27th annual Webby Awards announce nominees

Apr 5, 2023

The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) announced the Nominees for the 27th Annual Webby Awards.

Among those recognized this year in the Advertising, Media & PR categories are McCann, BBDO, Apple, Accenture Song, Duolingo, Wieden+Kennedy, Droga5, Paramount, VMLY&R, Observatory, Mischief @ No Fixed Address, CHEP Network, Serviceplan Germany, Goodby Silverstein & Partners and more.

The contenders for this year’s Agency of the Year are companies that earned more Webby Awards nominations across all categories than any other agency. Leading the nominees are BASIC/DEPT (19), R/GA (14), DEPT (12), TBWA\Media Arts Lab (12), and McCann New York (10).

All Nominees are eligible to win the Internet industry’s two most prestigious awards: The Webby Award, selected by the Academy, and The Webby People’s Voice Award, voted on by the online community. Voting for The Webby People’s Voice Awards is open now at http://vote.webbyawards.com through Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 11:59pm PDT.

“For over 27 years, The Webbys has had a front row seat to the changing digital landscape; today new and niche platforms are providing younger consumers with more options in an ever-expanding universe,” said Ciel VanderVeen, Managing Director of The Webby Awards. “This year’s Nominees showcase the ingenuity, creativity and innovation that it takes for brands to connect with consumers of all ages.”

This year saw an explosion of creative partnerships with brands tapping into new audiences by collaborating with talented creators, celebrities, big budget shows, games and by working together. Stand out collaborations include: Axe Body Spray and Fortnite creator Kyle ‘Bugha’ Giersdorf with Mistaverse (The Martin Agency); Doja Cat x Taco Bell: A “Contractual” Partnership (Deutsch LA); Chipotle Mexican Grill x Corn Kid (Day One Agency); Just Eat & Katy Perry – Did Somebody Say (McCann London); High Valyrian Lessons (Duolingo x HBO); Good Night World (Headspace and Sesame Street); Megan Thee Stallion and Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Snackable Screens (OMD USA); Burberry x Minecraft (Burberry) and Ted Lasso and FIFA 23 (Apple).

Reflecting the industry’s focus on using new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and creating Immersive experiences, nominated brands and agencies are connecting and entertaining consumers with projects like Sherwin Williams Speaking in Color (Wunderman Thompson) and Heinz Ketchup AI (Rethink), House of the Dragon: DracARys (HBO) and Nike – Just A/Run (R/GA)

Webby Nominees are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Members include: Natalie Guzman, Co-President & CMO – Savage X Fenty; Kieran Donahue, Chief Marketing Officer, IHOP; Peggy Ang, Chief Marketing Officer, LG Electronics; Charisse Hughes, Chief Brand & Advanced Analytics Officer, Kellogg; Sérgio Mugnaini, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy Brasil; Kerstin Emhoff, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PRETTYBIRD; Joanna Popper, Chief Metaverse Officer, Creative Artists Agency; Jorge Hernandez, Founder Partner & Chief Marketing Officer, Majority; Jennifer Cotter, CCO, Peloton Interactive; Alexander El-Meligi, Co-Founder & CEO, Demodern; and Joakim Borgstrom, Chief Creative Office BBH London.

Creative Agencies are also entertaining, educating and inspiring the industry in new ways with nominated podcasts in the Creativity & Marketing category, they include: #5Things: This week in social (Grey); Icons in the Making (Lippincott) and Creativity in Captivity (Sweetwood Creative).

Alongside Agency of the Year, this year’s Webbys will also recognize Production Company of the Year. Companies currently in the running include: Media.Monks B.V. (11), Cut+Run (4) and m ss ng p eces (4).

Network of the Year will also be presented at this year’s Webby Awards. The following networks that earned more Webby Awards nominations across all categories are in contention: McCann Worldgroup (41), DEPT (31), TBWA Worldwide (22), Accenture (17), BBDO Worldwide (14) and Wieden+Kennedy (14).

With nearly 14,000 entries from over 70 countries around the world and a record number of Social entries, this year’s competition was extremely competitive. From the tens of thousands of global entries submitted, fewer than 12% were selected as Nominees.

Winners for The 27th Annual Webby Awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, and will be celebrated at a star-studded in-person award show on Monday, May 15, 2023 at Cipriani Wall Street. Fans will be able to watch special moments and the hallmark five-word speeches from all the Winners on May 15th by following @TheWebbyAwards across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

KMPG provides vote tabulation consulting for The Webby Awards. For a complete list of Nominees and to vote for the People’s Voice Awards, visit http://vote.webbyawards.com.

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27th ANNUAL WEBBY ADVERTISING, MEDIA & PR NOMINEE HIGHLIGHTS:

Media & Entertainment, Branded Content (Advertising, Media & PR)

The Afterparty: R.I.P. Xavier – Apple
Live From The Upside Down – Observatory
Verizon Pepsi Halftime Ultra Pass – R/GA
SMILE – Theatrical Viral Marketing Campaign – TriplePlay Digital
Supercell – Clash From The Past – Wieden+Kennedy

Products & Services, Branded Content (Advertising, Media & PR)

Trapped in the 90’s – McCann
Prime Night: Longest TikTok Live Ever for Deals – Amazon
JP Morgan Wealth Management – Droga5
The Athlete – Your Privacy, More Protected – Meta
Shot on iPhone 13 Pro – Those That Follow – TBWA\Media Arts Lab

Health, Wellness & Pharmaceutical, Branded Content (Advertising, Media & PR)

HISTOIRE DE SE FAIRE PLAISIR – DENTSU CREATIVE
The Truth, Undressed – AnalogFolk
The Sleep Games – Bustle Digital Group
Dear Rich – Stept Studios
I Will Always Be Me – VMLY&R

Best Partnership or Collaboration, PR Campaigns (Advertising, Media & PR)

FIFA 23 x TED LASSO – Apple
Doja Cat x Taco Bell: A “Contractual” Partnership – Deutsch LA
High Valyrian Lessons – Duolingo
The Coors Light – Mischief @ No Fixed Address
Mind Ordering – WorkInProgress

Best Partnership or Collaboration, Metaverse & Immersive Features (Metaverse, Immersive & Virtual)

Burberry x Minecraft Partnership – Burberry
ADOBE x BOWIE – Dentsu Creative Amsterdam
AMBUSH x Reese’s Puffs Breakfastverse – Active Theory
McDonald’s x Karen X Cheng – IW Group
RIMOWA x RTFKT – RIMOWA

Best Partnership or Collaboration, Features (Podcasts)

Goodnight, World – Headspace
Live Debate: Unresolved: Information Disorder – Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates
World Corrupt – Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
Björk: Sonic Symbolism (Mailchimp & Talkhouse) – Talkhouse
Naturally Curious-Houston Museum of Natural Science – Texas Monthly Studio

Best Original Music or Music Supervision, Craft (Advertising, Media & PR)