ADWEEK

🏆 Meet ADWEEK's 2024 Agency of the Year Winners 🏆 In an uneven year for the ad industry, the agencies on this list earned their stripes with brilliant creativity and the iconic brands they've built.   What makes an Agency of the Year? They are stable businesses with longstanding clients, not leaky buckets. They are workplaces that value their talent and seek to include diverse perspectives. They set an example for what an agency can and should be. And yes, they are wildly creative in a way that doesn’t just tap into culture, but shapes it.   Congrats to this year's winners. You raise the bar for the whole industry.  👏 Small Agency of the Year: Quality Meats Creative Midsize Agency of the Year: Mischief @ No Fixed Address U.S. Agency of the Year: Deutsch International Agency of the Year: Mother London Global Agency of the Year: TBWA\Worldwide Breakthrough Agency of the Year: MIRIMAR Multicultural Agency of the Year: Majority Read more about the winners here: https://adweek.it/49FDgxI  *this cover was designed by Quality Meats

When you’re hungry on the road, the warm yellow glow of McDonald’s arches can feel like a beacon of hope to your rumbling stomach. That’s the feeling McDonald’s is trying to capture in the festive installment of its long-running “Fancy a McDonald’s” U.K. campaign, which taps into the moments in life that simply call for a quick burger and fries. https://adweek.it/3ZbVR0M

We're not crying... Apple’s emotional holiday ad follows the journey of a father living with hearing loss, as the brand continues to highlight its accessible technology for people with disabilities. https://adweek.it/3VeVuA9

Disney is preparing to be a worldwide destination for brands this season, rolling out its first global Disney+ holiday sponsorship offering. https://adweek.it/4fnzDOY

The mood at Party City was far from festive Friday, as CNN reported that the retailer will abruptly shut down its stores and let all employees go at the end of the day, ending a run of nearly 40 years. The company had roughly 6,400 full-time employees and 10,100 part-time workers as of 2021, according to CNN. Barry Litwin took the reins as president and CEO in August, and Party City emerged from bankruptcy in September, CNN reported, adding that the company declared bankruptcy in January 2023, helping it to cancel nearly $1 billion in debt and keep the doors open at most of its 800-plus locations, but it was still saddled with more than $800 million in debt. https://adweek.it/4fuz6tG

Last week we sat down with some of our Marketing Vanguard leaders and asked about the idea they spearheaded in 2024 that had the biggest impact on their brand. 💡 Here are more of their answers that did not disappoint 👏 Thank you for sharing: Karuna Rawal, CRO & CMO of Nature's Fynd Shannon Watkins, EVP & CMO of Fiserv Katie Williams, CMO of Haleon

Never count Tom Brady and Bill Belichick out of a Super Bowl. While pre-Super Bowl specials can be somewhat sleepy affairs, FOX Sports, SMAC Entertainment and BZ ENTERTAINMENT INC decided to spice things up by asking former New England Patriots and current University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coach Belichick to host “The Madden Cruiser: A Bayou Adventure With Bill Belichick" as a football and culture tour of Louisiana. Belichick's former quarterback Brady, who spent 17 seasons with him and won six Super Bowls during their time together (including their first in New Orleans), will be among the guests during his first year as a Fox broadcaster. Also joining the mix is SMAC head and Brady's Fox colleague, Michael Strahan, who notably helped end Brady and Belichick's quest for an undefeated season when his New York Football Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 47. “To be able to bring these incredible legends and sports personalities together for this special sets the perfect stage for our presentation of Super Bowl LIX,” said Fox's Barry Nugent. Who else will be dropping by. Check out ADWEEK's coverage for more info:

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are reuniting for a Super Bowl, and Michael Strahan’s presence won’t spoil it, for once. Strahan’s SMAC Entertainment is teaming up with Fox Sports Films, BZ Entertainment and NFL Films on a pre-Super Bowl special, “The Madden Cruiser: A Bayou Adventure With Bill Belichick.”https://adweek.it/3VPY13U

The kids aren’t just hangry in a new campaign for Wonderful Halos, they’re downright vengeful and borderline homicidal. https://adweek.it/4gLHPJ7

As we close out 2024, ADWEEK asked three execs and industry analysts which partnerships were most significant in reshaping the retail and commerce media landscape this year. https://adweek.it/4gFWAwY