Content (and Connection) is King at Advertising Week NY 2023

Another Advertising Week in the books. Marketers across the globe descended on the Big Apple for 2023's newest and brightest updates in marketing, advertising, and the content that threads the needle between both. 

From expert panels on AI, Taylor Swift, influencers, and the Barbie movie, here are some of the biggest takeaways we saw during those four days in Manhattan. 

Content as a Mover

From conversations between brands and influencers, influencers and media personalities, brands and agencies… one thing is clear: Content remains king. And in a world where authenticity is the ultimate differentiator, quality content is what resonates.

As the world becomes ever smaller, with complex ties between communities all around the world, content becomes more than just entertainment. It's an escape, an informant, and a way of keeping objective truth alive. 

In our panel conversation with Crooked Media CEO Lucinda Treat, Hysteria co-host Alyssa Mastromonaco, and VP, Global Head of Revenue Partnerships at SiriusXM, Kelli Hurley, those lines have never been more important to draw. 

With the 2024 election coming up quickly as concerns of misinformation abound, it's crucial that hosts continue to uphold strict standards for both brand suitability and the general public. Trusted voices, like those on Crooked Media, are keenly aware of their responsibility to sift through the noise and pull objective truth through for their listeners. 

In the entertainment sphere, conversations circulated around authenticity and realness, especially when it comes to brand sponsorships and live reads. In our separate interviews with Andy Cohen, Jeff Lewis, and The Smith Sisters, they all touched on similar themes, primarily that audio gives them the opportunity to connect with their fans and audiences on a completely different, more intimate and thoughtful level. 

Each Radio Andy personality has a deep connection to television—whether it's writing, producing, PR'ing, or otherwise—and all agreed that audio brings a heightened element to that connection between fan and host. 

Human-First Leadership

We had over a dozen conversations in our recording studio—nestled in our booth—for our Pass the Mic podcast. Female leaders from all over the advertising and marketing world stepped to the mic to share their stories and lesser-known advice they wish they'd had while coming up through the ranks.

A popular recurring theme rose to the top: humanity and empathy in the workplace. Maybe you've shown emotion in the middle of a board meeting or connected with a coworker about a personal event or world issue. Many of the leaders we spoke with underscored that type of emotional connection—and for those in leadership to set an example when it comes to creating a warm environment.

So how do we make that happen? SXM Media's Nidia Serrano, VP, Sales Marketing and Nikki Buchanan, Senior Director, Head of Cultural Strategy and Multicultural Growth were part of two separate panels in The Female Quotient's Equality Lounge, both highlighted the need for multicultural representation in the workplace and fostering the kind of environment that encourages people of all backgrounds to thrive, especially with a lens on intersectionality.

Don't Underestimate the Power of Audio

Podcasts, streaming audio, satellite radio—audio is a link that runs throughout the whole of media. It's how audiences connect even deeper with the hosts and brands that they love, and why we've seen 183% rise in time spent with digital audio in the last decade. And it's one of the many reasons why we're serious about audio.

If you're looking for more inspiration, check out our Pass the Mic podcast, and stay tuned to SXM Media for more on the audio space.