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Carmichael to Play Gibson Guitars

CHICAGO—Gibson Musical Instruments is expected to name Carmichael Lynch its advertising agency, sources said. Though the Nashville, Tenn., company undertook an aborted review two years ago [Adweek, July 27, 1998], the assignment was not believed to be an offshoot of that search. Agency officials declined comment. Gibson officials did not return calls. Billings were not disclosed, but Gibson has traditionally spent $2 million on advertising annually.

Bernstein-Rein Plans for NetZero

CHICAGO—Bernstein-Rein Advertising was awarded media planning duties on NetZero’s $15-20 million account. The Kansas City, Mo., agency will be responsible for all print, national and spot television planning for the Westlake Village, Calif.-based Internet service provider. NetZero’s creative agency, Robert Chandler & Partners in Los Angeles, last year broke a campaign poking fun at Cold War paranoia with the tag, “Defenders of the Free World.”

D’Arcy ECD Anello Retires

CHICAGO—Ric Anello, executive vice president and executive creative director of D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles in North America, is leaving the agency Oct. 1. Anello, 52, was at D’Arcy in St. Louis for 11 years, at one time as a creative director on its cornerstone Budweiser business. Earlier in his 28-year career, he worked in Chicago at Leo Burnett and the former DDB Needham.

Burnett Wins Allstate Division

CHICAGO—The Allstate Corp. assigned advertising duties for its Independent Agency Markets unit to Leo Burnett. The unit is the result of Allstate’s October 1999 acquisition of CNA Personal Insurance and will be dedicated to serving independent insurance agents. Billings were not disclosed. Burnett also handles advertising for Allstate’s auto, home and life insurance units. Separately Sean Bisceglia, chief executive officer of TFA/Leo Burnett Technology Group, was elected to the Leo Burnett USA’s Board of Directors.

New Lee TV Work Coming Soon

CHICAGO—Lee Jeans Co. is expected to break new television work touting its Riveted line of jeans for women in early September, officials said. Print work touting the line is built around the theme, “Conversations with a Mirror,” and is currently running in national publications. The work, from Fallon Minneapolis, contains no tagline. Billings were not disclosed

Living.com Ends Short Life

CHICAGO—Furniture and home products e-tailer — and Leo Burnett client —Living.com filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection last week. In a statement, company CEO Shaun Holliday said the recent market downturn “substantially impaired” the company’s ability to conduct business. Burnett won what was touted as the company’s $20 million account last year. The agency created a campaign that played on people’s desire to express themselves through their furniture to their lives with the tag, “Your home. Your decision.”