Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
The Sounds of
The biggest hits of the year — Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers
HEADLINES ON January 5, 1990
Full News Archive
- Headline: HDM Mattingly Secures Myer-Grace Account. Impact: When HDM Mattingly won the Myer-Grace account, they inadvertently set off a chain reaction in advertising strategies that would lead to a decade of over-the-top jingles and slogans. Thanks to this, we now have a world where catchy ads can haunt your dreams.. Fact: Did you know winning a $80 million account is like finding a golden ticket in a chocolate bar, except instead of chocolate, you get a lifetime supply of brainstorming sessions?.
- Headline: Ben Hogan Co. Partners with GSD&M. Impact: Ben Hogan Co. partnering with GSD&M marked the beginning of a never-ending cycle of agencies acquiring each other, leading to an agency so large it could probably sponsor an entire country. Welcome to the age of mega-agencies!. Fact: Fun fact: Ben Hogan was a legendary golfer, but I can assure you that GSD&M is not winning any awards for driving on the golf course—unless it’s for best ad campaign!.
- Headline: Medicus Intercon Acquires Agence M.K.. Impact: The acquisition of Agence M.K. by Medicus Intercon International created a domino effect in the healthcare advertising market, resulting in an influx of ads featuring overly enthusiastic doctors who love their jobs way too much.. Fact: Sarcastically, acquiring a French ad agency is like ordering a croissant from a café—everyone thinks it’s fancy, but really, it's just dough with a lot of butter..
- Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Advertising. Impact: The portrayal of Los Angeles as a chaotic urban jungle without a geographical focus inspired countless filmmakers to create movies where the city itself is a character—thank you, traffic jams!. Fact: Did you know that Los Angeles is so spread out that residents often refer to the distance between neighborhoods as 'a long, long drive'? Because who doesn't love sitting in traffic for hours?.
- Headline: BUSINESS PEOPLE; 2 at Fisher-Price Share Duties of President. Impact: The dual presidency at Fisher-Price sparked debates about leadership dynamics, eventually leading to more companies experimenting with shared leadership—turns out, two heads are not always better than one, especially when one of them is just a rubber duck.. Fact: Did you know Fisher-Price was once part of Quaker Oats? Sounds like a recipe for a very confusing breakfast: 'Would you like some toys with your oatmeal?'.
- Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Advertising; New Diet Coke Spots. Impact: The new Diet Coke ads kicked off an unending battle between soda brands, ultimately leading to a world where drinkers choose their beverages based on celebrity endorsements rather than taste—thank you, influencers!. Fact: Did you know that Diet Coke commercials often feature celebrities who look like they haven't touched a soda in years? Clearly, hydration comes from the fountain of youth!.
- Headline: THE LAW; Minority Critic Stirs Debate on Minority Writing. Impact: The debate over minority writing in law schools ignited a movement that would echo through academia, leading to the eventual establishment of courses on 'How to Write Like You Mean It'—because who knew writing could be so controversial?. Fact: Did you know that debates in academia are like professional wrestling matches? A lot of posturing, but the real action often happens behind the scenes, away from the cameras!.
Wall Street Time Machine
MSFT
Microsoft
Microsoft - If you invested $1,000 in 1990, it would be worth $1,285,532 today (1285.5x return)
AAPL
Apple
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1990, it would be worth $1,043,076 today (1043.1x return)