When it comes to advertising, The Academy Awards can't compete with the Super Bowl. However, a slew of brands paid more than a million dollars per spot for some serious exposure during last night's ceremony. Some wasted their money. Some didn't. A couple really stood out.

American Express and Hershey's went the Good Samaritan route, linking their brands to charitable works. Specifically, AmEx promoted its Takepart.com site while Hershey's raised awareness for its Milton Hershey School. The latter was impactful, employing the line "Every Hershey's product you've enjoy supports the Milton Hershey School."Continue reading...

A few years ago, Ameriprise launched an ad campaign featuring actor Dennis Hopper, backed by music from the 1960s. It pitched retirement planning and was squarely aimed at Baby Boomers. The campaign was upbeat and humorous, appropriate for a time before the 2008 financial meltdown.

Now Ameriprise is back with a decidedly different tone, more in tune with today's financial environment.Continue reading...

Weatherproof's Obama ad is taken down from Times Square. [NY Times]

The 2010 Winter Olympics will create a $250 million for NBC. [Brandweek]

Ameriprise's $30 million campaign stresses the importance of having an advisor. [Adweek]

Twitter will hold its first ever Developer's Conference based on Yahoo's "Hack Day." [Gawker]

Thanks to the Justice Department, Live Nation and Ticketmaster will merge. [CNN Money]

Ford's will hire 1,200 new employees for its Chicago Plant. [WSJ]Continue reading...