Pepsi crashes barbecues to rid them of Coke in latest stunt

A new campaign insisting the soft drink goes best with grilled foods is timed to National Barbecue Day and includes a 60-second spot and an Instacart tie-up.

By Jessica Deyo • May 15, 2025

Netflix hones pitch to brands with richer data, personalization tools

Plans for a clean room strategy and generative AI-assisted ad formats were outlined at the streamer’s blockbuster upfront show.

By Peter Adams • May 15, 2025

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Retail Marketing

Top stories that underscore the leading influences on retail marketing, including Gen Z, pop culture and generative AI.

By Marketing Dive staff

YouTube spotlights how brands can own cultural moments at ad showcase

A star-studded Brandcast unveiled a deeper NFL partnership, new sponsorship offerings and contextually relevant ads powered by Gemini AI.

By Peter Adams • May 15, 2025

How Warner Bros. Discovery is letting brands tap ‘newstalgia’ for its IP

Along with bringing back the name HBO Max, WBD laid out new ways for brands to buy ads across its portfolio and integrate with its library of content.

By Chris Kelly • May 14, 2025

Amazon launches AI-powered contextual ads at 2nd blockbuster upfront

Featuring loads of Hollywood star power, the tech giant’s presentation showed off results from the first full year of advertising on Prime Video.

By Chris Kelly • May 13, 2025

Inside NBCUniversal’s all-singing, all-dancing pitch to advertisers

The media conglomerate boasted a portfolio that drives $1.4 trillion of consumer spending every month — and took shots at its upfront competitors.

By Chris Kelly • May 12, 2025

Linear ad spend grew in Q1 despite economic uncertainty: iSpot

While linear ad impressions declined during the period, the increase in spend signals a sharper focus by marketers on quality placements and outcomes.

By Sara Karlovitch • May 12, 2025

Meta touts complementary powers of video, AI in overture to brands

At the NewFronts, executives said that generative AI tools are “are going to help mark a new era of creativity” that marketers will aid in shaping.

By Peter Adams • May 9, 2025

Mountain Dew touts new logo with tattoo sweepstakes, TikTok Shop exclusive

The PepsiCo brand is celebrating its refreshed logo hitting store shelves this week with a social media giveaway and collaboration with Dickies. 

By Jessica Deyo • May 8, 2025

Inside Disney’s ad playbook as streaming becomes ‘core growth platform’

Brands including Lysol, Amex and Poppi are taking advantage of advertising offerings from the media giant as it prepares for its upfront presentation.

By Chris Kelly • May 8, 2025

Tubi pitches products, partnerships designed for specific ad verticals

Fox’s AVOD service positioned itself as purpose-built for streaming advertising and announced an expanded partnership with Amazon around retail media.

By Chris Kelly • May 7, 2025

TikTok reassures brands on future as advertising ambitions broaden

Inventing a new model for social search and capitalizing on “out of phone” activations in areas like sports and music were in focus at the NewFronts.

By Peter Adams • May 7, 2025

Google adds retail media data to YouTube ads, beefing up pitch to brands

Costco, Intuit, Regal Cinemas and United Airline’s Kinective Media support a Display & Video 360 program that aims to wed shopper and brand campaigns.

By Peter Adams • May 6, 2025

5 years of media evolution provide few answers to brands’ chaotic 2025

Planning around tariff disruption echoes the pandemic, a moment the industry did not always meet with agility or savvy investment decisions. 

By Peter Adams , Julia Himmel • May 6, 2025

Inside Universal Ads’ plan to reach the next 100K buyers of TV ads

Launched in January, Comcast’s self-service platform powered by FreeWheel has grown its list of publisher and tech partners ahead of the upfronts.

By Chris Kelly • May 5, 2025

Amazon’s booming ad business faces dynamic challenge from tariffs

While marketers tend to invest in performance marketing in a downturn, sellers on the company’s e-commerce marketplace may need to cut budgets.

By Peter Adams • May 2, 2025

Sephora stakes its claim in skin care with multichannel campaign

Made with TBWA\Chiat\Day LA, “Skin Obsessed” riffs on the realities of complex self-care routines and spans CTV, online video and more.

By Jessica Deyo • April 29, 2025

Google’s ad business remains robust despite macro, regulatory threats

The platform is seeing slight headwinds from tariffs in regions that were, until recently, heavy spenders, but said it’s too early to tell the full impact. 

By Peter Adams • April 25, 2025

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.

By Mark Zamuner • April 23, 2025

OpenAP’s TV network owners push ahead on interoperable streaming ads

The firm’s new identity solution undertakes data privacy considerations for premium video ads in a multiscreen environment.

By Aaron Baar • April 21, 2025

Gatorade taps Kendrick Lamar for latest extension of ‘Is It In You?’

“Lose More. Win More.” was created with TBWA/Chiat/Day LA and pays tribute to the hard work it takes to reach icon status.

By Jessica Deyo • April 18, 2025

Kids entertainment brand CoComelon lends a hand in first brand campaign

“CoComelon Can Help” also includes creator partnerships and playlists curated for Pinterest and YouTube.

By Jessica Deyo • April 17, 2025

Shifting perspectives: 3 trends redefining creative video marketing today

A guide to how creators and marketers should think about commercial video right now.

April 16, 2025

Malibu encourages work-life balance in new ad starring Brian Cox

Known for serious roles such as Logan Roy in “Succession,” the actor ditches the boardroom to enjoy the beach and tells consumers to “Clock off!”

By Sara Karlovitch • April 14, 2025

How 3 music trends are boosting video marketing campaigns right now

Which music concepts are hitting the right notes for video creators and marketers today?

April 14, 2025