Named after the New York City avenue that was once home to the world’s most powerful ad agencies, Madison Avenue is a catch-all term for the advertising industry. In other words, Madison Avenue is to advertising what Wall Street is to finance.
The phrase “Madison Avenue” was first used in reference to the advertising industry around 1923. By the late 1930s, roughly 37% of the American Association of Advertising Agencies' New York members had offices on the street, largely due to its proximity to their large corporate clients’ headquarters.
From three-martini lunches to office romances, the corporate culture on Madison Avenue was notorious for its debauchery—so much so that it inspired the popular TV drama “Mad Men.”
While many of the top advertising agencies (such as Ogilvy & Mather in 1989 and Young & Rubicam in 2013) have since moved their headquarters away from Madison Avenue for various reasons, the term is still used as a synonym for the ad industry today.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
While some corporations have marketers and advertisers as full-time employees, others contract advertising agencies to get the work done. Ad agencies typically have a variety of departments depending on their specialty, but they often include account executives to help manage client relationships and a creative department to produce the ads.
Ogilvy is one of the most famous and influential advertising executives in history, known for his focus on research-driven advertising. But he also wrote multiple books, including “Ogilvy on Advertising,” which the Founders podcast dives into in this episode.
The world's oldest form of advertising can feel antiquated in a digital age, but the place-specific signs are the basis of a $9B business. Learn the history of these ads and how they remain relevant in a digital age.
This list includes the spots (like Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign and Snickers’ Betty White cameo) that transcended advertising and became genuine pop culture sensations.
The TV show “Mad Men’s” character Peggy Olson is inspired by Wells Lawrence, who founded ad agency Wells Rich Greene in 1966. Wells Lawrence is also known for her famous Alka-Seltzer campaign slogan, “plop plop fizz fizz.”
When American soldiers returned home after WWI in the 1920s, they found a country ready to spend money, make a home, and indulge in creature comforts after wartime rationing. This uptick in US wealth and production led to job opportunities for advertising experts.
In Hollywood, the most prominent celebrities get “stars” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now, industry events producer Advertising Week has created a virtual walk of fame for the biggest stars of the ad world, from the Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Bear to the Energizer Bunny.
The TV show follows the employees of a New York City ad agency as they navigate the debauched culture of Madison Avenue’s golden age—and the political and cultural landscape of the 1960s. The hosts explain which episode to watch first if you want to get hooked.
Jane Maas started as a copywriter at the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather in 1964. She’s known for working on the famous "I Heart NY" tourism campaign alongside artist Milton Glaser. This interview provides a glimpse into what life was like for women like her on Madison Avenue.
Advertising executives working on Madison Avenue in the 1960s and ’70s popularized the so-called “three-martini lunch” between businesspeople during the work week. Admen of the time supposedly believed alcohol brought more creativity to the second half of their workday. This article explains why three-martini lunches are no longer commonplace.
The United States is home to more than 33 million businesses, the vast majority of which are small businesses, with millions being created (and others closing shop) every year. These businesses often rely on loans, provide the goods and services that keep the economy flowing, and sometimes even grow large enough to enter public markets or provide private investment opportunities. Explore key topics central to business and finance, from the role of the Federal Reserve to how initial public offerings work, how millions of American students finance higher education, and more.