Agency

Total advertising expenditures in the first quarter of 2012 increased 2.6 percent from a year ago and finished the period at $32.9 billion, according to data released Kantar Media. The gain represents a modest rebound compared to flat spending in the second half of 2011.

For millions of Americans the tablet is their personal, no-pressure salesperson.

Suave Professionals, as the official hair care sponsor of “El Talisman,” offered one lucky fan the opportunity to win a walk-on role.

Two rising star creatives from WPP’s Wing are heading to Cannes this year and will be blogging their experience to give the POV of a young creative in Cannes.

In honor of Father’s Day, Euro RSCG Worldwide teamed with Market Probe International to survey 1,000 dads across the United States. We wanted to better understand how digital electronics, the Internet, and social media are affecting how men parent and to get their perspective on how digital childhoods are affecting their kids.

eMarketer predicts US online ad spending will grow 23.3% in 2012 to reach $39.5 billion by year’s end.

The makers of Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaners are teaming up with nationally recognized recording artist, actress and former Miss Universe, Denise Quinones, to introduce a unique contest where fans of the brand will have a chance to have their personal story turned into an original song. People can share their stories of change, hope and perseverance for an opportunity to win and share their story with audiences worldwide.

New trends in nail care, dramatic eye looks, and the appeal of limited edition scents significantly bolstered sales in the 2011 U.S. personal care market, which exceeded $38 billion at the manufacturers’ level, surpassing pre-recession levels and representing robust growth of 4.2%, according to the recent Cosmetics & Toiletries USA report from global consulting and research firm Kline & Company.

Someday, online video will almost certainly become so disruptive that TV advertising will have to integrate with it. Several forces are in play that will likely fuel that eventual fusion, most notably the availability of high-quality video content and associated advertising across five increasingly used digital screens—desktop computers, notebook computers, smartphones, tablets and connected TVs.

HEINEKEN USA announced the launch of Indio, a unique Mexican dark beer. Brewed and sold in Mexico since 1893, Indio will be available in June across seven key markets in California and Texas.

Most advertiser sweet spots fall in between the adult 18 to 49 demographic … yet among Hispanics, specifically; this demo is less culturally monolithic than ever. Major differences exist between adult Hispanic Millennials (18- to 29-year-olds) and Hispanics in their thirties. Although very close in age, these age groups are distinct from each other in ways that are essential for marketers and content developers to understand. Courtesy of Tr3s Insights

Record global sales of tablets and smart devices are underlining the rising revenue opportunities from digital delivery of entertainment and media (E&M) content and advertising to increasingly connected and mobile consumers.

By Gonzalo López Martí / Atkins López Martí, LLC You started your own business. Welcome to the party. Face the music. And dance. You are on your own now. No more whining. No more excuses. No more finger pointing. You only have yourself to blame. Some assorted pieces of advice.

A significant share of TV viewers are using PCs and mobile devices as second and third screens to access video content, according to the results of a cross-platform pilot test to be presented by Arbitron Inc. and the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) at the Advertising Research Foundation Audience Measurement 7.0 conference in New York.