Jamie Gutfreund

The creator economy is leveling up. "Creators have solidified their power," says Kaya Yurieff Jasmine Enberg - listen to just a snippet of their session (Mastering Creator Trends in 2025 at #SXSW Creators are moving beyond ad hoc collaborations to establish sustainable business ventures. From diversifying revenue streams to launching creator-led startups, they’re building long-term value. 2025 marks a pivotal moment—the year creators are stepping into their roles as polished entrepreneurs, redefining what it means to build a brand in the digital age.

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Deirdre Latour is sought out by CEOs, boards, and other senior leaders for her excellent communications counsel. She has led communications for some of the world's most respected companies and largest brands. Through this work and her experience leading teams at PR agencies, Deirdre has developed a deep understanding of the intersection of business and society and how to build the best communications teams. In our discussion, she offers advice to CEOs for hiring senior communicators: "You need someone who's a systems thinker that can look across the world and the organization and connect dots and help figure problems out and how to communicate about them." Check out the interview at: https://lnkd.in/eYBUGjbW #leadershipdevelopment

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Another year, another headline expressing doom about the length of CMO tenure..here’s my re-frame: **CMO tenure is shorter than other C level roles but that’s often a proof of impact.** Spencer Stuart’s latest hiring data shows CMO tenure at 4.1 years. This narrative is usually negatively. loaded, but the reality is more nuanced. In many cases, short tenure indicates successful business impact: * 62% of departing CMOs are promoted or move to bigger roles. * 9% become CEOs, another 13% step into divisional CEO, COO, or president positions - this should be celebrated far more ! * 77% land their next role within six months. * At CPG’s like P&G where CMOs are groomed for the top job, tenure averages just 3.5 years—by design, not default. The marketing role is fundamentally about transformation. CMOs pivot brands, modernize capabilities, and reimagine growth strategies. When the job is done, top talent moves on to create impact elsewhere or steps up into broader commercial leadership. **But here’s the uncomfortable truth: 31% of S&P 500 companies don’t have a CMO at all.** That’s wild in 2026. While some are restructuring around Chief Growth or Revenue Officer roles that incorporate marketing, this stat reveals that marketing still has work to do to be seen as a true growth engine and strategic driver across all organizations. Short tenure *can* signal impact and career acceleration. But it can also signal that marketing hasn’t fully earned its seat at the table in too many boardrooms. So in actual fact, there’s more to celebrate than at first glance, but the warning shot is not new - CMO’s must ensure that marketing investment creates market differentiation that leads to enduring commercial impact and that this macro relationship can be proven and made predictable. Partners to brands must recognize the role they play in making this true. This is just my perspective but it’s also about time that senior marketers are permitted to own and nuance this narrative themselves.. Thoughts Jessica Serrano Stephen Taylor Sophie Devonshire⚡️ Pat O'Toole Jennifer Wilson Bob Sherwin Kristen Nolte Simon Lloyd Elyse Blouin nina b. robinson Shannon Versaggi ? https://lnkd.in/e-YXWqaa

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I’m a big fan and avid reader of the The Wall Street Journal, especially its economic reporting. The Journal, however, isn’t typically known for positive or supportive coverage of Chicago — which made it an especially good read to dive into this article by reporters Kate King and Joe Barrett focused on the renewed momentum along the Magnificent Mile, the northern stretch of Michigan Avenue. Here are a few highlights from their reporting: - Visits to the Magnificent Mile are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. - The avenue is again attracting major fashion brands. Canada’s Aritzia opened a flagship store late last year in a long-vacant 46,000-square-foot space, and UNIQLO just announced its return with a new 29,600-square-foot flagship. - Experiential retailers such as the MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM and the Harry Potter Shop have found success on the avenue. Next spring, a new magic-themed venue called "The Hand & The Eye" will open, featuring performance spaces and a members-only lounge. - While retail vacancy remains higher than a decade ago (about 25% today versus 7% then), it’s moving in the right direction from its pandemic peak. Adjacent neighborhoods like the Gold Coast are also seeing strong leasing activity, creating momentum for the Mag Mile. - Lower rents—down nearly 25% since 2019—have made the avenue more attractive for new tenants. - Crime in Chicago’s 18th Police District, which includes the Magnificent Mile, fell 4% year-over-year, continuing a positive trend over the last years. There’s still plenty of work ahead—requiring collaboration across Chicago’s public, private, and civic sectors—but the signs of progress are encouraging. With leadership from elected officials, investment from forward-looking companies, the creative energy of our arts, culture, and food communities, and forward looking organization like the The Magnificent Mile® Association, the Magnificent Mile can once again shine as one of our country’s most vibrant and must visit corridors. Read here the complete article: https://lnkd.in/gVc_Yekn

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A brutal assessment of why Cindy Rose is exactly what WPP needs to regain it's momentum in the market. First, let's cut through the corporate cheerleading about WPP's new CEO appointment. Yes, Cindy Rose is historic as the first woman to lead a major ad holding company (Fk, yeah), but that's not why she's the right choice. WPP is broken. Shares at 16-year lows. Market cap down two-thirds. Lost its crown to Publicis. Hemorrhaging clients like Mars ($1.7bn) and Coca-Cola. Last week's profit warning triggered a 19% share plunge. The company has spent years promising to become an "AI-driven platform business" while competitors actually built one. Mark Read tried. Seven years of internal restructuring, agency mergers, and strategy decks couldn't stop the bleeding. WPP needed an outsider who understood the business from the inside. They got exactly that. Rose isn't another agency lifer promising creative transformation. She's an operations surgeon who turned Microsoft UK from £2.14bn to £4.03bn revenue in two years. While WPP talked about AI, she was implementing it - rolling out Microsoft Copilot across industries, helping Fortune 500 companies actually transform their businesses. Here's what matters: 🟢 She's been on WPP's board since 2019. She watched this slow-motion car crash unfold from the boardroom. No learning curve. No honeymoon period. 🟢 She knows exactly where the bodies are buried and why previous fixes failed. The advertising industry is becoming an enterprise software business whether agencies like it or not. Clients want platforms, automation, and measurable ROI - not more creative awards. Rose spent nine years at Microsoft's enterprise division. She understands how to build and scale platform businesses that serve large corporate clients. 🟢 The "insider-outsider" label is perfect. She brings Microsoft's enterprise credibility and client relationships while understanding WPP's operational chaos. She's made the hard decisions to streamline complex organizations. She's not afraid of painful cuts or difficult restructuring. 🟢 Most importantly, she's not trying to be liked. WPP doesn't need another visionary making grand promises. It needs someone to make the brutal operational changes required to compete in an AI-driven market. Rose has the enterprise tech credibility, operational experience, and insider knowledge to fix WPP. She also has the client relationships to stop the exodus. But transformation requires more than a new CEO - it requires a board willing to support difficult decisions. Now comes the hard part - execution. SoulPurpose Advisory wants to know if you think Rose is the operational leader WPP needs, or just another CEO inheriting an impossible situation?

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The B2i Digital team is pleased to share observations from David Schulhof, CEO of the MUSQ Music Industry ETF, in response to today’s Wall Street Journal article on Live Nation Entertainment: https://lnkd.in/e7AE54Et (Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2025) MUSQ Music Industry ETF is a B2i Digital Featured Company. See their profile at https://lnkd.in/e27nmGP3. David notes, “The WSJ lays bare that Live Nation ($LYV) is not just in the concert business. It has created an entire commercial framework around live performance, from ticketing to venue ownership to concessions to artist management. That structure allows the company to capture revenue at nearly every step of the fan journey and provides margin insulation in what is typically seen as a low-margin business. Whether someone is buying a general admission ticket, upgrading to VIP, or paying for exclusive water and branded experiences inside the venue, Live Nation is participating in that economic flow. The article notes that the company now earns more than $40 per attendee in ancillary revenue. That is not incidental—it is strategic.” “For all the reasons cited in the article, Live Nation Entertainment is a key holding in the MUSQ ETF, representing approximately 9.52% of the fund. We are focused on the companies that are not only part of the music industry but are actively redefining its economics. We exist as a vehicle to provide investors with access to the infrastructure, platforms, and global operators shaping how music is created, consumed, and monetized. Live Nation is doing that in real-time, and articles like this help crystallize what that means from both an operational and an investment perspective. Other holdings for MUSQ in the live music events and ticketing sector include (approximately): CTS Eventim ($EVD.HM) (8.03%), Madison Square Garden ($MSGE) (3.91%), Vivid Seats ($SEAT) (0.79%), Venu Holding ($VENU) (0.64%), and Sphere Entertainment ($SPHR) (0.49%).”With approximately $23 million in net assets as of early March and a dividend yield of approximately 1%, MUSQ provides investors with diversified exposure to the global music industry, spanning record labels, streaming platforms, concert promoters, music technology firms, and more. To learn more about MUSQ, visit https://musqetf.com. For investor inquiries, please contact info@musq.com. #MUSQ #MusicIndustry #ETF #B2iDigital #LiveNation #GlobalMusic @B2iDigital @DavidShapiro Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should conduct their own research before making investment decisions. David Shapiro, CEO of B2i Digital, personally purchased and owns shares in MUSQ. This post is not an offer to solicit the sale of any security and is not a recommendation to buy any security.

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The hits keep coming from this year's Imaginarium Summit, Jonah Goodhart (Mobian), Johanna Mayer-Jones (The Washington Post), and Jamil Khan (H&R Block) unpacked one of the digital economy’s most overlooked inefficiencies: the small business market. And it's a doozy! Small businesses employ half the private workforce but often operate without even the basics of modern marketing or automation. While Fortune 500s roll out $20M AI initiatives, the neighborhood mechanic is still battling with a busted email login. And yet, the data is striking—small businesses that adopt even lightweight AI tools grow revenue 35% faster than their analog peers. It's a great talk with some really exciting insights from three exceptional leaders approaching the challenge from totally different perspectives. Check out a link to the entire discussion in the comments.

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How is AI impacting the agency industry and business model? Over the past year, I’ve spoken to some of the sharpest minds in our industry - Tim Williams, Blair Enns, Brian Kessman, Steve Guberman, David C. Baker, Tom Head, Carl Smith, Tina Fegent (FCIPS), Kevin Gibbons, Laura Smales, Heather Murray - about the rise of AI and what it means for agency growth, pricing, team structure and client value and management. 🎙️ In this special compilation episode, we've curated the insights from those conversations into 5 key themes: 1. The industry-wide impact of AI and what it means for the business model 2. How agencies are adopting AI internally and what frameworks help most 3. The shift in search and discovery and how clients' customers are starting to behave differently 4. The pricing and leadership implications and how to start the right conversations with clients and Procurement 5. What successful AI adoption looks like - from efficiency gains to successful use cases This video clip is a snapshot from the episode. If you're responsible for how AI impacts your agency - or you just want to understand how other agencies are adapting to the changes the link to this episode is below 👇 Coming up on the podcast soon I'll be continuing to ask guests to share their expertise and observations about AI's impact on the industry. Here are some of the topics we'll be covering next on the Creative Agency Account Manager podcast: 1. What are the current legal implications of using AI and how should agencies adapt? 2. How are agencies using AI to help drive and track net new sales? 3. What is the likely shape of the AI-forward agency business model of the future? 4. How and when to hire a full-time AI strategist for your agency and how do they help the account management team? If you’re responsible for how AI shapes your agency - or you're curious how other agencies are adapting, this one’s for you. How is AI helping (or hindering) you in your agency role?

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The new J.Crew catalog is a masterclass in integrated marketing. A Russian doll of content. No one needs to litigate the nostalgia the J.Crew catalog inspired decades ago. Its relaunch last year, with four variant covers and smart, timely partnerships (the inspired Demi Moore cover as a standout), was widely lauded, the most explicit symbol yet of the brand's rebirth. However, the underlying questions about creating a catalog have never gone away, certainly for other brands. These include questions of ROI on what is a significant investment, or questions around the value of the distribution channel beyond stores and existing email databases. This newest iteration (up to five covers now) answers those questions (and more) by reimagining the catalog as a distribution tool across all channels and constructs. This Spring J.Crew catalog is among other things. >> A dynamic, integrated way to tell seasonal brand stories. >> A digital ‘event’, turning the catalog archive into a temple for the brand. >> A space to editorialize the J.Crew community (and creative collaborators). >> A one-off collectable that further immortalizes the catalog. >> A space to experiment with blending digital and physical editorial. I collated the key parts of the story so far in a video below, illustrating how strong this marriage of editorial, content, and commerce is. By starting with the catalog archive as this treasure trove, it’s made a media asset into an icon—to be handled with the utmost care and attention. It’s Narnia in Tribeca. What wonders will emerge from it? The bread-and-butter editorial creates the depth and breadth to tell a wide range of stories for all types of buyers. It is highly integrated but also subtly targeted. The result? No one will walk out of J.Crew empty-handed. Blending editorial into video keeps the heart and soul of the catalog intact, but bends the knee to what works in each channel. But the coup de grace is the miniature catalog. When we talk about merch and collectables, this is what we mean. Who doesn’t want the mini catalog? It's enough J.Crew to fit into your pocket and is covetable in and of itself. This is (for me) the apex of integrated thinking around fashion and retail. Luxury brands, especially after the last month of activations and noise, could learn something from this masterclass in strategy, creative, and marketing execution.

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Exciting times ahead! Escape.ai Establishes Star-Studded Strategic Advisory Board to Shape the Future of Creator-Driven Entertainment PR Newswire Thu, April 3, 2025 at 5:49 AM PDT 4 min read Unmatched Expertise to Accelerate the Future of Neo Cinema and Creator Economy LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- escape.ai, the world's first Neo Cinema content distribution platform and creator marketplace, is proud to announce the formation of its powerhouse advisory board. This group of experts brings unparalleled insights and guidance as escape.ai drives innovation in the creator economy. As the industry shifts toward direct-to-audience engagement, escape.ai is assembling leaders to shape the future of content distribution. "Entertainment is at a crossroads - traditional distribution models no longer serve the next generation of creators," said John Gaeta, Founder of escape.ai. "Bringing together this caliber of industry leadership is a strategic game-changer as we scale. From blockbuster franchises to cutting-edge streaming, gaming and gen AI platforms, our advisors have shaped the future of entertainment. Their combined expertise across content and advanced technology positions us to redefine how creators and audiences connect — and accelerate escape.ai's rise as the go-to destination for Neo Cinema and beyond." Strategic Industry Leaders Join Advisory Board escape.ai has secured some of the most influential names in entertainment and technology to drive its next phase of growth: Kiri Hart – Acclaimed Film Producer (The Creator), Pixar Executive Producer (Soul, Luca) and former Lucasfilm SVP (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), advising on tentpole development. Tony Driscoll –Former Disney, AT&T, and Warner Bros. executive, VP of Epic Games' Creator Economy, advising on platform economics and creator monetization. Andrew Schneider – Former SVP of Marketing at Disney+ and ESPN+, advising on direct-to-consumer strategy and platform growth. Jamil Molidina – Former Google, EA, and Inworld executive with expertise in the gaming industry, distribution and generative AI, advising on business strategy and partnerships. Glenn Lucas – Television and film producer with extensive experience in venture capital. Currently at Composite Ventures, advising on strategic investments and partnerships. Eric Berger – Former SVP at Sony and Time Warner, former CDO at Crackle, and current CEO at Cricket Media, advising on streaming sector strategy. Kevin Kay – Former President of Paramount Network, CMT, Spike TV, and TV Land, advising on entertainment industry opportunities and content. Anurag Banerjee - Co-Founder and Group CPTO at LightFury Games and former executive at Ubisoft, Rocksteady, Warner Bros Games, and Improbable, advising on social-interactive streaming platforms and architecture. LightFury is an escape.ai tech partner.

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