Mazda CX-5 Campaign Drives Surge In Attention, Brand Perception
Mazda’s CX‑5 launch leveraged a cinematic campaign that debuted a 60‑second trailer during the 98th Academy Awards and rolled out five genre‑specific short films. The effort, built by WPP’s VML, included a custom ad selector on HBO Max and Hulu, letting viewers pick their preferred genre. The campaign achieved a 710 attention score—10% above non‑luxury auto norms—and drove strong lifts in brand perception among non‑owners. Search interest and ad awareness spiked, with the trailer alone surpassing 3.5 million views.
Grubhub Eases 'Taxiety' With Fee-Return Promo For April 15
Grubhub launched a "Fee Return" promotion that will give back $100,000 in credit to 5,000 diners who submit a 2025 receipt showing delivery fees. The offer runs through April 15 and includes a chance to win $20 in Grubhub credit, plus...
Meta Must Face Massachusetts AG's Addiction Suit
Massachusetts' highest court rejected Meta's claim that Section 230 shields it from liability over Instagram's design, allowing the attorney general's addiction lawsuit to proceed. The court clarified that the allegations target Meta's own features—such as infinite scroll and autoplay—not third‑party content....
How Connected Experiences Can Rebuild Consumer Trust
Marketers have flooded consumers with generic messages, eroding data quality and trust. A 2023 Optimove survey shows two‑thirds of shoppers want fewer communications, while siloed metrics like opens and clicks ignore actual sales impact. The article argues that AI‑driven, real‑time...
Local Ad Spend Forecast To Grow 8.1% This Year
U.S. local advertising is forecast to reach $184.5 billion in 2026, an 8.1% increase year‑over‑year. Digital media drives the bulk of growth, expanding 9.3% to $104.1 billion and representing 56.4% of the market. Traditional media still adds $80.4 billion, buoyed by $8.4 billion in...
Soccer Legend Tim Howard Stars In Jim Beam's World Cup Effort
Jim Beam has launched the "Home Field Advantage" campaign featuring retired U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard ahead of the FIFA World Cup. The brand, official spirits partner of the U.S. Soccer Federation, aired a 30‑second ad that celebrates backyard barbecues, office...
Oikos Celebrates Athletes' Strength, Perseverance
Danone’s Oikos yogurt brand has unveiled its first All‑Strength Team, led by top high‑school basketball recruit Saniyah Hall, to showcase athletes’ perseverance across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. The campaign, produced with Over The Edge, highlights training, recovery and high‑protein...
VML, WPP Media Help Recruit U.S. Navy Healthcare
The U.S. Navy has partnered with advertising firms VML and WPP Media to launch an integrated recruitment campaign for early‑career physicians, nurses and dentists. The effort focuses on Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Diego, using digital out‑of‑home, connected TV, paid social,...
Campaign Fights Rising Gen Z Nicotine Use
Truth Initiative launched the “Outsmart Nicotine” campaign to confront rising nicotine use among Gen Z, adding nicotine pouches and cigarettes to its anti‑nicotine messaging for the first time in a decade. The multi‑product focus highlights that nearly half of young users...
Red Bull, Chobani, Unilever Named CPG Leaders -- But Smaller Brands Are Coming For Them
The 2025 Circana U.S. CPG Growth Leaders report shows Red Bull leading the largest manufacturers, with Unilever, Kimberly‑Clark, L’Oréal and Coca‑Cola following, while mid‑tier firms such as Chobani and Celsius also posted strong gains. Private‑label and sub‑$1 billion brands captured market...
Healthy Starts, Cravings Later: How 'Need States' Drive Daily Dining Decisions
Technomic’s newest trend report shows diners start the day with a “better‑for‑you” need state, which accounts for roughly one‑third of breakfast choices, but quickly shift to craving‑satisfaction and experiential drivers for lunch, snacks, dinner and late‑night meals. Cravings dominate all...
Arkansas Petitions To Reinstate Restrictions On Social Media Algorithms
Arkansas has asked the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a preliminary injunction that blocked a state law prohibiting social‑media platforms from using algorithms or design features that could lead users to suicide, drug use, eating disorders, or addiction....
Jung Von Matt SPREE To Lead VW's Global Social Media
Jung von Matt SPREE has been named Volkswagen’s global social‑media lead agency, tasked with strategy, channel management and content creation across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Threads and Facebook. The partnership aims to make VW a culturally resonant, digitally‑first brand. In parallel,...
Svedka's Fembot Returns With $5 Y2K Flip Phone To Ease Digital Burnout
Svedka has introduced the Svedphone, a $5 chrome‑blue flip phone that strips away all digital frills, offering only calling and texting. The low‑tech device is marketed as a remedy for digital burnout, encouraging users to be present at festivals and...
Go-To-Market Fills The Basket, But Most B2B Pros Can't Even Define It
The 2026 State of B2B Go‑To‑Market (GTM) Strategy study by Outcomes Rocket reveals that only 37% of B2B marketers view GTM as an integrated, cross‑functional framework, yet 70% claim their organizations are aligned around shared GTM goals. The remaining 30%...
What Most Brands Get Wrong Measuring Influencer Marketing ROI
Influencer marketing ROI should be measured by engagement, user‑generated content, intent signals, and retail impact rather than mere impressions. Brands that focus on engagement rates above 1% and total interaction volume capture genuine consumer interest. Leveraging UGC not only reduces...
BBDO Chicago Creative 'Protects' M&M's Peanuts
BBDO Chicago’s new "Protect the Peanut" campaign spotlights the genetic fragility of peanuts, noting that only one in 100 meets M&M’s quality standards. The documentary, released on M&M’s social channels, follows the brand’s partnership with the University of Georgia to...
Day One Agency Creates 'Good Chemistry' For Naturium
Day One Agency unveiled its inaugural campaign for skincare brand Naturium, titled “Good Chemistry Starts in the Shower,” to promote the new Multi‑Peptide Advanced Body Wash. The 30‑second spot, alongside three 15‑second cuts, emphasizes a future‑self thanking the present self...
TikTok Ad Chief Khartoon Weiss Leaving For 'New Opportunity'
TikTok’s North American and global brands head Khartoon Weiss announced she will leave the company on April 9, after six years in the role. Weiss had just presented at the NewFronts event, promoting a U.S.-centric ad suite built to satisfy the...
'What's Your RAV4?' Celebrates SUV Built For Every Lifestyle
Toyota introduced the 2026 RAV4, the sixth‑generation model, with an inclusive "What’s Your RAV4?" campaign. The effort highlights individual driver lifestyles and is built for multicultural audiences. Agency partners Saatchi & Saatchi, Burrell Communications, Conill and Intertrend produced a suite of 30‑second...
Animated Lemons Show Sassy Personality For Mike's Hard Lemonade
Mike’s Hard Lemonade launched a new "Made with Real Character" campaign featuring three animated lemons—Sonny, Cal and Tina—as brand ambassadors. The ads showcase the characters going "hard," "harder," and "dirty," promoting the brand’s expanded lineup that now includes a non‑carbonated...
Beyond The BLT: IHOP Aims To Trademark Acronym For Latest Menu Item
IHOP has added a new BLTAF sandwich—bacon, lettuce, tomato, and fries—to its value menu, priced between $6 and $7 and available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The chain is also seeking a trademark on the BLTAF acronym and has seeded it...
The AI Imperative: Reshaping Healthcare Media for Impact and Integrity
AI is poised to overhaul healthcare and life‑science media by delivering highly targeted, data‑driven experiences. Large language models already help clinicians sift through up to 5,000 new papers daily, while programmatic platforms can serve personalized messages at critical decision points....
Bobbie's Chief Brand Officer on the Cardi B Partnership that Sparked a Cultural Conversation
Bobbie teamed with Cardi B as its "Chief Confidence Officer," launching a bold campaign that lifted brand awareness 16% in the first week and drove a 195% surge in Net Promoter Score among Gen Z parents. The partnership sparked a cultural conversation...
Meta, Google Verdicts Should Change How Marketers View Social Media
The March antitrust verdicts against Meta and Google signal a shifting regulatory landscape for social platforms, turning algorithm design into a legal risk for advertisers. At the same time, Gartner research shows growing audience fatigue, with over 40% of users...
Tommy Hilfiger Enlists Travis Kelce As Ambassador, Collaborator
Tommy Hilfiger has signed NFL star Travis Kelce as a global ambassador and creative collaborator. Kelce will star in a fall‑2024 ad campaign and co‑design a capsule collection that blends Hilfiger’s classic prep aesthetic with his bold, athletic style. The...
TikTok, SoundOn Aim To Further Protect Musicians' Licensed Work
TikTok and its music‑distribution partner SoundOn have launched an AI‑powered “Derivative Works Detection” service built by ACRCloud to identify copyrighted tracks even after user modifications. The system adds pre‑ and post‑distribution reviews, human photo‑ID checks, and works alongside TikTok’s own...
The Hidden Demand Shifts Behind Higher Gas Prices
Higher gasoline prices are prompting subtle but measurable shifts in consumer behavior before any dip in overall spend appears. Shoppers are consolidating trips, opting for smaller packs, lower‑priced substitutes, and relying more on promotions. Brands that monitor first‑party data can...
How Parents Won: The Case That Changed Social Media Liability
A New Mexico jury held major social‑media platforms liable for harm to children after a landmark case uncovered millions of internal documents and first‑hand accounts of youth distress. The discovery phase broke the usual pattern of early dismissals, providing concrete evidence...
Callen Devises Product Hook For Hulu, Disney+ 'Drama'
Disney+ and Hulu launched “The Drama You Want” campaign, turning iconic series moments into tangible product‑like items sold on Facebook Marketplace. The initiative leverages influencers and a mix of OOH, AV, digital, and social media to boost visibility. Concurrently, Hulu...
OpenAI Proposes 'Social Safety Net' Policies
OpenAI released a 13‑page blueprint titled “Industrial Policy for the Intelligence Age,” proposing a public wealth fund, a national AI‑seeded health fund, four‑day work weeks, and an AI‑driven advertising ecosystem. The plan aims to share AI efficiency gains, mitigate job...
How Do You Want Your Perimenopausal Celebs: Graceful Or Funny?
Midlife health brands are turning to celebrities to spotlight perimenopause. Comedian Amy Schumer leads Midi Health’s national campaign, using humor to list symptoms such as hot flashes and low libido, while ballet star Misty Copeland fronts Thorne’s Perimenopause Complete supplement,...
Freedom From Paywalls: 'The Salt Lake Tribune' Kills Charges
The Salt Lake Tribune will eliminate its paywall in May, moving to a donation‑based model after becoming a nonprofit in 2019. All new articles on its website and app will be free, while donors receive perks like the e‑edition, commenting...
Flipboard Social Web Project Launches With 'Rolling Stone,' Others
Flipboard has rolled out “social websites” through its Surf reader app, extending the platform to the open web and Google Play. The service lets creators and publishers build custom, searchable feeds that aggregate posts, videos, podcasts and community conversations from...
From Ads To Answers, AI Is Rewiring Marketing's Growth Engine
Marketing is moving from an ad‑centric, attention‑driven model to an AI‑driven recommendation engine. Generative AI usage has risen to 53% of consumers, and tools like Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT are reshaping how shoppers ask for conclusions rather than keywords....
Florida-Led Coalition Backs Louisiana Request To Enforce Parental Consent Law
A Florida‑led coalition of 30 states and the District of Columbia has filed a friend‑of‑the‑court brief supporting Louisiana’s request to enforce its Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation Act, which mandates age verification and parental consent for users under...
Chili's Didn't Go Viral By Accident
Chili’s has turned its social media presence into a cultural engine, using creator partnerships to make menu items go viral. The chain’s espresso martini launch, featuring *Vanderpump Rules* stars, sparked a surge of user‑generated content that re‑engaged younger diners. Director...
Mars Gum, BBDO Target Young Demos, Chew On 'Overthink'
Mars’ OEFY gum portfolio—including Orbit, Extra, Freedent and Yida—has launched a youth‑focused campaign called “Total Overthink of The Heart.” The BBDO Chicago creative remixes Bonnie Tyler’s 1983 hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and runs across memes, social, digital and OOH...
2030 Forecast: Ad-Supported Video Soars 75% To $540B
Omdia projects that advertising‑supported video will surge 75 % to $540 billion by 2030, propelled by social‑media and connected‑TV platforms. Online video is set to capture 54 % of global video revenue, up from 40 % in 2025. In contrast, linear TV’s ad‑supported revenue...
GM Fills Cadillac CMO Role With Longtime Uber Exec
General Motors has appointed David Mogensen, former Uber global marketing chief, as Cadillac’s new chief marketing officer, ending an eight‑month vacancy. Mogensen brings experience leading Uber and Uber Eats across 30 markets and a prior stint at BMW, aligning with...
All Eligible Snap Creators Can Now Offer Subscriptions
Snapchat has rolled out its Creator Subscription product to every eligible creator globally, letting them set monthly fees for exclusive Snaps, Stories and ad‑free experiences. In the pilot, creators retained roughly 60% of subscription revenue and saw Spotlight posts boost...
TikTok Gamifies DMs With Emojis, Pixelated Alligators
TikTok has introduced a retro‑style mini‑game that lives inside its direct‑message interface, letting users send a single emoji to launch a pixelated alligator‑crossing challenge. The game mirrors recent chat‑based titles such as Threads' basketball and Instagram’s hidden emoji game, and...
TikTok Promotes Personalized Creator Videos As Cameo Rebuilds
TikTok’s U.S. operation has teamed up with Cameo to embed personalized video messages into the platform. The partnership enables creators to sell custom shout‑outs directly to fans, expanding TikTok’s suite of monetization tools. By leveraging Cameo’s existing marketplace, TikTok aims...
Instagram Premium Program Aims To Boost Users' Story Performance
Instagram is piloting a new subscription called Instagram Plus in Mexico, Japan and the Philippines, priced up to $2.20 per month. The service adds Story‑centric tools such as unlimited audience lists, re‑watch metrics, weekly spotlight, 24‑hour extensions and anonymous story...
Meta's Social Media Battle Plan
Meta is confronting the landmark K.G.M. v. Meta decision that threatens its long‑standing Section 230 shield, prompting an internal legal strategy dubbed "Project Hail Mary." The ruling fuels global discussions on age‑based social‑media bans, with Australia already restricting users under...
Phone Habits, Not Screen Time, Define Kids' Digital Wellbeing
A new Aura Digital Wellbeing Index reveals that children’s wellbeing is tied more to how often they pick up their phones than to total screen‑time minutes. The study found kids with low digital wellbeing check their devices roughly seven times...
Section 230 Is Dead
A Los Angeles jury in K.G.M. v. Meta Platforms found Meta and YouTube negligent for how their platforms are engineered, awarding $3 million and assigning 70% liability to Meta. The verdict pivots the legal analysis from merely hosting user content to...
