst will work closely with Oralium to add creative prowess to the brand and drive growth. Commenting on the association, Ahamed Iqbal KM, Managing Director, Oralium said, Oralium is a category innovator and has been leadin

Clovia has announced former Miss World Manushi Chhillar as its newest brand ambassador. Manushi Chhillar takes centre stage in the brands latest National TV ad campaign themed around Coffee to Club with Clovia. The actress will be seen as the face of the brand in a 360-degree campaign spanning OOH, Digital media and TV. The TVC campaign revolves around the idea of Clovia being a supportive companion for women during all of life's adventures and moments, both grand and intimate, akin to a caring

Socio Street Advertising has secured integrated marketing duties forKajaria Plywood. With a mandate encompassing a wide array of marketing services, Socio Street Advertising aims to elevate Kajaria Plywoods brand presence and market positioning. The agency will spearhead various initiatives, including marketing and branding strategies, creative conceptualization and execution, media planning, content planning for social media marketing, technology services, and public relations. One of the prima

moha: has announced its association with cricketer Surya Kumar Yadav. Fondly known as SKY, Surya Kumar Yadav's rise in cricket has captured the hearts of millions, making him a match for moha:'s ethos in personal care. Yadav's journey to and stature as an international cricket star while staying true to his roots makes him a fit for moha: which shares the same core belief. Expressing his excitement about this partnership, Surya Kumar Yadav remarked, I am happy to join forces with moha:, known fo

Push Sports has appointed Vishal Gaba as the Chief Marketing Officer. Gaba used to be the Associate Director of Marketing at Bira 91 from September 2021 to May 2024. He was responsible for leading the marketing communications for all verticals of Bira 91 including Beer, Beyond Beer - Ciders & Seltzers, Pubs - Taprooms & The Beer Caf and Merch store. His move to Push Sports has been revealed on LinkedIn. Gaba's post read , Sports has always been my first love. Im excited to share that in my new r

Grapes Co-Founder and CEO, Shradha Agarwal was supposed to return to the organisation after her delivery. Generally, organisations give six months of sabbatical for maternity, as per the Maternity Benefit Act 1961. But Agarwal was looking forward to getting back to work after three months. Sharing her experience, she says, I did not come back for a full day. Initially, I started by coming for two hours to the office and as time passed, I eventually kept increasing my hours. Consequently, by the

iCubesWire has announced the elevation of Lovin Dhawan as Business Director of Growth & Strategy. With experience spanning over a decade in digital media and business development, Dhawan is now on his way to leading iCubesWires growth strategies across key customers. With over 5 years at iCubesWire as Digital Lead, Lovin has navigated various leadership roles. His past experiences as Account Director at Hungama Digital Services and Interactive Avenues have garnered him expertise in driving innov

Ecom Express Limited, a technology-driven end-to-end logistics solutions provider, announces the appointment of Pallavi Tyagi as the Chief Marketing Officer. Over the last several months, Ecom Express has been expanding its leadership team to bring diverse industry veterans and experts in the areas of growth, product development, operations and financial controls. Pallavi Tyagi joins Ecom Express as CMO and Digital Sales Head to lead Brand Transformation and conceptualize Marketing Initiatives a

Weren't we all shocked looking at the duststorm (or was it a windstorm or a rainstorm) unfolding outside of our windows? Well, we'd say it was a blessing in disguise helping us beat the scorching heat wave. Brands were quick to jump on this bandwagon and make interesting memes about Mumbai's surprising weather conditions today. Here's a look at few brand creatives that we came across. Swiggy me, as soon as its about to rain #MumbaiRains pic.twitter.com/eTbnLsQvU8 Swiggy (@Swiggy) May 13, 2024

Advertising often shows the stereotypical image of the perfect mother, creating unnecessary pressure for women to excel in every aspect of their lives. This portrayal leads to self-doubt and stress as mothers strive to meet unrealistic standards while balancing multiple responsibilities. In a past ad, a well-known ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat brand depicted an Indian family scene where the mother asked each family member about their breakfast preferences, only to receive a chorus of varied req

Dentsu India has entered a strategic partnership with Ripplr driving customized strategies that fuel client growth. Under the joint leadership of Narayan Devanathan , President & Chief Strategy Officer, South Asia at dentsu, and Abhishek Nehru & Santosh Dabke, Co-Founders of Ripplr, this industry-first collaboration will leverage the distinct expertise of each party to deliver client-led solutions that effectively bridge the gap between demand and supply chains. The alliance will cater to client

TAM India's report focuses on the first 55 matches of IPL 17 and encompasses all channels broadcasting the matches. In terms of television viewership, the Indexed Ad Volumes per channel during IPL 17 showed a 16% increase compared to IPL 16. Furthermore, the number of categories and advertisers participating in IPL 17 saw a notable rise, with a 45% increase in categories and a 29% increase in advertisers compared to IPL 16. The report also highlights that among the top 5 categories showcased in

FCB India, part of the FCB Group agencies in India, today announced the appointment of Mayuresh Dubhashi as the new Chief Creative Officer. Mayuresh Dubhashi brings a wealth of experience to his new role as Chief Creative Officer, with over twenty years in the advertising industry working on brands like The Times of India, Airtel, Pepsi Co, P&G, Oreo, Flipkart, Amazon etc. As the new Chief Creative Officer, Dubhashi will be at the forefront of FCB India's creative efforts, partnering closely wit

Bharti Airtel and Google Cloud announced a strategic collaboration aiming to deliver advanced cloud solutions to businesses throughout India. This strategic alliance aims to expedite the adoption of cloud technology and modernisation efforts among Airtel's clientele. Within this partnership, Airtel and Google Cloud will offer businesses a range of products, including geospatial analytics and location intelligence for trend identification, predictive capabilities, market assessment, site selectio

A crucial piece of Indian law that controls the promotion of pharmaceuticals and magical cures is the Drugs and Magical Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 (DMRAA). The DMRAA was enacted to check self-treatment and self-medication of serious disorders and therefore prohibited any public communication and advertisements for 54 conditions ranging from appendicitis and arthritis to fertility, sexual health enhancement, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. In addition, it also specifies that

Wondrlab Network has announced the appointment of Ritika Malhotra as the Head of Digital, further strengthening its leadership team. Malhotra brings over a decade ofexperience in digital advertising, marked by a track record of innovation and success with renowned Indian and global brands. Her last stint was at FCB Kinnect as VP West, where she was responsible for the P&L for their largest region and leading solutions for the brands managed from the region. Ritika Malhotra has worked with brand

Omnicom Media Group India has appointed Rita Verma as the organizations new Chief Talent Officer. With a career spanning over 22 years in Talent Development, Leadership Development, Culture Building and DEI, Rita brings a wealth of experience and expertise to lead OMG Indias people & culture practice. She succeeds Anju Kurien who has retired from her position after 13 years of service, during which she was instrumental in accelerating OMG's strategic footprint in the market. In her role, Rita i

Mother's Day is universally celebrated on the second Sunday of May. However, when someone showers us with unconditional love and makes our lives easier every single day, shouldn't they be celebrated every day? Amidst the never ending chores, work obligations, raising children, and supporting the family, mothers often carry out their responsibilities without a single complaint, never seeking anything in return. Unfortunately, sometimes we might just forget how much they do for us. This Mother's D

WhatsApp has unveiled a significant overhaul to its mobile app design, featuring enhancements like an even darker mode, a sleeker appearance, and platform-specific optimizations for both Android and Apple iPhone users. The update reflects a balanced approach, aiming to maintain functionality while prioritizing a modern and user-friendly design. After experimenting with 35 different color options, WhatsApp settled on a brighter version of its iconic green app icon, paired with a neutral cream sha