Multicultural
“Brands and Politics”
You can say that in today’s environment brands are running naked in the marketing forest! Every day ushers in a new 'culture war' as societal progress meets resistance. Brands are being cancelled and called out by minority yet vocal communities, divided in their values from both the alt-right and liberal left. With societal issues now purposefully being made political, what does this widening ideological gulf mean for the future of brands? Is the marketing industry totally out of touch with consumers and the realities of the day? Or are we at an inflection point where the industry can help bridge the gap across the dissenting voices? By Luis Miguel Messianu - President-Chief Creative Officer - MEL (Messianu/Edelman/Lerma)
Latinos are Leading America’s Economy— With or Without Your Support
Data doesn’t lie. U.S. Latinos now generate an astounding $3.6 trillion GDP, making us the 5th largest economy in the world, bigger than India, the U.K., and France. And we’re not slowing down. Our GDP is growing faster than any other country except China, positioning us to surpass Germany by 2027 and reach $5.7 trillion by 2029. Yet, despite this staggering economic power, Latinos remain grossly underrepresented in leadership, media, boardrooms, and investments. By Beatriz Acevedo - CEO/Cofounder SUMA.
Women’s Sports Could Be a Net Win for Marketers
Trinity Rodman, No. 8, and Sophia Smith, No. 11, of the United States women's national soccer team, look on during the first half of a game against Columbia at Snapdragon Stadium on October 29, 2023, in San Diego, Calif. Women’s soccer is one of a bevy of women’s sports that are attracting a growing number of passionate fans, with a wide array of brand advertisers following suit.
Engaging Hispanic Consumers: Cultural Depth and Strategic Connection
Hispanic consumers are a vital demographic in the U.S., blending traditional values with modern influences. To truly connect with this dynamic group, brands need to go beyond surface-level engagement and tap into the depth of their cultural and personal identities. By Sylvia Vidal - Senior VP of Insights
The importance of being bilingual
Bilingual people seem to have a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Or so claim them neurologists. By Gonzalo López Martí - Creative Director
𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀
The search for a unifying Latino identity in America has evolved significantly. By Mercedes Sullivan - VP, HR Storefront
Exploring the Growing Influence of the Hispanic Market in the U.S. [REPORT]
The U.S. Hispanic market has evolved into one of the most significant and dynamic consumer segments for American businesses. With over 63.5 million Hispanics comprising 19.1% of the U.S. population, the demographic is both large and influential. Beyond sheer numbers, the unique cultural values, preferences, and trends within this group offer businesses immense growth potential. ThinkNow's "Hispanic Market Today" report explores how the Hispanic community is reshaping the demographic landscape and creating new opportunities for companies across industries.
Governor Newsom Signs Major Legislation to Bolster Ethnic and Community Media Through the State’s Advertising Power
In a decisive move to strengthen ethnic and community media, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1511 - authored by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) - into law, mandating that state agencies develop plans to increase their advertising spending in media outlets serving California's diverse populations. The law requires agencies to annually report on their progress to ensure transparency and accountability. Sponsored by the Latino Media Collaborative, AB 1511 represents a key effort to direct the state's advertising dollars towards ethnic and community media, creating a sustainable foundation for these outlets to thrive.
Future-Proofing Brands: The Power of Inclusive Marketing in Music and Media [PODCAST]
In this episode of The New Mainstream podcast, Robert Vélez, Vice President of Inclusive Network & LATAM Sales at Vevo, discusses how brands must proactively pursue inclusion to cultivate opportunities to connect with diverse audiences.
Hispanics are evolving and changing…my thoughts
Having read Maria Lucia Parra's article on HispanicAd it strikes me that more people in our industry are trying to "tapar el sol con el dedo". This to my non Spanish speaking friends is simple - you can't block the sun with your finger. I for a long time have been an advocate of looking at Hispanics through a prism and not a lens. By Xavier Mantilla - Ex Ogilvy/WPP, Starcom/Publicis, UM/IPG, OMG Building growth for brands using creativity and technology in the US, Latin American and Hispanic market place. Connecting people and ideas!!
Beyond Hispanic Heritage Month: How Brands Can Support Year-Round Cultural Celebrations
As we enter the second full week of Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s encouraging to see so many in our industry publishing thoughtful opinion pieces on the occasion. The discourse has been rich and diverse, but one message stands out: Brands must engage with Hispanic consumers year-round, not just during Hispanic Heritage Month. By Louis Maldonado
Moving Beyond Acculturation: How Marketers Are Embracing Cultural Fluidity in Hispanic Audiences
For decades, marketers relied heavily on acculturation models to understand and target the U.S. Hispanic population. The model grouped Hispanics into categories like unacculturated, bicultural, or fully acculturated, based on their assimilation into American culture. This framework has been a long-standing tool to segment the Hispanic audience and tailor marketing messages. However, in today’s world, this approach is rapidly losing its relevance. By Maria Lucia Parra - Bicultural Hispanic marketing/UX researcher with extensive experience in identifying the right approaches to meet clients’ objectives as “one size does not fit all”.
Happy HHM (or not so happy?)
I don’t know about you, but Hispanic Heritage Month is just kicking off this weekend, and I’m already overdosing on all the social media posts and shallow brand celebrations. As far as I’m concerned it feels quite token for brands to opportunistically “show up” during Hispanic Heritage Month! I’m sure this feeling is shared by my African American and Asian American friends when Black History Month or Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month come around, as well as my friends in the LGBTQ+ community when all the Pride brand activations and campaigns pop up out of nowhere. By Luis Miguel Messianu. - Founder-President-Chief Creative Officer MEL
Code-Switching in Marketing: Navigating Language & Culture to Connect with Diverse Audiences
In an increasingly multicultural world, code-switching has emerged as a powerful concept, not only in communication but also in marketing. Traditionally, code-switching refers to the practice of alternating between two or more languages or dialects within a conversation, often to adapt to different cultural contexts or social situations. In marketing, code-switching goes beyond just language—it involves navigating cultural nuances, values, and identity to connect with diverse audiences authentically. By Sylvia Vidal - Senior VP of Insights | Expert in Multicultural, LGBTQIA+ and U.S. Hispanic Research | Advocate for Inclusive Insights |Specialist in Latin American & Caribbean Markets | Qualitative & Quantitative Specialist
Latinx Awareness Has Doubled Among U.S. Hispanics Since 2019, but Only 4% Use It [REPORT]
In the long-running debates about which terms to use to describe the U.S. population with roots in Latin America and Spain, “Latinx” has emerged as a gender-neutral alternative to Hispanic and Latino, the two most popular pan-ethnic terms used today.
Median Income of Non-Hispanic White Households Increased While Asian, Black and Hispanic Median Household Income Did Not Change
The report, Income in the United States: 2023, compares median household income by different characteristics, including race and Hispanic origin, and shows that not all groups had an increase in median household incomes from 2022 to 2023.
Celebrating the Centennial of a Giant
A very special moment happened over the weekend; one that only happens every 100 years, if one should be so lucky. Members of our Hispanic marketing and advertising industry convened to celebrate the 100th birthday of Roberto Madan. Don Roberto, as he is respectfully and affectionally called, was one of the McDonald’s early Latino owner/operators who was known for his dedication to uplifting and building communities by actively supporting entrepreneurship, the pursuit of education and other important causes.
Inclusion is the future for brand growth
Keen to avoid the gaze of the manufactured outrage machine, marketers have been timid about investing in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the past year. Kantar’s research, and that of our partners, however, indicates brand inclusion and fairness inside and outside businesses are the keys to brand growth. There is a strategic imperative to put inclusion back at the core of their brands.
What the data says about immigrants in the U.S. [US Hispanic Markets HOTBED for 2022 immigrantion]
In 2022, more than 29 million immigrants – 63% of the nation’s foreign-born population – lived in just 20 major metropolitan areas. The largest populations were in the New York, Los Angeles and Miami metro areas. Most of the nation’s unauthorized immigrant population (60%) lived in these metro areas as well.
