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The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers (25-22) to win Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium—but the real highlight for viewers (other than glimpses of Taylor Swift, of course) was the Apple Music-sponsored halftime show with headliner Usher. The R&B icon performed more than three decades of hits across the 13-minute show, bringing out guest performers Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon, and Ludacris—along with a slew of Vegas-inspired performers like showgirls, acrobats, stilt walkers, and even a marching band. BizBash asked nine top event producers, including GPJ and G7, to review the nostalgia-inducing performance's event production, lighting, staging, set list, and more.

Olive oil brand California Olive Ranch has named agency Argonaut its creative agency of record. Argonaut, which is based in San Francisco and New York and a part of Project Worldwide, will oversee strategic and creative leadership of the California Olive Ranch brand story to drive awareness and differentiation in a quick growing category.

Each year CES pushes the envelope of innovation further, and 2024 is no different, bringing things to life that we could only imagine. Follow along for more insights!

Event Marketer sat down with the Head of Production at OS Studios, Megan Kuhlenschmidt, to discuss career advice, her favorite brand experience from the year and how she got her start in the industry.

Pernod Ricard USA has selected Argonaut as its U.S. creative AOR for Jefferson's Bourbon. The assignment is the agency's second from the liquor giant. It was named creative AOR for Código 1520 Tequila in September.

KOA, which has more than 500 campgrounds across North America, has hired Praytell for PR support. As North America consumer PR agency of record, Praytell will be managing a comprehensive consumer PR and influencer program for KOA (formally Kampgrounds of America), whose sites offer options from tents to glamping. Praytell’s remit includes amplifying the brand and its mission with new and existing audiences, media and creators, while distinguishing KOA from competitors.

If we learned anything in 2023, it was the sheer size and power of Taylor Swift’s army of fans—and the awakened desire in consumers for tangible, real-world experiences. The unprecedented frenzy the world witnessed around Swift’s Eras Tour ticket sales was as shocking as it was contagious, causing a literal craze around scoring a “Golden Ticket” and underscoring for advertisers the key touchpoints around experiences like these. “This year demonstrated consumers’ thirst for experience, and how people are willing to splurge on must-see moments, with savvy marketers deftly promoting or quickly capitalizing on these tentpole events,” said Nat Wittstruck, senior creative director at George P. Johnson (GPJ). “Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour showed the world that even multicity concerts could be unmissable.”

NEW YORK, December 7, 2023 - Employee-owned network of creative agencies, Project Worldwide, is making a substantial strategic investment in Talisman, a full-service sports marketing agency that has forged remarkable partnerships between world-class brands and sports rights holders who have stamped their dominance in Formula 1 including partnering with Kraken & Williams Racing to identify and source key partnerships and significant business development opportunities across F1 races worldwide. Recognized for creativity, data utilization, and innovation, Talisman's expertise extends beyond F1, encompassing Sports, Web3, Gaming and Entertainment. The agency has achieved success working with a roster of world-class brands including Kraken, TUMI, Fanduel, McLaren, Lamborghini, ONE Championship and various stakeholders across the EPL, NBA, MLB, NFL and more.

There’s no doubt these are tense times. Whether consumers are shopping for themselves and family during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period, or for friends and colleagues after Thanksgiving and in the run-up to Christmas and beyond, there has never been a more-needed time for the advertising industry to step up and deliver good vibes this shopping season. There are many ways for marketers to address good tidings and cheer, so Ad Age turned to members of the Amp community, including GPJ and Wondersauce, on effective holiday marketing trends and themes this season, as well as messages that are not just compelling and effective but also suitable to the times.