News 22.03.2021

Need to Know

BBC Radio 2 pays homage to families, Cheese is a neobank targeting Asian Americans and UK streamers prefer tailored advertising.

BBC Radio 2 celebrates the role of radio in families

BBC Radio 2 "One of the family" by BBC Creative, UK

UK – BBC Radio 2 has unveiled a campaign depicting its radio DJs as an extended member of British families, to show the vital role of radio during the pandemic.

Created by the BBC’s in-house agency, BBC Creative, the retro campaign, titled One of the Family, features prominent radio presenters including Sara Cox and Dermot O’Leary joining the family portraits of real Radio 2 listeners. According to the BBC, one in four people in the UK listen to Radio 2 – a number that has risen during the pandemic.

With the station now played more homes than ever across the UK, the campaign visualises the importance of these voices in families' lives. ‘With Radio 2 on so much in people’s homes, we thought the presenters might start to feel just like one of the family,’ shares a statement from BBC Creative.

By symbolising this relationship in a playful way, Radio 2 is showing how aural media can create closer connections. In our microtrend, Connective Audio, we explore the resurgence of audio with new digital spaces that have enhanced personal relationships during the pandemic.

The S!ng app is democratising NFT ownership

S!ng S!ng
S!ng S!ng

US – Music technology platform S!ng is launching an app that allows anyone to create non fungible tokens (NFTs).

S!ng allows users to create secure NFTs by uploading content such as images, audio clips and video files. Through Ethereum-powered blockchain, S!ng ensures that all content has a verifiable source and traceable journey, making it less likely to be faked or tampered with. As the platform develops, S!ng has plans to expand its services and allow users to monetise their NFTs within the app.

Importantly, S!ng makes the creation of NFTs accessible, meaning that people without previous experience of blockchain can easily utilise the service to protect their assets. ‘S!NG is the safest and easiest platform for creators to mint NFTs,’ says Raine Maida, chief product officer at S!ng. ‘There is no better time to be an artist than right now, because we are on the precipice of an artistic revolution where control belongs to the artist.'

As our cyberspace evolves, a decentralised digital economy is ushering in new models of ownership for online communities. Buy tickets for our Trend Briefing event on March 25 to discover our new Alternet Economies macrotrend.

A digital bank boosting Asian American communities

Cheese Bank, US Cheese Bank, US

US – Fintech disruptor Cheese targets Asian Americans and Asian immigrants with specialised banking tools and a philanthropic mission.

To help Asian immigrants begin their banking journey, Cheese issues a debit card to those with no credit history and offers its services via a multi-language platform to ease the process of applying for loans for non-native speakers. Looking to give back to Asian communities, the bank has launched the Cheese Giveback Fund, which will be donated to non-profits and community service programs that support Asian neighbourhoods and businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Created in response to the lack of specialised banking services for the Asian American diaspora, the neobank intends to benefit this community with its social mission. ‘I have always envisioned launching a digital bank that someone like me could easily access, but one that also serves a deeper purpose, with the power to positively impact Asian communities,’ says Ken Lian, co-founder of Cheese.

With traditional banks failing intersectional groups, consumers are seeking more nuanced fintech services, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. We explore this push towards more personalised banking in our Millennial Money Market.

Stat: UK streamers are seeking more personalised ads

LG OLED TV R, US LG OLED TV R, US

On streaming services, advertising is not necessarily a barrier for UK viewers – especially when the ad content is tailored to individual preferences.

This is according to research by Magnite, which finds that 63% of UK consumers are receptive to Connected TV (CTV) advertising, especially if it is relevant to the show they are watching. Meanwhile, others prefer ads that are relevant to their hobbies or interests (75%) or related to online searches (58%).

‘We’re experiencing a seismic shift in how individuals are consuming content,’ said Julie Selman, UK managing director of Magnite. ‘This acceleration in CTV adoption creates a huge opportunity for advertisers to use the power of CTV to connect with consumers, and reach people where they are enjoying content they love.’

Marketers have an opportunity to connect with consumers and regain trust in advertising through more conscious applications of consumer data. For more, explore our Data Commerce Market.

Previous News Articles
AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

News

AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

WWF-Korea has launched Animal Trash Fashion, a powerful out-of-home campaign using AI to starkly illustrate the devastating impact of plastic pollu...
Sustainability : Design : Advertising
Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

News

Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

British fashion brand Rixo is expanding its circular ambitions with the launch of Rixo Pre-Loved, a resale platform where customers buy and sell it...
Retail : Fashion : Sutainability
Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

News

Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

Business travel is set to reach a record £1.18 trillion ($1.57 trillion, €1.36 trillion) by the end of 2025, according to ...
Stat : Statistic : Global Travel Market
Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

News

Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

Axe is making fragrance sampling fun again with a new campaign for its Cherry Fizz body spray.
Advertising : Fragrance : Retail
New wearable tracks hydration levels in real time

News

New wearable tracks hydration levels in real time

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a non-invasive wearable that continuously monitors hydration levels in real time.
Wearable Technology : Healthcare : Hydration
Stat: Online resale is booming in Britain

News

Stat: Online resale is booming in Britain

Online resale is booming in Britain, with pre-owned shopping now worth £4.3bn ($5.8bn, €5bn) annually and is set to rise to £4.8bn ($6.4bn, €5.5bn)...
Retail : Fashion : Technology
Prada’s 2025 Qixi campaign turns Shanghai’s bridges into a stage for love

News

Prada’s 2025 Qixi campaign turns Shanghai’s bridges into a stage for love

Prada’s campaign for the 2025 Qixi Festival – often referred to as Chinese Valentine’s Day – reimagines China’s legendary love tale through an...
Luxury : Fashion : Chinese Folklore
M&S tracks plastic’s afterlife with invisible UV packaging tags

News

M&S tracks plastic’s afterlife with invisible UV packaging tags

M&S : Sustainability : Retail
Stat: Britons are increasingly turning to biohacking through wellness supplements

News

Stat: Britons are increasingly turning to biohacking through wellness supplements

According to a July 2025 YouGov poll, one in five Britons (21%) have taken a wellness supplement in 2025 – pointing to the rise of personalise...
Health And Wellness : Supplements : Stat
Ocado’s Shopping List Stories campaign finds emotional value in the weekly shop

News

Ocado’s Shopping List Stories campaign finds emotional value in the weekly shop

Ocado is reframing grocery shopping as an emotional experience with Shopping List Stories, a new campaign by Uncommon Creative Studio.
Food And Drink : Supermarket : Branding And Advertising
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN