The 13th annual Gunn Report–a compilation and analysis of award show results over the past year–shows that while one production company’s chart-topping streak has ended, an agency network’s went merrily on in 2011. The latter was BBDO which earned Agency Network of the Year distinction for the sixth consecutive year (and nine of the past 13). Meanwhile MJZ saw its run as the most awarded production company halt at five straight years, dropping down to the number four slot. Moving to the head of the class was @radical.media, which finished fifth the prior year. This marked the first time in the history of the Gunn tally that @radical has finished first.
The top five in the rundown of the most awarded agency networks for 2011 were: BBDO followed by DDB, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett and Wieden+Kennedy.
Wieden+Kennedy made an indelible mark in the table for most awarded agency of last year with its Amsterdam and Portland offices taking first and second place, respectively. This marks the first time in Gunn Report history that the same network finished in the first two slots. Furthermore W+K’s London and Tokyo offices made the top 50. Finishing third among agencies in 2011 was AlmapBBDO in Sao Paulo, followed by Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, Buenos Aires in fourth place, and Germany’s Jung von Matt in fifth.
Getting back to the production company derby topped by @radical.media, second place went to Independent/Anonymous@ Independent, London, followed by Smuggler at third and MJZ fourth, with Stink/Stink Digital rounding out the top five.
The most awarded director of 2011 was Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu of Independent and Anonymous. It’s no coincidence that he directed the most awarded commercial of last year (and for that matter, in the 13-year history of the Gunn Report), Nike’s “Write The Future” out of ’11’s most awarded agency, W+K Amsterdam.
Second in the directorial rundown was Chris Milk of @radical.media, followed by Thanonchai Sornsriwichai of Phenomena in Bangkok, Henry Alex-Rubin of Smuggler, and Fredrik Bond of MJZ.
After “Write The Future,” the most awarded commercials of ’11 were: Heineken’s “The Entrance” directed by Bond for W+K Amsterdam, followed by T-Mobile’s “Welcome Back” helmed by Smuggler’s Alex-Rubin for Saatchi & Saatchi, London, and Old Spice Body Wash’s “Questions/Boat” directed by MJZ’s Tom Kuntz for W+K, Portland. Tied for fifth place are Google Chrome’s “Speed Tests” helmed by Aaron Duffy of 1st Ave Machine for BBH/Google Creative Lab, New York, and Volkswagen Passat’s “The Force” directed by Lance Acord of Park Pictures for Deutsch LA.
The top five in digital for 2011 were: Old Spice’s “Responses” campaign from W+K, Portland; Zenith Independent Band’s “Sour/Mirror” via Masashi Qanta Saquoosha Hiroki, Tokyo; Google Chrome’s “Speed Tests” out of BBH/Google Creative Lab; Mini Countryman’s “Mini Getaway Stockholm” from Jung von Matt, Stockholm; and Uniqlo’s “Uniqlo Luck Line” for Dentsu, Tokyo.
Tied tallies marked the rundown for All Guns Blazing, the category that encompasses integrated, innovative and the like honors. Three entries tied for first place: Decode Jay-Z with Bing from Droga5, New York; Concert Hall Dortmund’s “Concert Milk” out of Jung von Matt, Hamburg; and the entire integrated Old Spice campaign via W+K, Portland. Tied for fourth were: Nike’s “Write The Future” out of W+K, Amsterdam, and WWF’s “Save as WWF” from Jung von Matt, Hamburg.
Another three-way tie marked the top of the most awarded digital agency chart: AKQA, London; BBH New York and R/GA, New York. Fourth was W+K, Portland, with Dentsu, Tokyo, taking fifth.
The most awarded advertisers of 2011 were Nike, followed by Volkswagen, Google, Old Spice and WWF.
And in the country tally, winning the most awards last year was the U.S. with the U.K. second, Brazil third, Argentina fourth and Germany fifth.
For more Gunn Report results, click here.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More