Advertising Week New York is in its imperial phase.
The marketing, media and technology conference debuted in 2004 to pretty big fanfare, with a long-winded speech from then-mayor Michael Bloomberg and a parade of people dressed as advertising mascots riding in convertibles from Times Square to the “Madison Avenue Walk of Fame,” where beloved advertising characters are put on display year-round.
It’s only grown from there, if one can believe it.
This year’s event, taking place at The Penn District from October 6 to 9, is so powerful that it managed to snag the host of the viral YouTube talk show Hot Ones.
It’s a natural progression as the AW kingdom continues to swell, with yearly events now held in Mexico City, London and Tokyo.
“While the scale has expanded, the mission has stayed the same, to provide a dynamic space where brands, creators, and thought leaders can share insights, spark ideas, and drive the industry forward,” said Ruth Mortimer, global president of Advertising Week.
The Creativity Stage will feature conversations with brand marketing maestros from Coach, The Onion and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Media Stage will host executives from Warner Bros., Paramount, Fox and Good Day Management, who will lead a conversation titled “Doja Cat: The Business Behind The Brand.” The Innovation Stage will focus on AI, B2B marketing and ROI analytics for advertisers and marketers.
That’s the usual stuff. As for what’s new, Mortimer says the latest offerings reflect the breakneck speed at which the industry has moved in the past few years.
“We’re launching the first-ever Creator Experience, which includes Creator Upfronts and the Big Creator Challenge with Adobe, giving creators a direct stage to showcase their work and connect with brands,” she said.
The Creator Experience was curated with help from Grammy-winning rap producer Hit-Boy, just one of many big names attached to the event.
AWNY is also debuting the invite-only CMO Experience, a series of “masterclasses” with people including New Age guru Deepak Chopra, 11-day former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci and Resy founder Gary Vaynerchuk.
On Thursday afternoon, a group of seven comedians will take the Great Minds Stage for a roast of AI, where a chatbot will be listening and responding with its own jokes. Somewhat dystopian? Sure, but a fitting bit of programming for the AI-heavy conference world, where the nascent technology is taking over everything from behind-the-scenes planning to the trade show floor.
Another finger-on-the-pulse moment comes in the form of a live episode of Hot Ones at the Great Minds Stage on Tuesday afternoon. Host Sean Evans will interview executives from Gap, the MLB and AdLegends.ai, which brands itself as the world’s “first fully-functional AI powered advertising agency,” as they scarf down Scoville-busting sauces.
“These new elements are designed to meet the moment, blending education, inspiration, and entertainment to ensure every attendee walks away with real value,” Mortimer said.
If it all seems a bit, well, all over the place, Mortimer says that’s the point. More than 20,000 attendees are expected, up from 17,000 last year, and they all expect to be entertained, engaged and educated every second of the day.
“Our programming doesn’t just deliver panels and keynotes, it creates experiences,” she said. “Whether it’s celebrating nonprofit causes with Kevin Bacon’s SixDegrees.org, recognizing incredible female trailblazers through the Future is Female Awards, or giving creators a stage to land brand deals.”
This year’s sponsors include Amazon Ads, Canva, Disney, LinkedIn, Paramount Advertising, Snapchat, Spotify, The Wall Street Journal, TikTok and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speakers include actresses Issa Rae and Natasha Lyonne, singer Omarion, comedians Adam Friedland and Kumail Nanjiani and executives from brands like Panera, Google, IKEA and Meta.
Advertising Week New York takes place from October 6 to 9 at The Penn District in New York City. Tickets start at $125 for digital-only sessions and $400 for in-person attendance, with reduced prices for students and groups.
