ANA Chairman Responds To Criticism Of Report; Axel Springer Buys eMarketer

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Take Your Medicine

ANA Chairman Tony Pace responded to criticism of its recent report on agency rebates (specifically, that its unnamed sources have muddied agency reputations). He said in an open letter, “Granting anonymity and confidentiality to sources is a standard investigative practice for assessing business conditions that K2 found essential in this case. There was palpable fear of reprisals and other repercussions across the media-buying landscape from many who considered whether to participate.” If agencies want to kick the habit, “The first step in solving a problem is identifying that one exists.”

The Subscriber Bank

Axel Springer acquired eMarketer for $242 million (5X revenue), snapping up 93% of shares. The researcher’s 2015 EBITDA was $13.5 million on $45 million in top-line sales. Axel Springer sees it as a complement to its other subscription businesses, BI Intelligence and Politico Pro. More than 1,000 firms subscribe to eMarketer, and subscriptions account for 81% of revenue. Read the release.

Google Everywhere

Google is adding more real-world location data to its search intent galaxy with “Nearby,” which connects Android users with sites and apps relevant to where they are. CVS Pharmacy could notify a user of a chance to print photos, while United Airlines could prompt users to download its in-flight entertainment app while they wait to board. The service also can integrate with a location’s own beacon network. More at the Android blog.

Amazon, Also Everywhere

Amazon, in keeping with its apparent policy of competing with everybody on everything, is preparing to launch a streaming music subscription service along the lines of Spotify and Apple, and at about the same price point. At least that’s according to two unnamed sources, as reported by Reuters. The music streaming space is crowded and difficult to break into, but Amazon Echo, a “surprise hit” connected home device and speaker system, gives the ecommerce giant a potentially powerful differentiator. More. The obvious monetization engine? Data-driven ads.

But Wait, There’s More!