Agency

Driven by an improving economy and stronger-than-expected results across all digital media, total U.S. Communications Industry spending increased 4.2% in 2011 and is on pace to grow at an accelerated 5.6% in 2012, reaching $1.185 trillion and outpacing GDP growth of 4.4%, according to Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS).

After more than a decade-long relationship, the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) announced that it has terminated its contract with SiboneyUSA as its Hispanic-marketing agency of record, given Siboney’s upcoming closure. MilkPEP will build upon that prior success with a new strategic partner, MGSCOMM, one of the top independent Hispanic-owned communications firms.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. announced it has entered into an area development agreement with Restaurant Operators, Inc. (ROI) to develop and operate Darden’s Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse brands in Puerto Rico. ROI already operates five LongHorn units in Puerto Rico as part of an agreement that was executed prior to Darden’s 2007 acquisition of RARE Hospitality Inc. The new agreement calls for ROI to initially develop a minimum of three additional LongHorn and eight Olive Garden restaurants over the next five years.

Telemundo Media announced State Farm as the title sponsor of the 2012 “Billboard Latin Music Awards Presented by State Farm,” the network’s highest-rated entertainment special to be broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, April 26, at 7PM/6c from the BankUnited Center in Miami, Florida.

Marketers have the potential to significantly stretch their marketing budgets by shooting commercials within the approximately twenty states that now offer financial incentives for doing so. In a new whitepaper, The Found Money of State Commercial Production Incentives, the (ANA (Association of National Advertisers) has issued insights on how to best leverage these rebates.

The largest wave of immigration in history from a single country to the United States has come to a standstill. After four decades that brought 12 million current immigrants—more than half of whom came illegally—the net migration flow from Mexico to the United States has stopped—and may have reversed, according to a new analysis by the Pew Hispanic Center of multiple government data sets from both countries.

Experian Marketing Services’ highly anticipated, annual report provides a fresh perspective on the digital landscape and how brands can influence more meaningful connections with customers. A marketer’s analysis shouldn’t start with a technology or a channel, but with a deeper understanding of customers and how they live and consume information in this digital world.

Gen Z, the fledgling generation that follows the Millennials, can be considered the first true mobile mavens: They will take for granted a world of smartphones, tablets and high-speed wireless Internet, untethered from the constraints of a landline or a traditional Internet connection.

The Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico began exporting Medalla Light to Florida, specifically Orlando and Tampa.

How much more do you want to hear about the U.S. Secret Service sex scandal in Cartagena, Colombia? While American media continues to obsess over the gory details behind a night of too much ‘fun,’ a parallel story of outrage and marketing non-sense has emerged causing Spirit Airlines to shut down its campaign ‘Get More Bang for your Buck.’ By Lili Gil, Cofounder XL Alliance, Hispanic Market Strategist

Tangerine Watson Inc has announced findings from its Impact Study 2011. This is the first industry-wide research snapshot contrasting the perceptions and perspectives of multicultural and white advertising professionals.