Latest news with #SoundAffects
Campaign ME
16-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
MMA Smarties MENA 2025 winners announced
The MMA SMARTIES MENA 2025 winners were revealed at a ceremony held at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, recognising marketing effectiveness and innovation across the region. The annual programme honours impactful work that reflects the evolving nature of modern marketing – from AI integration and real-time engagement to storytelling and purpose-led initiatives. More than 100 trophies were awarded across 30 categories, with a strong showing from Publicis Groupe agencies, which included Publicis ME, Leo Burnett ME, and Saatchi & Saatchi ME. Standout campaigns included Pay With Your Trend for YUM! Brands and See What They See for Landmark Group. Pay With Your Trend by YUM! Brands and Publicis ME (UAE) was the most awarded campaign of the night, taking home four Gold trophies across the categories of Instant Impact / Promotion, Social Media Marketing, Creator / Influencer / Celebrity Marketing, and O2O / New Retail / Innovative & New Tech Sales Channels. The campaign was also named Best in Show. See What They See by Landmark Group and Publicis ME secured two Golds in Brand Experience and Brand Purpose / Activism. Sound Affects by Sixieme Son and Saatchi & Saatchi ME also picked up Gold in Brand Purpose / Activism, and additionally received recognition across Silver and Bronze levels. Leo Burnett ME's DOSY – Fear campaign won Gold in Short or Long Form Video and Silver in Brand Purpose. Other Gold-winning campaigns included Anghami's in-house effort Let the Song Play in Audio / Voice / Sonic Branding, and Live Loud by Coca-Cola Middle East and creative agency Grey UAE in Creative Effectiveness. Kitopi/Right Bite and Socialeyez UAE earned Gold for Burgerverse in Social Media Marketing, while Socialeyez was also awarded for Nando's PERi-PERi – 3in1 in Creator / Influencer / Celebrity Marketing. Wavemaker MENA took Gold for Beko's Fearless in Real-Time Contextual Marketing, and OSN's Hot Ones, created with Hearts & Science UAE, won in Lead Generation / Conversions / Direct Response. Generation Future by Savola Group and OMD KSA won Gold in Cause / Charity / Non-profit Marketing. In addition to campaign awards, the evening also recognised industry leaders and platforms driving marketing transformation. Landmark Group and Unilever were both named Advertiser of the Year, while Pizza Hut was awarded Brand of the Year. Creative Agency of the Year went to Publicis Groupe – Leo Burnett Middle East, and Media Agency of the Year was awarded to Publicis Groupe – Publicis Middle East. The technology and innovation categories saw Smartifai named AI Marketing Enabler of the Year, Mindshare awarded AI Integrated Media Agency of the Year, and Blis and InMobi receiving accolades as AdTech Platform of the Year and AdTech Provider of the Year, respectively. Marketing Platform of the Year was awarded to ArabyAds. Commenting on this year's awards, Melis Ertem, CEO of MMA MEA, said: 'SMARTIES MENA 2025 has showcased not just innovation, but true effectiveness. The campaigns honoured tonight didn't just make headlines, they moved the needle. The work reflects a region that's setting global standards in marketing.'
The Courier
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
From The Jam celebrate decades of music and friendship
Times have been hard for From The Jam away from the concert halls in recent years. The legacy rockers' frontman Russell Hastings suffered a heart attack in 2022, then bassist Bruce Foxton, 69, signalled his intention to retire from touring in January amid ongoing cancer treatment. As if those blows weren't enough, the pair had to contend with the unexpected death of their friend and ex-bandmate Rick Buckler, also 69, the following month. 'I was devastatingly shocked,' Hastings tells me, reflecting on the passing of the legendary Jam drummer. 'I was in Thailand when I heard, somebody called me. I heard about six hours before the news broke in England and you could literally have pushed me over with a feather, and I phoned Bruce, who was just as shocked as I was.' Singer-guitarist Russell Hastings formed The Gift with original Jam drummer Rick Buckler in 2006. The Gift was a vehicle for playing The Jam's music and the line up extended to another original Jam member when Foxton joined and the musicians changed the band name to From The Jam. Sticksman Buckler left in late 2009 but remained a close ally. Hastings makes it clear he's firmly in both his and his followers' thoughts as the four-piece's tour to celebrate The Jam's 1979 fourth LP Setting Sons reaches its halfway point in Perth tonight. 'We've got a lovely huge backdrop of Rick,' he explains. 'It's 25 by 20 foot – a big photograph blown up – and he sits proudly looking down on us all night which makes the crowd very emotional. Also, I've been playing Thick As Thieves off the album for Rick these past few weeks because it always reminds me of him. 'We were very close in that period we were working together and I think people hold that song very close in their hearts and identify with it.' Thankfully, Foxton has felt strong enough in recent weeks to put his own plans to exit live music on hold. 'There's a lot of things you can't plan in life, but Bruce has had a great time and it's what he's done since 1974,' says Russell, 59. 'That's 51 years, and just to quit doing that is not something that he wants to do, so we're all happy. We love each other's company anyway, we've been best of friends for the last 20 years.' Featuring the first of The Jam's 10 top 10 hits Eton Rifles – they had four No1s – Setting Sons was a part-concept album about the lives of three boyhood friends whose bonds are irrevocably loosened by the experience of war. Hastings can still remember the joy of taking his copy of the album to his local youth club in West Sussex in 1979 and it playing loud on the venue's disco speakers. Given that From The Jam perform material from every phase of a prolific recording career, it's understandable that he refuses to nominate the opus as the Paul Weller-led outfit's finest offering. 'The Jam went wonderfully through very different periods and I think Setting Sons was as different as Sound Affects, and that was as different as All Mod Cons,' he declares. 'Collectively they're all a great body of work, and I enjoyed The Gift as much as I enjoyed In The City. It's just where you're at in life when you heard these albums and you relate that back. 'From playing this stuff I see people going back night after night in their memory banks. They get highly emotional about it and literally go delving into their childhood or teenage years. 'Music is the only thing that really does that apart from hypnotherapy.' Russell says From The Jam have never sought to replicate the sound of any album on stage – and that continues with Setting Sons. 'I just go and play the song from memory and I guess that's why it's worked over the years,' he adds. 'It's always been like that, even from the moment me and Rick started playing together, and I've never gone out to try and emulate Paul's voice. 'There isn't a song on the album that I don't enjoy playing, although Wasteland is my favourite at the moment, it's a beautiful track. The great thing about Paul's songwriting is he was just a normal guy everybody could identify with and could capture that in a moment.'
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Breakfast's Jon Kay interrupts show to shares 'sad news'
BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay delivered heartbreaking news during the latest episode of the popular morning programme, announcing the death of musician Rick Buckler. On Wednesday's show (February 19), the mood turned sombre as Jon and his co-presenter Sarah Campbell shared details about drummer Rick, who gained fame as a member of the English rock band The Jam. Relaying the news, Jon stated, "It's quarter past seven, and some sad news. Rick Buckler, a drummer with The Jam, has died at the age of 69." As the BBC programme showcased a clip of Rick playing with The Jam in his younger days, Sarah added: "He was part of the band's classic line-up alongside bass player Bruce Foxton and lead singer and guitarist Paul Weller, who said he was 'shocked and saddened.'" READ MORE: BBC Breakfast's Carol Kirkwood apologises to co-star after awkward blunder on air READ MORE: Inside BBC Breakfast star Jon Kay's marriage and wife's totally different career After the brief footage of Rick in his prime, Jon remarked: "Rick Buckler there," as he gently steered the show forward. Reports indicate that Rick died after a short illness. He was a band member from its inception in 1972 until it disbanded a decade later. Although The Jam never fully reunited, Buckler and bassist Bruce frequently performed together. During their peak, The Jam released six studio albums featuring Rick on drums. His contributions included the highly acclaimed All Mod Cons (1978) and Sound Affects (1980). The Jam, renowned for timeless tunes like Town Called Malice, Going Underground, and Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, has left an indelible mark on the British music scene with 18 consecutive UK Top 40 hits, including four number ones. They capped it all off with the chart-topping album "The Gift." Mourning Rick's loss, Paul went to Facebook to express his emotions: "I'm shocked and saddened by Rick's passing. I'm thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking. To all the pubs and clubs we played at as kids, to eventually making a record. What a journey! "We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time. My deepest sympathy to all family and friends - P.W x" Rick resided in Woking with his beloved wife, fathering two children, Jason and Holly. Tune into BBC Breakfast every day from 6am on BBC One.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rick Buckler Dies: The Jam's Drummer Was 69
Rick Buckler, founding drummer for popular and influential British rock trio The Jam, died February 17 after a short illness, his management company said in a statement. He was 69. 'Rick Buckler, best known as the legendary drummer of The Jam, passed away peacefully on Monday evening in Woking, after a short illness with family by his side,' the statement reads. 'Rick was a loving husband, father and grandfather and was a devoted friend to many, who will be greatly missed.' More from Deadline 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries Marianne Faithfull Dies: Singer, Actor And Rolling Stones Muse Was 78 Kim Sae-ron Cause Of Death Revealed Buckler joined up with frontman singer-guitarist Paul Weller and bassist Bruce Foxton to form The Jam in 1972 and remained with the group until its 1982 breakup. Recording from 1977-82, it was among the era's most popular band in the UK, where The Jam racked up 18 consecutive Top 40 singles, nine Top 10s and four No. 1s: 1980's 'Going Underground' and 'Start,' followed by 'Town Called Malice' — which debuted atop the chart — and 'Beat Surrender' in 1982. Schooled in soul and R&B music, the group embraced and was embraced by the punk scene and later the new wave craze and Mod revival. It scored 11 Top 10 LPs in the UK, hitting No. 1 with The Gift in 1982 and No. 2 the year before with Sound Affects, later also reaching No. 2 with a live album and two compilation discs. Among its other memorable tracks were 'Absolute Beginners,' 'Just Who Is the 5 O'clock Hero?' and 'Funeral Pyre.' The band enjoyed only moderate success Stateside, with Sound Affects and The Gift cracking the top half of the Billboard 200 chart. 'Town Called Malice,' with its rollicking Motownesque rhythm and Kinks-like tale of working-class ennui, was its only U.S. singles chart success peaking at No. 31. Sample lyric: 'To either cut down on beer or the kids' new gear/it's a big decision in a town called malice.' Watch the video here: The Jam would break up in 1982 — at the height of its popularity — when Weller split, to the dismay of Buckler and Foxton, who wanted to continue and wouldn't speak with their singer again. Weller joined with Mick Talbot to form The Style Council, whose first three albums from 1984-87 reached No. 1 or No. 2 in the UK. Born on December 6, 1955, in Woking, Surrey, Buckley went on to played in bands through the 1980s before taking a break from the music business. He and Foxton reunited in the mid-2000s in From the Jam, which lasted about four years. Buckley later worked in a few other groups and published his memoir That's Entertainment: My Life in the Jam in 2015. DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO: He is survived by his wife, Lesley, and their children Jason and Holly. Weller remembered his bandmate on social media, and also posted a reaction from Foxton: I'm glad we had the chance to work together as much as we thoughts are with Leslie and his family at this very difficult time – Bruce Foxton(4/4) — Paul Weller (@paulwellerHQ) February 18, 2025 I'm shocked and saddened by Rick's passing. I'm thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking. To all the pubs and clubs we played at as kids, to eventually making a record. What a journey! (1/4 – P.W) — Paul Weller (@paulwellerHQ) February 18, 2025 Best of Deadline 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Tonys, Guilds & More How To Watch Sunday's 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' Online & On TV
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Weller ‘shocked and saddened' after death of The Jam drummer Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler, the drummer of The Jam, has died aged 69, his former bandmate Paul Weller said. Buckler, who died after a short illness, was a founding member of the mod punk band in 1972, playing in the band's classic line-up alongside bass player Bruce Foxton, 69, and lead singer and guitarist Weller, 66. In an Instagram post, Weller said: 'I'm shocked and saddened by Rick's passing. I'm thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Weller (@paulwellerhq) 'To all the pubs and clubs we played at as kids, to eventually making a record. What a journey. We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time. My deepest sympathy to all family and friends.' With The Jam, Buckler featured on six studio albums, including In The City (1977), All Mod Cons (1978) and Sound Affects (1980), which saw the band take a more melodic approach to punk rock, incorporating soul, blues and 1960s beat influences into their music. Weller also shared a tribute from Foxton on the account, which read: 'I was shocked and devastated to hear the very sad news today. 'Rick was a good guy and a great drummer whose innovative drum patterns helped shape our songs. 'I'm glad we had the chance to work together as much as we did. 'My thoughts are with Leslie and his family at this very difficult time.' Also paying tribute was ska group The Bodysnatchers' lead singer Rhoda Dakar, whose band shot to prominence in London at about the same time as The Jam. In a post on Instagram she said: 'A band is only as good as its drummer. So I would say he was a bloody good one. 'My sincere condolences to his family and friends. 'Don't waste a day people – tomorrow isn't promised.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rhoda Dakar (@rhodadakar) Buckler was due to embark on a Q&A tour of the UK later this year entitled A Night Of Memories And Music, which was recently postponed due to his health. The Jam achieved four UK number one singles and one UK number one album, and are best known for tracks such as Town Called Malice, Going Underground and Down In The Tube Station At Midnight. The band split in 1982 and had never fully reunited, but Foxton and Buckler have played together on a number of occasions. Weller and Buckler reportedly never spoke again barring a brief interaction, with the singer going on to form The Style Council after the dissolution of The Jam. After The Jam ended, Buckler went on to form a number of groups including Time UK, Sharp, which also featured Foxton, and The Gift, named after The Jam's last studio album and playing music from the band's back catalogue. Buckler toured with From The Jam, a new band playing covers of his first group, from 2007 to 2009, where he was joined by Foxton, who is still touring with the group. A statement from his management company announcing the news read: 'Rick Buckler, best known as the legendary drummer of The Jam, passed away peacefully on Monday evening in Woking, after a short illness with family by his side. 'Rick was a loving husband, father and grandfather and was a devoted friend to many, who will be greatly missed. 'His family have asked for privacy and respect during this time. Formed in 1972 in Woking, Surrey, the powerhouse three-piece comprised of singer, guitarist Paul Weller and drummer Rick Buckler and later bassist Bruce Foxton. 'The Jam had 18 consecutive UK Top 40 singles from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four number one hits. 'Rick was also successful with other avenues following The Jam which included furniture design and restoration, writing a number of books and keeping a strong relationship with his fans through his Q&As.' The drummer lived with his wife, with whom he had two children, Jason and Holly. His books included a number on the history of The Jam, and his own autobiography That's Entertainment: My Life In The Jam, which was released in 2015.
