Why do so many smart people get advertising so wrong?
When Scott Galloway talks, marketers listen.
And that’s part of the problem.
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Don’t get me wrong: I love this guy. I once chased him down the Croisette at Cannes Lions and begged him for a picture. He’s charismatic, quotable, and often right about the big stuff: tech dominance, collapsing institutions, rising inequality. But when he veers into advertising, the insights start to wobble.
And lately Galloway’s been pushing a provocative line:
“The most successful companies don’t advertise.”
“Advertising is a tax on the poor.”
“The era of brand is over.”
These are bold, satisfying soundbites. They signal contrarian intelligence. They get claps at conferences.
They’re also wrong.
