Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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AI doesn’t reward scale. That changes everything for multicultural agencies.
For agencies that have always had to do more with less, the level playing field is finally here, according to IW Group’s Nita Song.
Nita Song • Aug. 27, 2026 -
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Today’s marketing data is too saturated to be oil — it’s uranium
An overabundance of data can do damage if marketers don’t figure out how to turn it into better decisions, writes Steve Kennedy, CMO at Marco's Pizza.
Steve Kennedy • Aug. 20, 2026 -
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How brands can navigate the Paramount-WBD merger chaos
The issue is less about a specific transaction and more about how the ad industry prepares for the ongoing consolidation reality, says Crossmedia's Kaitlyn McInnis.
Kaitlyn McInnis • Aug. 13, 2026 -
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A CMO’s guide to machine relations
PenVine’s Jennifer Schenberg shares the steps marketers need to follow to close the gap between visibility and validation on AI platforms.
Jennifer Schenberg • Aug. 6, 2026 -
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IRL streamers are brands’ biggest marketing opportunity
Streamers like iShowSpeed can help brands find consumers at their most engaged, says Streamlabs’ Ashray Urs.
Ashray Urs • July 30, 2026 -
Permission granted by Peter Adams/Marketing Dive
AI is accelerating the accountability gap. Here’s how CMOs can close it.
InMarket CMO Natalie Bastian lays out what marketers are missing as AI moves from the pilot phase to production at wider scale.
Natalie Bastian • July 15, 2026 -
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Why unpaid media is now essential to AI visibility
Earned media and community discussion generate the authority signals that determine whether a brand gets recommended by AI, writes Abigail Niziankiewicz of Mediassociates.
Abigail Niziankiewicz • July 9, 2026 -
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Patriotism is no longer a campaign — it’s a branding strategy
Consumers define patriotic brands through a wider lens than marketers, writes Robert Passikoff, founder and president of Brand Keys.
Robert Passikoff • June 30, 2026 -
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Marketing’s next target audience? Co-workers
When marketing’s mission and value aren’t clear, it can be undervalued by colleagues, writes The Conference Board’s Denise Dahlhoff.
Denise Dahlhoff • June 25, 2026 -
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Why data accuracy matters more than data scale amid the rise of AI
In an automated world, bad data not only misleads marketing teams but also accelerates mistakes, writes Epsilon’s Gillian MacPherson.
Gillian MacPherson • June 16, 2026 -
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The problem for brands isn’t their marketing strategy — it’s their structure
Organizations that fail to deliver have often hired great talent into a broken system, writes Edmunds’ Alison Steinlauf Anziska.
Alison Steinlauf Anziska • June 10, 2026 -
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World Cup tests marketers’ ability to prove value of sponsorships
When every brand shows up in the same way, visibility becomes the baseline rather than the differentiator, writes Gartner’s Nicole Greene.
Nicole Greene • June 4, 2026 -
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How AI is making ad creative faster — and more fair
The shift toward AI is not just about producing ads faster, it’s about giving creative capability to everyone, writes Amazon’s Nikhil Nanivadekar.
Nikhil Nanivadekar • April 22, 2026 -
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Will ChatGPT ads become a meaningful part of the performance media mix?
Questions remain around whether LLM ads can be evaluated with the same rigor as the rest of advertisers’ media plans, writes AppFlyer’s Brian Quinn.
Brian Quinn • April 9, 2026 -
via Koddi.
Creators work, but measurement doesn’t — yet
While creators deliver impact across the funnel, most campaigns are still evaluated using outdated proxies, writes the IAB’s Zoe Soon.
Zoe Soon • March 11, 2026 -
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AI is accelerating measurement theater and creating ‘ghost ships’
“Ghost ships” are technically flawless models that never influence real decisions — WPP Media’s Jeffrey Kennedy explains how to avoid them.
Jeffrey Kennedy • Jan. 15, 2026 -
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How generative AI upends the brand crisis playbook
A recent Campbell’s controversy demonstrates how brands must respond to negative narratives in the age of AI, writes Terakeet’s Shannon Reedy.
Shannon Reedy • Dec. 22, 2025 -
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Why the advertising industry can’t wait for responsible AI guidelines
If companies wait for regulation, they will always be behind, says Integral Ad Science Chief Compliance Officer Kevin Alvero.
Kevin Alvero • Sept. 22, 2025 -
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Cracker Barrel: Another case of the blanding of branding
Restaurants must engage core and growth audiences to understand what they value and which brand equities to protect, evolve or retire, writes Jon Shapiro, chief creative officer of brand experience at PV&COHO.
Jon Shapiro • Sept. 3, 2025 -
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How experiences turn in‑store retail media into real results
Retail media needs to bridge the gap between physical and digital to create a cohesive media ecosystem, writes Sam’s Club’s Harvey Ma.
Harvey Ma • Aug. 22, 2025 -
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Do the upfronts still matter?
The annual ad-buying bonanza can’t survive on nostalgia and sports alone and needs to modernize, says Juice Media CEO Mark Zamuner.
Mark Zamuner • April 23, 2025 -
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Why 2025 will be the year for ‘fill-in-the-blank’ media networks
Organizations in industries as varied as software or travel have or are planning to launch ad networks, and many more will follow, said Upwave’s Chris Kelly.
Chris Kelly • March 20, 2025 -
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Breaking into the big game: Tips for first-time Super Bowl advertisers
The real winners in big game advertising aren't crowned during the game, but they're revealed in the months that follow, said 5WPR’s Ronn Torossian.
Ronn Torossian • Feb. 6, 2025 -
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What Google Chrome’s potential sale means for the future of advertising
The pressure is on for marketers to establish data-driven, adaptable strategies, according to Keen Decision Systems’ Bradley Keefer.
Bradley Keefer • Dec. 2, 2024 -
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3 brands that understand Gen Alpha’s humor — and what they’re doing right
Sour Patch Kids, Crocs and Nutter Butter all tap into the meme-driven humor that the cohort loves, says Movers+Shakers’ CEO Evan Horowitz.
Evan Horowitz • Oct. 22, 2024
