AD Agencies
HT Media hires Dentsu Impact
MUMBAI: Dentsu Impact has won the creative duties for all brands from HT Media – including Hindustan Times, Hindustan (Hindi), Mint, Shine.com, HT Campus, Career Plus, Study Mate, English Mate and Bridge School of Management. With this move, Dentsu Impact becomes the prime strategic and communication partner for HT Media handling communication for all brands from the group, barring its radio brands Fever FM & Nasha FM, which are handled by Ogilvy & Mather.
The HT Group, which has so far worked with multiple agencies for different brands, initiated a process of consolidating all the brands with one single agency sometime in November 2016. Post an exhaustive pitch process, in which some of the country’s top agencies participated, HT finally decided to award the duties to Dentsu Impact.
HT Media groum CMO Rajan Bhalla said, “We wanted to move to a single partner for our diverse brand portfolio. Dentsu was already handling Hindustan, Mint and Shine.com and their team has done excellent work for the last few years, hence the decision to go with them.”
Dentsu Impact presiden Amit Wadhwa said, “This is a big win for us and an important one. When a group like Hindustan Times decides to award its entire portfolio of brands to one agency, it shows the level of trust as well as spirit of partnership from both ends. We are extremely excited and are rearing to create some interesting work.”
Dentsu Impact national creative director Soumitra Karnik added, “It’s a fabulous start to this year for us. Winning all the brands of HT group is something any creative agency would kill for. Along with this great news also comes great responsibility. We are quite committed to doing some great work on each brand.”
AD Agencies
Advertising Rocks Season 4 returns to Goafest 2026 with musical flair
Industry talent takes centre stage as music meets creativity at Goafest
MUMBAI: The spotlight is back on music and marketing as Advertising Rocks Season 4 gears up for a high-energy return at Goafest 2026, promising a louder and more vibrant celebration of creative talent within the industry.
Now in its fourth edition, the platform continues to carve a niche as a space where professionals from advertising, media and marketing step beyond boardrooms to showcase their musical side. Open to solo and duet performers, the competition will unfold across multiple rounds before culminating in a live finale at the festival. Shortlisted participants will also receive complimentary access to Goafest, adding to the appeal.
Each category will feature four finalists, with winners decided through a mix of jury evaluation and audience votes, making the experience interactive as well as competitive. The stakes are equally compelling, with cash prizes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,00,000 across categories.
Reflecting on the journey so far, BBH former CEO Subhash Kamath said, “This will be the 4th edition of Advertising Rocks and every year, it’s become better and better. We have some amazing musical talent in our industry and what better stage to perform than at Goafest. I hope we get more entries this time and I’m really looking forward to hearing some fabulous talent.”
Echoing the sentiment, Havas Media Network India chief executive officer Mohit Joshi said, “Season 4 of Advertising Rocks perfectly captures the spirit of our industry, where creativity doesn’t end at the workplace, it finds expression in many forms. At Goafest 2026, we are excited to bring back Season 4, bigger and more vibrant, giving professionals a platform to showcase their musical talent.”
Registrations for the competition are currently open, with entries accepted until April 30. Participants are invited to submit their performances and take a shot at the stage.
Co-hosted by the Advertising Agencies Association of India and The Advertising Club, Goafest 2026 will be held from May 20 to 22 in Goa. With Advertising Rocks returning to the lineup, the festival is set to strike a chord that goes well beyond advertising, blending ideas with rhythm and a touch of showmanship.
