Translation

Independent full-service creative agency known for culturally driven brand strategy and campaigns, with a distinctive edge in music, sports, and entertainment marketing

Translation is a New York-based full-service advertising and creative agency founded in 2004 by Steve Stoute, a former music industry executive. The agency is known for its culturally driven approach to brand building, leveraging deep expertise in music, sports, entertainment, and youth culture to create campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences. Translation has worked with major brands including State Farm, McDonald's, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch, and the NBA, among others. The agency's core philosophy centers on the idea that culture is the most powerful driver of consumer behavior, and it positions itself as a bridge between brands and the cultural moments that matter most to their target audiences. This approach has made Translation particularly effective at reaching multicultural and millennial/Gen Z demographics, often through partnerships with artists, athletes, and influencers who carry authentic cultural credibility. Translation operates as an independent agency and has built a strong reputation in the advertising industry for producing work that is both creatively distinctive and commercially effective. Steve Stoute's background in the music industry — having managed artists like Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige — gives the agency a unique vantage point and access to talent that few traditional advertising agencies can match. The agency competes with both large holding company networks and other independent creative shops.