Wieden+Kennedy will make history this month as the first-ever agency to be inducted into the Association of Music Producers’ Hall of Fame, the organization announced today. The honor will be formally presented at the 2025 AMP Awards for Music & Sound, taking place May 21 at Sony Hall in New York.
This marks a significant milestone for the nearly 30-year-old AMP organization, which has traditionally reserved its highest honor for brands. Past inductees include Nike, Apple, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald’s, and Volkswagen, among others.
“W+K’s breadth of work continuously pushes our craft and creators to the limit,” said Matt Nelson, AMP National President and Managing Director of Storefront Music. “Their use of music and audio as a narrative device is second to none. For honoring our community with enduring respect for our craft, we cannot think of a better agency to be our first-ever Hall of Fame inductee.”
Wieden+Kennedy was founded in 1982 by Dan Wieden and David Kennedy, and has consistently delivered award-winning, culture-shaping campaigns for clients such as Nike, McDonald’s, ESPN, P&G, Coca-Cola, and Anheuser-Busch. Its work has been celebrated by nearly every major advertising festival, from Cannes Lions to the AICP Show, and notably, the AMP Awards themselves.
“Music plays a massive role in the work we do,” said Karl Lieberman, Wieden+Kennedy’s Global Chief Creative Officer, who will accept the honor on behalf of the agency. “When we get it right, it’s the music that creates the mood, sets the tone, and makes the difference between something that feels like just another ad and something that actually moves people.”
A Legacy of Sonic Innovation
W+K’s legacy in sound includes some of advertising’s most iconic uses of music—from Nike’s 1989 “Bo Knows” spot featuring Bo Diddley, to the energizing rhythm of “Da Da Ding,” and the emotionally charged “You’re Not Ready” Netflix campaign. Take a look below:
Nike – “Bo Knows”
McDonald’s – “Can I Get Uhhhhh” (Super Bowl)
Coca-Cola – “Open That Coca-Cola” featuring Tyler, The Creator
Amazon Prime – “Tache”
HP “Orchestra”
The Industry’s Loudest Night
Known as the “loudest show in the industry,” the AMP Awards are the only juried, not-for-profit competition dedicated to celebrating music and sound in advertising and media. The 2025 ceremony will feature live performances, 12 category winners, and the coveted Best in Show award, with an expected audience of over 400 advertising and music industry professionals.
The Hall of Fame induction will be a key highlight of the evening, made possible with support from AMP’s Platinum Sponsors: APM Music, Marmoset, Music Alternatives, and Reservoir.
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