Collective Brands Seeks New Media Agency

Collective Brands, Inc. is conducting a closed search for a new media planning and buying agency for the Payless ShoeSource and Stride Rite units.

J&J Taps Two Hispanic Shops

Johnson & Johnson has chosen Vidal Partnership - which claims to be the largest independent Hispanic marketing agency in the country - and La Comunidad to handle its U.S. Hispanic business, following an extensive review.

Client Discontent Leads to Record Number of Accounts in Play

A record $27.5 billion in business went into play in 2007, nearly 57 percent more than the $17.5 billion in 2006, according to an Adweek analysis of accounts worth more than $20 million in billings.

Visa Narrows Field to Two

Visa’s media review has been narrowed to Omnicom’s OMD and WPP’s Mediaedge:cia, say sources. Aegis and Starcom MediaVest were eliminated in the semi-final round.

AT&T Consolidates Media Duties with Mediaedge:cia

AT&T has consolidated its media duties with Mediaedge:cia following a review. Previously, Digitas, GSD&M Idea City, Initiative and OMD all handled the business.

Citigroup Consolidates $500MM Media Account with Mediaedge:cia

Citigroup has combined its estimated $500 million global media account, consolidating it with WPP’s Mediaedge:cia, which already handles the company’s $190 million TV buying business, writes AdAge.

Visa to Consolidate $650 Million Media Account

Visa plans to consolidate its media planning and buying duties with a single agency and has invited four holding companies - Omnicom Group, WPP Group, Publicis Groupe and Aegis Group - to pitch, writes Adweek.

AT&T’s Media Account Goes Into Play

AT&T’s $3.4 billion media account is going into play, and the telecom giant said that it expects to complete the review by the end of the year.

The move will consolidate all of AT&T’s media planning and buying into one shop and, as such, is part of the company’s efforts to maximize efficiencies create by its acquisition of BellSouth at the end of last year, writes AdAge.

Monster’s Account up for Grabs

Monster.com is conducting a review of its creative duties on its global account, according to sources. Monster spent about $155 million in domestic measured media in each of the past two years, writes Adweek. The move comes just three months after the company hired Joan Blackwood as chief marketing officer.

Six J&J Brands Leave Interpublic Group Shops

Six Johnson & Johnson brands, which collectively spent about $135 million in measured media last year, are leaving the Interpublic Group shops McCann Erickson and Alchemy.