Church+State

The simplest way to create value is to solve a problem. And this explains it beautifully from Waze Founder Uri Levine: “If I told you I’m going to build an AI crowd source-based navigation system, you’re going to say, ‘yeah, very interesting,’ but you don’t really care. If I tell you I’m going to help you to avoid traffic jams, then you do care.”

The season moves fast, but it’s the most fleeting moments that always last—like the joy of a good laugh, the warmth of a hug, and the moments that make us pause, even for a split second! Here's to making every moment count, starting with our quick festive video. Have a wonderful holiday from your friends at Church+State.

Years ago when we at @Church+State thought it was interesting that album art was still presented as a static image. Most music lived (and continues to live) in the digital universe but album art was still a holdover from an analog era. So we partnered with Sonic Boom to change that. As an example, we created this for the Jim O'Rourke album, "Simple Songs". Well, as the guy behind the idea and execution (and our CD at the time), Jamie King pointed out - Spotify is finally starting to show album art with motion. FINALLY. Jamie, you were years ahead of everyone else.

< WHEN GIANTS COLLIDE, INDEPENDENTS RISE > The news of OMNICOM and IPG merging is shaking up the ad world. And while the ad worlds needs to be shaken up, it looks like they're doubling down on established thinking that bigger is better. We disagree. Bigger's not better. The world is moving faster. And they just got slower. Of course it's not without its advantages. I'm sure they're listed in a deck somewhere. But while the headlines may focus on size and scale, let’s take a moment to celebrate something they can’t replicate: The soul of independent agencies. Bureaucracy? That's the thing that most of us we walked away from in the first place. We prefer performance reports, not status reports. We're creative and strategic shops, not finance and accounting shops. We're fuelled by passion. Driven by people. And racing toward a better place, not a bigger place. We're built to respond to reality, not report on it. Independence isn’t just a business model. It’s a mindset. It’s about having the freedom to take risks, the courage to speak truth, and the agility to change when the world demands it. The biggies aim for dominance. We aim for relevance. And in this ever-changing marketing world, relevance beats scale every time. Here’s to every scrappy, creative, and unstoppable independent agency out there. Keep proving that size matters less than spirit. And if you're a client who feels like you just got one more layer between you and your expectations, give us a call. @Church+State and our partners at @Substance would love to chat.

Every graduating student should be given this career advice, regardless of the profession they're in:

Life in 2025. Years ago, we thought we'd be getting flying cars and robot maids. Well, at least there's the Roomba. What are some trends for 2025? Accenture has you covered. People are rebalancing, shifting their priorities, and figuring out how to meet their own needs in a technology-dominated world. Those new technologies definitely have a role to play but there are many questions about what shape they'll take and what role they'll play. There's a ton of great stuff in here. The Accenture Life Trends 2025. Download it here:

What better way to start the week than with tears. The women (and men) of Church+State will be over here dabbing our eyes and celebrating the depth of the important relationships in our lives, whether they're family or friends. Lovely spot. We can debate and rank all the John Lewis holiday ads but we think it's more important to celebrate their consistency.

Last night, our founder participated in a really fun and insightful event featuring some bright minds and some really unique perspectives from agencies AND clients. It was "AI Battle - The Ultimate Strategy Showdown". The challenge: Who writes the better brief - Team Human or Team AI? AI won. (Although Team Human won the popular vote) While AI won within the confines and rules of the event, what was most important in comparing the two briefs was this: Human + AI will always win over JUST AI. Team Robot was actually two humans who had access to AI, it wasn't just a machine left to its own devices. Still, Team Robot checked all the boxes. The brief they generated made the clients in the room feel as though they were heard and understood. That's important. But the Team Human brief understood that the client isn't the real audience for the brief. The creative team is. While one brief satisfied clients, the human-generated brief inspired creatives and (IMHO), would have generated better work.

What ways has your organization looked to incorporate AI into your everyday? At C+S we’ve been exploring using it in a variety of ways, from the basics like taking meeting notes to more complex scenarios like research. In the meantime, our C+S Fall Reset Trend Report looks at two critical reminders when it comes to our race to adopt AI. Dive in below. 1. The capabilities of AI are vast (to say the very least). The exploration of other applications of AI (like how it can do some good in climate modelling or disease detection ) tells us we need to think beyond generative. 2. Responsibility in AI is a huge topic of conversation (as it should be). Beyond a creating a culture of test and learn, it requires steady involvement to monitor its use. From disclaimers to a human-in-the-loop approach, handling with care is a top priority. Read or download the the whole report here: https://buff.ly/3bveq4B (And don't worry, we won't bug you for your email)

Q&A Time: What are the top questions you get asked as a marketer by clients? Is it “what’s trending right now?” If it is, we can help with that. The C+S Fall Reset Trend Report is LIVE and we have key points to support you. Take a look at what we’re seeing in the worlds of brands, advertising and social. 1. Yes, the algorithm matters. But so does listening. The recent boom of IG broadcast channels shows us how smart brands are bringing their customers right into the product process and making them feel heard. Talk about loyalty points. 2. Break the fourth wall. Flip the script. We’re increasingly seeing brands (and even music stars) reorder what we know of storytelling conventions to create stories that tickle something deep in the brains of their audiences. Go ahead - toss out the rule book. 3. Influencers are increasingly in it for the long-term. They’re a critical part of the content ecosystem for brands, but even more so when influencer relations are treated less like one-off transactions. 4. NOT everything, everywhere, all at once. Instead of trying to be on as many social channels as possible, make smart use of your data (and budget) by knowing where your audience are and where your results are happening and focusing efforts there. Ready for the full report? Check it out at https://buff.ly/3bveq4B