Year in Review: Melanie Reece, Pandora

In keeping with an ongoing tradition, a few industry players gave us their take on the year for our annual opinion harvest. Here’s what Melanie Reece, the commercial director at Pandora, thought about 2014. ​

1. Favourite local campaign that isn’t yours

Absolutely loved Israel Dagg in the Samsung GS5 commercials – who knew he was such great TV talent?

2. Favourite campaign that is yours

Feel Tip Top at the Beach – our first branded station on Pandora. Perfect for quintessentially Kiwi BBQs – give it a whirl!

3. Favourite international campaign

The Hobbit Air NZ safety videos – still epic.

4.  Least favourite campaign

Heidi Montag for Sealord – are you kidding me?

5. Your own biggest success

Launching the local arm of the most popular music streaming service in the world. What an incredible reaction from the market.

6. Favourite magazine/website/TV show/radio show/podcast/news service/app/song/other

Magazine: Denizen – j’adore.
App: Donna Hay dinners – fantastic for a working foodie mum.
News service: Flipboard on my ipad. Love.
Song: Mr Probz – the sound of 2014 for me and the perfect Pandora station for the beach this summer.
Website: Pinterest. Pictorial porn.
TV Show: House of Cards – Obsessed with Frank and Clare Underwood. Note to self: must build smoking nook in my house (even though I don’t smoke).

7. Most ridiculous buzzword

‘Thought shower’ is always accompanied by unwelcome mental images.

8. Best innovation

The Dash – the world’s first completely wireless smart headphones offering freedom of movement, maximum comfort and amazing sound. Check them out.

9. Most over-hyped ‘innovation’

Google glass – really?

10. Best brands

Air New Zealand still nails it for me. With the Koru app I can check in online, change my bookings, receive weather alerts as I pack and book my upgrades. Awesome.

11. Best stoush

The head to head battle of The Block and MKR. Very hard to tell who actually won but the battle of the reality formats will be on in  2015. 

12. Heroes

Ebola fighters. Great to see them win Time Magazine person of the year 2014.  “Not the glittering weapon fights the fight, says the proverb, but rather the hero’s heart”. 

13. Villains

Those mobile clothing companies that prey on the poorest members of our society with their “no fuss, revolving credit system” where “provided you agree to our terms and conditions, you can pay the clothes off as you wear them”. Evil.

14.  Predictions for 2015

Smart device penetration will increase dramatically as the cost of devices lowers globally, and smart devices will become accessible to the masses. Consumers will continue to define their own content experiences and media will become even more personalised. Brand experiences will follow with personalised advertising campaigns a key driver of success.

• According to Font’s recent survey, 43 percent of marketing professionals in New Zealand are looking to change jobs next year and 65 percent will be re-evaluating career plans over the Christmas period. So check out some of the roles Font has on offer here and have a gander at the infographic based on the survey results here.