Mattel apologizes for its ‘Wicked’ box, Target introduces ‘Hot Santa,’ and McDonald’s gets a Doodles NFT cup
These are the branding stories we're reading this week.
Creativity And Innovation In Entertainment, Advertising, And Pop Culture
PRESENTED BY ALTAIR
Autonomous HPC and agentic AI: The future of HPC
Two symbiotic technologies represent the next frontier in HPC
Kim Kardashian and Jimmy Fallon battle for beats
Inside the marketing magic that turned a Fallon vs. Kardashian collaboration into a viral sensation.
How NASA psychologists are developing cutting-edge techniques to treat the mental toll of space travel
"Space: The Longest Goodbye" director Ido Mizrahy and retired astronaut Cady Coleman reveal the human side of extended missions to the moon and Mars.
Why Taylor Swift is arguably the most powerful person in tech
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie deal with AMC isn't the first time she got her way. Here's how she handled Apple's Eddie Cue, Spotify's Daniel Ek, and Elon Musk.
POV: Pixar’s creativity isn’t working anymore
Pixar's latest animated film, "Elemental," is a box office disappointment that demonstrates the challenges facing the studio.
The 10 most innovative music companies of 2022
Whether helping to connect fans or helping to connect musicians, these 10 companies are establishing new standards for the music industry.
Pace Gallery execs and Laurene Powell Jobs’s Emerson Collective aim to disrupt the art world
Despite pandemic-related delays, the founders of the experiential art center say they still expect to shake up the art world.
How a physicist and a robotics engineer created ‘Elinor Wonders Why’ to teach young kids science
This clever PBS Kids series brings biomimicry to children in a way that makes it understandable and encourages their curiosity.
COVID-19 robbed me of a beloved annual holiday. Here’s how I took it back
My friends and I pulled off a version of our annual guacamole and margarita crawl. It wasn't the same, or even close to it, but it was something.
Why Yeti’s latest marketing masterclass is launching eight short films at once
Oscar winner Jimmy Chin is just one outdoor legend featured in the brand's new quiver of content.
Can ‘Tenet’ save Christopher Nolan’s Hollywood?
Early ticket sales are providing hope for movie theaters. But the hegemony of the weekend box office is decidedly over—and the post-COVID-19 world may never be the same.
How comedian Ted Alexandro is handling the standup apocalypse
On the eve of his new special, 'Cut/Up,' the comedian and activist gives his take on the state of comedy during a pandemic/racial uprising/election.
Naomi Osaka knows a commercial can’t end racism, but it’s a hell of a megaphone
The American tennis star uses her ad time with brand Hyperice to spread the message of equality as far as possible.
With his bilingual Netflix special, Felipe Esparza is found in translation
The comedian talks about the challenges of learning how to perform stand-up in Spanish for his two-part Netflix special: Bad Decisions/Malas Decisiones.
New Balance stylishly declares Coco Gauff the next generation sports ad star
The 16-year-old tennis star may have lost at the U.S. Open, but her brand game is still going strong.
‘The World Series of Spades’ on Facebook Watch converts the heated, joyous card game into shareable video
The new Facebook Watch series introduces what it's like to play the popular card game in the Black community. It's sure to spark conversation.
‘Robin’s Wish’ erases the sad clown trope around Robin Williams’s death
When Robin Williams took his own life in 2014, the narrative quickly became that of the tortured comedian. He was tortured—but not how people thought.
Step inside the world of drag superstar Naomi Smalls—it might be just what you need right now
Naomi Smalls made her mark in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' her-story, but she's finally stepping into her own with her first solo project 'The Smalls World Show.'
These 5 Chadwick Boseman quotes prove he was a hero off-screen too
The ‘Black Panther’ star shared many admirable qualities with the superheroes and Black icons he portrayed in his films.
This short film captures the loneliness of COVID-hit New York this summer
It's a side of New York most people didn't see this summer—a side obscured by all the wailing ambulances from spring.
Selena Gomez’s new beauty brand wants you to know you don’t need makeup
The singer-actor's new Rare Beauty makeup line is on a mission to promote self-acceptance and support mental health.
The fans guide to the Monica and Brandy Verzuz “The Boy is Mine” battle
The '90s pop princesses face off in what their fans hope is a show of unity.
Mrs. Maisel bagels, Quibi’s quest, and Zoom, Zoom, Zoom: Emmy campaigns in the age of COVID-19
How the Emmy fight has become a quest for TV legitimacy amid a crowded streaming landscape.
I scream, you scream, what’s up with all the celebrity ice cream?
Tastier than a sneaker, more reliable than a fashion line, more distinctive than bottled water, ice cream may be the perfect celebrity branding collab.