Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Tribal DDB: global agency of the year. Discuss.

Maybe, unlike me, you're not someone who knows that it's kind of different for one of the ad trades to name a digital shop its Global Agency of the Year. Not Global Digital Agency of the Year. In other words, by naming Tribal DDB the fairest agency of them all, Ad Age is saying that a digital shop is more worthy of the honor than its traditional brethren (to the extent any of us should be engaging in discussions of traditional vs. digital anymore, but, alas, the chasm still exists). So, whaddya think? Was it time for a digital agency to win the big prize, or an idea before its time? Another discussion point: Adweek named Wieden + Kennedy global agency of the year. Who was more deserving? Tribal or Wieden? Someone better comment now that I've asked all these questions.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think for a Digital agency Tribal has an impressive client list and network. And kudos to them for not being swallowed up by DDB like, say, Atmosphere was by BBDO. All that said, I think the Ad Age editors were really telling us they are bored by the traditional choices. No knock on Tribal, but the real message here is that the big ad agencies are in need of a serious wake up call. Which they are likely to get in 2008 considering how many CMO's plan to put their agencies on notice.

Anonymous said...

last year's global agency of the year was Euro RSCG. so this year's winner is definitely a step up.

these honors, like all ad awards, are highly political and debatable.

that said, congrats to tribal.

Anonymous said...

Tribal global agency of the year? based on what? it can't be the work. because there was nothing of note in 07. so what is it?

Anonymous said...

Read the article. Looks like its about revenue, account wins, their global network, their "big" ideas, stuff like that.

Anonymous said...

what "big" ideas? that was pure omnicom pr fluff. "generated 652 million impressions" etc.

shave everywhere is two years old btw.

Anonymous said...

quick, name five pieces of work tribal ddb has done that anyone gives an s about. Exactly.

Anonymous said...

As stated in my earlier anonymous comment, last year’s winner was Euro RSCG. You could easily put all of these questions and criticisms against Euro as well. That shop did little more than sell out and nab clients like Kraft, for Christ’s sake. Remember too that Ad Age once tried to name Draftfcb as Agency of the Year, shortly before the infamous Wal-Mart renege. It’s just a political popularity contest—rooted in the popular vote of reporters. Let’s keep this all in perspective, people.

George Parker said...

Catharine... Is "Anonymous" seven different people... Or one person commenting seven times. Or... Is it Julie Roehm after too much "Effen - Effen"
Cheers/George