Michael Nyman, a veteran in the marketing, PR, and communications industry, reached the peak of his career as chairman and CEO of the renowned PMK-BNC firm in 2018. However, Nyman made the bold decision to step down from his position to embark on a new journey.
In a recent episode of the “Strictly Business” podcast by Variety, Nyman delves into the inspiration and vision behind his latest venture, Acceleration Community of Companies. This innovative initiative serves as an umbrella organization for a diverse range of firms with unique and complementary specialties. Over the past several years, Nyman has acquired a variety of companies, including experiential marketing firm MKG, design and fabrication studio Pink Sparrow, Event Marketer, PR powerhouse DKC, PR firm Trailblaze, influencer marketing agency Pixly, data and analytics firm Stripe Theory, and creative agency Hangar Four.
Nyman explains, “I felt the virtues of being in a community or with a group of companies was a good thing, and I felt that for certain clients, there was some benefit if you could find a grouping of companies that could help you. But what I was trying to do was look at a different spin on it. What I was thinking was the future would be focused more on specialization.”
He envisions a future where specialization is paramount, enabled by technology and the demand for instant gratification. By assembling a community of agencies with distinct superpowers in areas such as communications, influencer marketing, data analytics, and experiential marketing, Nyman aims to create a collaborative environment where each agency’s strengths complement one another.
Acceleration Community of Companies has made significant investments in research and analytics to navigate the evolving landscape of media and entertainment. Nyman emphasizes the impact of changing behaviors, norms, and expectations among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, which will shape the future of entertainment in the years to come.
Nyman reflects on the challenges posed by Gen Alpha, stating, “Gen Alpha is a little challenging, because you’re talking about a society now where, at this young age and stage, these kids are getting in their hands answers to everything. Everything is unlocked, and they don’t have to go far, because they’re holding it in the palm of their hand.”
Despite the shifting landscape, Nyman believes that film and streaming will endure, but anticipates a wave of new iterations and versions of entertainment experiences. He predicts that the theatrical experience will evolve, with changes in content creation and consumption habits.
“Strictly Business” is Variety’s weekly podcast that delves into conversations with industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. New episodes are released every Wednesday on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Play, and SoundCloud.
In conclusion, Michael Nyman’s Acceleration Community of Companies represents a new breed of marketing and communication firms that are poised to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the industry with specialization, collaboration, and innovation at the forefront.
