Advertising & Marketing

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the quick adaptation and rejection of Threads by Instagram users, the complicated costs of bundling streaming services, where TikTok falls on the list of most influential social media apps, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our director of reports editing Rahul Chadha and analysts Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf and Max Willens.

Affiliate marketing is maturing into a multidimensional, full-funnel channel. But not everyone is convinced of its potential, said Alexandra Forsch, president of Awin Americas. For senior decision-makers, affiliate marketing is “considered a very tactical channel and not a strategic one, and as such, it’s not as attractive,” Forsch said on a “Behind the Numbers” podcast episode.

Toy sales growth can be attributed to kids’ shifting interests, the influence of online platforms, and expanding into older audiences. In our recent “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast episode, we dive into trends impacting toy retail sales and how marketers can reach new consumers.

Introducing the new X: The former Twitter introduces biometric data collection and tackles LinkedIn's job listings empire.

Global digital services taxation is intensifying with New Zealand aiming to tax companies like Meta and Google 3% of profits by 2025.

Toyota halted all Japan factory operations due to a computer glitch, disrupting a third of its global output. The issue isn't cyber-related but follows past tech troubles such as data leaks and cyberattacks.

On today's special podcast episode, we continue our monthly show where we discuss the biggest trends of the moment and the newest research, sprinkle in some analysis, and bundle it up into a quiz. Every month, three of our analysts representing their respective coverage area teams compete against each other. (We also encourage you to play along at home.) We keep a running score and will crown a winning team at the end of the year. Today, we cover the triopoly's Q2 advertising performance, The Walt Disney Co.’s foray into sports betting, and who exactly are Gen Alphas? Tune in to the discussion with this month's contestants: our analysts Ross Benes and Zak Stambor and vice president of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti.

Amazon’s advertising division ranked highest in our Power of Amazon in 2023 report. Its retail ecommerce division, Amazon’s biggest business by dollars, lost share between our initial rankings in 2021 and our current forecast.

Some 65% of TikTokers prefer content from brands that feature original sounds, according to 2021 MRC Data. TikTok sounds allow users to attach posts to songs and other audio which can then drive an association between the song and the brand. TikTok already has a Commercial Music Library of royalty-free tracks, but brands can push social campaigns a step further by creating their own viral songs.

Michaels and Shutterstock are navigating growth through a blend of creative initiatives and hard metrics. Michaels is focused on enhancing its customer experience and its new online marketplace. Shutterstock is leaning into SEO, automated dashboards, social listening, and collaboration.

Despite reporting $2.2B in quarterly profits, T-Mobile announces layoffs in tech and corporate roles amid a broader restructuring, echoing an industry-wide trend of consolidation.

By 2026, 90% of online content could be AI-generated. A premium on human-crafted content could follow as regulators race to establish standards for responsible AI use.

What is Nielsen doing with big data? The company announced a new currency days before the Media Ratings Council meets to approve it.

Google unleashes AI upgrades at Cloud Next: It’s staying neck-and-neck with Big Tech cloud rivals on AI. Beating the competition requires differentiation, blockbuster performance, and the right pricing.

On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss how toy brands are using TikTok as a marketing channel for children and adults alike, and how brands are making their toy stores more experiential to drive sales. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank toy brands whose creative marketing strategies are making their toys stand out. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Carina Perkins.

ChatGPT goes corporate: OpenAI responds to market pressure by releasing an enterprise version of ChatGPT. It rivals a similar offering from Microsoft, signaling growing tension in the partnership.

Alibaba's two AI models rely on open-source technology for image understanding and complex interactions, reflecting a strategic move toward wider adoption.

The service is now available on web browsers. But it will still be hard to sustain engagement after an 80% drop in users from its July peak.

Amazon to weave AI into sports broadcasting: It’ll power Thursday Night Football on-screen features with its neural network. We expect other digital entertainment platforms will follow suit.

The Trade Desk thinks supply platforms charge too much: In a controversial attempt to drive down prices, the company says it will start bidding below price floors.