Who We Are: Insights into the Media Advertising Community
The media advertising community is a dynamic and diverse industry with professionals from various backgrounds and demographics. In June 2024, The Myers Report conducted a comprehensive survey involving 3,462 advertising professionals, funded by leading media companies, and distributed through partners like Publicis Media, GroupM, dentsu Americas, Canvas Worldwide, Association of National Advertisers, American Association of Advertising Agencies, and Media Financial Management Association. This report provides a detailed analysis of the demographic composition of our industry, highlighting key insights and perspectives. Proprietary data from the full report is being presented to survey underwriters and distribution partners.
The Transformation of Work
Anyone who joined the workforce before January 2020 would most likely not have been familiar with the following terms: AI, Remote-Hybrid Work, Web 3, NFT’s, Spatial Computing, GPT, Metaverse, “Woke” or “Quiet Quitting”
"From," on MGM+, Transcends Horror
MGM+ (formerly known as Epix) has an absolute treasure on its roster in the form of From. Harold Perrineau stars as Boyd Stevens, a man who wound up being the sheriff of a small, middle-American town that somehow traps everyone who enters it. Adding to the terror of it all: There are deadly creatures that come out of the forest at night and do the horrific things that monsters do in stories like this one. Naturally, the situation only get worse as the show progresses, but we’ll get to that.
AAPI Actors Roundtable: "Hollywood Needs to Provide a Space for Our Storytelling" (Video)
In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this edition of Multicultural TV Talk features a panel of three actors from the AAPI community to discuss what performances made them feel represented growing up, the current state of AAPI representation in entertainment and media and what changes need to take place in order for progress to continue in a meaningful and positive way. Joining us for this roundtable are actress, model and advocate Julia Lee; star of the Paramount+ series School Spirits Kristian Ventura, and star of Netflix’s Sweet Tooth Aliza Vellani.
Garcelle Beauvais Returns to Lifetime, Sharing an Important Message with "Black Girl Missing"
Actor Garcelle Beauvais returns to Lifetime this weekend for the premiere of Black Girl Missing, which she also co-executive produced. The film is her second for the network and like her last, Caught in His Web (2022), is another in the network's Ripped from the Headlines series that hit close to home. In the film, Beauvais portrays Cheryl Baker, a school vice principal whose life is upended when her eldest daughter, college student Lauren (Iyana Halley), disappears following a heated argument. At first, Cheryl believes she's receiving the silent treatment, but she eventually realizes that no one has heard from Lauren in days. With little aid from the authorities, Cheryl and her youngest daughter Marley (Taylor Mosby) make it their mission to uncover the truth and raise awareness of their plight.
Byron Allen Warns CEOs and CMOs: Pay Attention to Black-Owned Media or Lose Your Job (Video)
In my Legends & Leaders interview with Byron Allen, he expands on his three-decade mission to increase advertising investments in Black-owned media with a direct warning to the CEOs and CMOs of every leading brand marketer. With Allen's success in driving cable distribution growth; his acquisition of Black News Channel and the expansion of The Grio; his massive investment in HBCU GO Sports, The Weather Channel en Español and Local Now 27 broadcast television stations; plus multiple content-specific .tv branded websites and assets, most executives who have failed to pay close attention to Allen's vision and warnings have learned to regret it. In our conversation, Allen shares a clear vision for the future of Allen Media Group and for Black-owned media. His warning is to all those, and especially to corporate CEOs and CMOs, who continue to accept and fail to act on institutional bias in their advertising investments. Watch my engaging, entertaining and very serious conversation with Bryon Allen above.
Ad Council to Take on Overdose Crisis Through New Coordinated National Public Awareness Efforts
Drug overdose deaths reached nearly 108,000 in 2021, the highest number ever recorded in a 12-month period and a staggering 52 percent increase over the previous two years. This rise in overdose-related deaths is being fueled by the prevalence of synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, which were involved in an estimated 66% of overdose deaths during this time period. [1] To address this issue, the Ad Council today announced a holistic approach to the overdose crisis, featuring two distinct initiatives: one with leading social media platforms Google, Meta and Snap and one with public health organizations to address the current overdose epidemic facing the United States that will be underway later this year. The efforts will roll out beginning in the summer of 2022 to educate young Americans and their parents and caregivers about the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl in counterfeit pills and illicit drugs, and, separately, to help individuals with substance use disorders navigate resources and start their recovery journey.
Hulu's "Woke" Wakes Us Up to the Complexity of Social Justice
Two years ago, the world was a slightly different place, and by "a slightly different place" I mean it was on fire. Sometimes literally. Socio-politically, and most prominently, were the protests against racial inequality and police brutality, specifically the increasingly frequent murders of Black people during arrests or the service of warrants. It was … a lot, especially with a full-on pandemic happening in the foreground. And sure, now there's less COVID, and most of the literal fires are out -- which is something -- but the real work is far from finished. In fact, fighting for something that matters has never been harder, especially with everyone trying to ride the activism wave to a place that turns their social media platforms into equal parts status and profit. Which brings me to this new season of Hulu's original series Woke, in which Keef Knight, the cartoonist turned police brutality victim turned reluctant-then-not-so-reluctant activist at its center, finds out exactly how tricky the social justice world is to navigate.
Inclusion Revolution: The Essential Guide to Dismantling Racial Inequity in the Workplace by Daisy Auger-Domínguez (Book excerpt)
Excerpted from Inclusion Revolution: The Essential Guide to Dismantling Racial Inequity in the Workplace by Daisy Auger-Domínguez. Copyright © 2022. Available from Seal Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
"Grand Crew" Is Black Gold
"Cabernet and sauvignon, team is here and now it's on / Carry on and Carignan, sippin' on Perignon / Fine wine got notes like a cello, Pull up in the spot like hello / If you got me, then I got you, this is the vibe, this is the crew!" Those are the lyrics to the surprisingly catchy intro of NBC's new sitcom Grand Crew, and, like said intro, GC is chock full of wine, wit and wordplay to boot.
"Curb Your Enthusiasm," In its Surprising Eleventh Season, Shows We're Not All That Different
Curb Your Enthusiasm is more than halfway through its eleventh season at this exact moment -- and series creator Larry David hasn't lost a single step when it comes to bringing that special brand of cringe we all know and love. I'll admit, that "cringe" was so strong earlier in this HBO series that it actually made me more of dabbler than a binger when it came to watching. (Sometimes there was more cringe than I could handle. I'm only human after all.) But, for me, the current season isn't just easier to tolerate -- it's made Larry's TV persona more, dare I say, agreeable.
Ten Predictions for the Next Decade
In 2010 the Economic Times of India published my predictions for the next (now the last) ten years. I reviewed them in my last column. In this post I look ahead to the next 10 years.
Christa B. Allen On Her Lifetime Movie About Racial Injustice, "The Fight That Never Ends"
Christa B. Allen, a familiar face to Lifetime viewers, returns to the network this weekend in the premiere of The Fight That Never Ends. Based on the true-life story of Joanne Beck, the film depicts Beck's fight against racial injustices after volunteering at a community helpline in L.A.'s South Central. There she meets John (Jay) Wesley Hunter (Robert Ri'chard, pictured at top with Allen), a.k.a "Joker," the leader of a local gang who is in need of help. Despite pleas from her boss Leon Watkins (Allen Payne) to not get involved, Beck can't help but do otherwise. Little does she know how this act of kindness will forever change the course of her life.
With "Johnson," Bounce TV Does Black TV Justice
From creator and writer Deji LaRay, and executive produced by LaRay, Cedric the Entertainer and Reesha L. Archibald, among others, comes Johnson, the first Black show in a while that actually exceeded the notoriously high standard I set for shows from creators of color. I’ve written pieces that were basically along the lines of, “Here’s what this show did wrong, and here’s what they should have done,” especially when said show is on a network that focuses on content for the Black community. Johnson, and Bounce TV, a subsidiary of E.W. Scripps Company, fit that bill, but that’s where the similarities end, as far as my previous critiques go. Johnson is fresh, relatable, current and authentic, while also maintaining a distinctive sense of humor. I’m almost afraid to ask, but … could this be the show I’ve been looking for?
AspireTV Tackles Black HIStory with New Film
When it comes to history, there are countless stories to tell, but it's the ones that aren't being told that trouble filmmaker Tim Orange II. In his short film HIStory, a Damn Write Originals production, Orange tries to shed light on African American and African history that is missing from public school curricula and spotlights the challenges that students of color confront. When it came time to find a home for HIStory, AspireTV, the premier destination for black culture and urban lifestyle programming, offered Orange and Damn Write Originals a place to showcase the film and encourage conversation. "They do a great job supporting independent filmmakers and independent screenwriters," Orange said. "They provide us a platform and give us a lot of exposure."
"Ted Lasso," "White Lotus," "Schmigadoon!" and More: Sizzling Summer TV
Historically, this is the time of year when people are supposed to begin getting excited about the new and returning programs to come in September, when the new television season officially begins. If that's still the case, I'm not feeling it. Could it be the collective distractions of the streamers? The current excitement of the Olympics (despite declining linear ratings)? The wealth of new programming currently populating even the broadcast networks? All those shows on The CW that are usually identified as September-May staples playing out with new episodes throughout the summer? The growing lack of interest by the American viewing public in broadcast series programming (with the notable exception of crime shows and detective dramas)? The absolute absence of catchy and alluring promotional campaigns, the likes of which has all of us salivating for the arrival of broadcast's annual premiere week throughout the '60s, '70s and '80s? More likely all the above are at play. And then there's this: There are so many gems on television right now that the idea of them ending as the fall season begins isn't sitting well.
Online Retailers Upped Their Ad Spend +77%
Standard Media Index (SMI) has graciously shared some topline views of what is going on in the eCommerce DTC category in the U.S. so far in 2021. Of course, we all knew that they would be upping their ad spend to take advantage of the stay-at-home pandemic lockdown. Rationally, this has to be one of the most dynamic verticals in the economy right now, so we decided to take a closer look.
Cxmmunity, Twitch and Verizon: Leveling Up HBCU Gamers
Interactive live video phenomenon Twitch and Cxmmunity, a non-profit organization committed to increasing BIPOC participation in esports, teamed up to create the HBCU Esports League, the first-ever league of its kind. Through the league, they aim to increase the profile and engagement of student gamers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and advocate for HBCU students in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) careers. According to the International Game Developers Association, 83% of Black teenagers are gamers, but 68% of videogame creators are of European or Caucasian descent. Videogames, a continuously growing pastime and business, can encourage students to pursue a career in STEM if they had not previously considered it an option.
NBC's "Superstore" Is Still Fighting the Good Fight
Like the rest of the world, NBC's Superstore has changed a lot over the past year. Cloud 9 has been acquired, Myrtle passed away (R.I.P. Linda Porter), Sandra (Kaliko Kauahi) got married, Cheyenne (Nichole Sakura) turned 21, Amy (America Ferrera) got a new job, and, oh yeah, COVID happened. To top it all off, this, it's sixth season, will be the comedy's last. Major events continue to abound as the show begins its swan song, which most recently included an episode addressing racial insensitivities in the workplace. It was titled Hair Care Products and, not surprisingly, it was handled pretty well.
Diversity Is Front and Center in New Streaming Success
Changing the visual landscape of films and television has been a long time coming. The enduring myth was as follows: Content that did not cater to the so-called general market (a popular euphemism for white people) would never be popular. An extension of that flawed thinking went even further, suggesting stories featuring Black or generally diverse themes and talent would not find traction with overseas audiences.
