Amazon, Forbes Media, EssenceMediacom and Universal Pictures are finalists for this year’s Digiday Awards

In the Best Collaboration category, Forbes Media and BMC Software are among the nominees after they joined forces in a strategic partnership to position BMC as a leader in the crowded enterprise tech and AI operations space. Through a comprehensive cross-platform collaboration, BMC and Forbes created a campaign that combined data-driven content, live discussions and extensive brand exposure. The collaboration highlighted BMC’s innovative AIOps solutions and successfully shifted the company’s image from a traditional mainframe service provider to a forward-thinking leader in IT operations. Forbes played a pivotal role in amplifying BMC’s message, ensuring it reached key industry professionals across various sectors.

Demonstrating the impact of gamification, Universal Pictures received a nomination for Best Creative for its collaboration with EssenceMediacom and gaming development platform Unity. To promote the release of the action-comedy “The Fall Guy,” the partners crafted a custom “Choose Your Own Adventure” ad that brought to life the film’s thrilling stunts. By integrating these cinematic moments into popular mobile in-app games, Universal Pictures offered users a unique and engaging experience that blurred the lines between gaming and film promotion. The creative strategy succeeded in creating a personalized and cinematic experience, driving anticipation for The Fall Guy while positioning Universal Pictures at the forefront of innovative movie marketing.

Altogether, the work the judges nominated in 2024 demonstrated how brands create experiences that allow consumers to engage directly with their content, leading to deeper connections.

See the complete list of finalists below.

Agency Executive of the Year
Dan Gardner: Co-Founder, Executive Chairman Code and Theory
Eric J. Bertrand Leads Mod Op to Success
Jackson Spalding’s Rachel Weber Drives Demand
Joe Gagliese, Founder & Co-CEO, Viral Nation
Ian Packard, CEO of OS Studios
Lauren Kleinman, Founder & CEO, Dreamday, Co-founder, The Quality Edit

Best AR/VR Campaign
Carhartt x January Digital – Snapchat Holiday Success
Envisioning Tomorrow: The Exciting Future of Everyday Life
NYX Beauty Bestie: ur always-on makeup BFF
The Field @ FOEF: Where Green Living Meets Technology
Tornados Nocturnos – The Weather Channel en Espanol

Best Audio Campaign
Chase for Business & Ruby Studios – The Unshakeables podcast
Counting On Us: A Podcast By ACH Child and Family Services
PGIM – The Outthinking Investor
Sallie Mae & GYK Antler – “Sound Mind” Lo-Fi Album
Schwab & Pacific Content – Choiceology with Katy Milkman
Tinuiti & Sony Hit High Notes with Amazon & Spotify

Best Branding Campaign B2B
Amazon Ads x Code and Theory 
BBDO & Critical Mass: AT&T’s Sleep with Rain
Cognitiv’s AI Campaign Gives Advertisers ‘More Time’ 
DeVito/Verdi & Brandeis – 75th Anniversary Brand Campaign 
Fortune Brand Studio+Accenture: Reinventing the Fortune 500 
Kyriba: Welcome to Liquidity Performance

Best Branding Campaign B2C
Bose Turn The Dial Campaign
Make Up Over Makeup
Medscape–Let’s B-Reel About: Asthma
Onyx by Outbrain™
Projecting Tequila Don Julio to New Heights
Rhodes Pet Science – “Better when it’s BONKERS” campaign 
Zenith – They’re a wing place but them burgers are slept on

Best Collaboration
BMC and Forbes: Bring The Power Of AI To IT Operations
Cupcake Vineyards x Netflix Love Is Wine Chardonnay 
Custom Content from WSJ & Hyundai – Miles That Define Us
Fortune Brand Studio+Accenture: Reinventing the Fortune 500
Frank’s RedHot x Jason Kelce Put That $#!T On The Super Bowl 
Scopely X MrBeast 

Best Creative
Charmin “Tear into Softness” | Unity
Digitas & Invisalign Are Drama Free
GLOW Creative Agency & NBA – In Season Tournament OOH
Perdue x Colle McVoy “Chix Mix: Chicken Feed. Human Snack”
The Fall Guy | Unity x EssenceMediacom & Universal Pictures
The Shade Room – TSR Investigates x Bad Boys 4

Best E-Commerce Strategy
CourtAvenue Raises the Bar for Elanco’s Digital Shelf
Kendra Scott + January Digital, Unprecedented Ecomm Growth
Relaunch & Rebrand of Alfred Coffee
Shop TODAY “What to Shop This Week”, sponsored by Walmart
theSkimm’s EComm Strategy: Fashion You’ll Actually Wear Week
Tryzens Global & Sweaty Betty: Composable Launch
Zoovu powers Microsoft retailers with AI product discovery

Best Event
Citeline & Thermo Fisher – CGT Event at Baltimore Aquarium
Hearts & Science, AT&T, Hello Sunshine – Shine Away
Tennessee Tourism & VML – Little Tennessee 
The WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience
Tripadvisor & Abu Dhabi – A London Outernet Experience 
2023 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola®

Best Experiential Campaign
A New Chapter In Luxury – The All-New INFINITI QX80 Reveal
GSP and CM’s Driving While Black
Knorr Yummy K’s – Edelman Canada
Projecting Tequila Don Julio to New Heights
Telemundo x Kids of Immigrants – La Copa Es Nuestra Capsule
160over90’s Innovation Arena for Invesco QQQ

Best Gaming/Esports Campaign
Advil Head Settings – Edelman Canada
Altitude, Gamefam & Havas – Promoting Talk to Me on Fortnite
AT&T Annihilator Cup 2024 
Kinder – Applaydu “Part of Family Playtime”
Snickers NFL Playable Ad
Xfinity Makes Gaming History with GMR and the Esports Awards

Best In-Game Advertising Strategy
Bioré Skincare Playlable Ad
Hearts & Science x AT&T Fiber x Fortnite: Warp Speed Tour

Best Metaverse Marketing Campaign
Doritos Mart
LEGO® FRIENDS HEARTLAKE FRIENDSHIP ZONE
Publicis Play & Playoffnations – McDonald’s Land on Roblox
NFL, Nickelodeon & Gamefam – #1 Brand Event on Roblox
Warner Records & Gamefam – Bringing Cher to Next-Gen Fans

Best Multi-Platform Campaign
BBDO & CM’s M&M’S The Ring of Comfort
Beekman 1802 Potato Peel x Mrs. Potato Head e.l.f. Cosmetics x Movers+Shakers: “Cosmetic Criminals”
Hearts & Science x Warner Bros.: Barbie
Razorfish shows the power of “yes” for First Hawaiian Bank
The Philadelphia Inquirer — UNSUBSCRIBE Brand Campaign 

Best Partnership
Albertsons & Apple: Inspiring Well-being, Together. 
Edelman x Haleon – Launch of TUMS Prop Bites
New York Times Cooking Recipes now Shoppable via Instacart
ojos. labios. cara. 
Paramount+ Roku City Neighborhood 
Tequila Don Julio Toasts to the Stars at the Oscars

Best PR Campaign
Amp & Incredible Beast Omnimedia
AREA 23, an IPG Health Company & Weber Shandwick-In Transit
BOTOX® Cosmetic x IFundWomen Program 
CETAPHIL #GAMETIMEGLOW
Crocs & Digitas: Croctober 2023
Purdue and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Eclipse Event

Best Product Launch Campaign
Bai® Raspberry Lemon Lime by Sydney Sweeney Product Launch
Crocs & Digitas: Croctober 2023
Knorr Yummy K’s – Edelman Canada 
Ozlo Sleep: The untraditional launch to community-building
Tequila Don Julio Toasts to the Stars at the Oscars
TextNow Launches Free Essential Data

Best Search Campaign
Acadia & SkyZone: How birthdays bounced Skyzone to the top
Centerfield & ADT: Personalized Search Drives Growth
DAC & Brooks Running – Running Down Brand CPCs

Best Use of AI
fullthrottle.ai™️ AI Model Enhances Senior Living Marketing
Monks & Hatch: Gen AI Makes Growth Dreams a Reality
Priceline Builds Custom AI Tools; Saves Users Time and Money
Truth HQ: The Revolution will be Livestreamed
Vermillio: Unlocking IP’s Potential with Generative AI
160over90’s Innovation Arena for Invesco QQQ

Best Use of Influencer Marketing
Ariana Madix x Duracell: “I Buy My Own Batteries”
Dulcolax – Influencer Marketing
Make Up Over Makeup
Priceline’s “Eras to End Zone” Challenge 
QYOU & Paramount Pictures- Surviving A Quiet Place: Day One
Samsung Galaxy & Dude Perfect Partnership

Best Use of Retail Media
Acadia & U Beauty -Using Amazon Marketing Cloud for Growth
Connecting Walmart Customers with their Big Game Needs
CommerceIQ & Kellanova – Pringles Super Bowl Retail Media
Georgia-Pacific’s Angel Soft
Kinder – Applaydu “Part of Family Playtime” 
Walmart Connect #GetYourGrillOn Spring Grilling Program

Best Use of Social
Knorr Yummy K’s – Edelman Canada
QYOU & Warner Bros.- Wonka – A Campaign of Pure Imagination
RomCommerce
Samsung Social Minis Campaign
Song Candy Media & Jack in the Box: The Jack Wrap Rap
The Doe – Anonymous Storytelling On Social

Best Use of Video
adidas & We Are Social U.S., The Super Bowl Winning Throw 
CETAPHIL #GAMETIMEGLOW
Digitas & Invisalign Are Drama Free 
e.l.f. Cosmetics x Movers+Shakers: “Cosmetic Criminals”
Lifetime and Campbell’s present Spoonful of Joy
Migration “Let’s Fly” Campaign

Leader of the Year
D-J Hageman: VP of Marketing at PATRÓN Tequila North America
Elfried Samba, CEO & Co-Founder of Butterfly 3ffect
Elizabeth Herbst-Brady: Driving Yahoo DSP Forward
Laura Knebusch, SVP, CPG Marketing & CX – Georgia-Pacific
Melinda Han Williams – Chief Data Scientist, Dstillery
Rich Kleiman – Co-founder and CEO of Boardroom

Marketing Executive of the Year
Anna Tompkins – Global Head of Marketing, Rhodes Pet Science
Greg Lyons 
Jenny Lewis
Sr. Marketing Director, Tastemade – Niara Simon-Hollis 
Ulta Beauty’s CMO & The Transformation of Beauty 
Workday CMO Emma Chalwin 

Most Committed to Sustainability
How Lime Leveraged Sustainability To Achieve Profitability
Opella NA: First, Large, Pure Consumer Healthcare B Corp
Sharethrough: Leading the Path Towards Sustainable Media
WSJ’s Live Journalism & Events: Committed to Sustainability

Most Innovative Agency
Apollo Partners Leads With Media Innovation Across Clients
Beyond Hype: How Razorfish Creates Value with Innovation
Code and Theory 
Critical Mass
Known
STN Digital: Second to None

Most Innovative Brand
Boardroom: At The Forefront of Industry Change
Bose
Kroger x Dentsu | Unity

Most Innovative Publisher
Future Today Drives Innovation in Ad-Supported Streaming
Gallery Media Group 
Highsnobiety
How The Independent Makes Change Happen for Global Audiences
Tech Monkey Media – Unblocked Games Portal “Geometry Spot”
The Volume

Most Innovative Technology Platform
Amperity
Axis programmatic middleware
Cookieless tech benefiting buyers & sellers simultaneously
Ogury, the advertising technology grounded in privacy
Prescient AI Predicts Ad Campaign Revenue for Online Brands
Super League- Redefining Gaming in Impactful Brand Marketing

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