Agency’s Cannes Lions awards revoked for use of AI, safeguards introduced

The mutual decision to withdraw the award follows the discovery that Brazilian agency DM9 simulated real-world events and campaign outcomes.

By Aaron Baar • June 30, 2025

IAB standardizes gaming campaign measurement with new framework

The resource outlines standard gaming ad formats across media types like digital, video and audio and explains the must-have metrics available for each.

By Jessica Deyo • June 30, 2025

Omnicom-IPG merger clears key regulatory hurdle focused on ad boycotts

The companies agreed to a consent order that they will not coordinate with other firms to direct spending away from publishers based on political views. 

By Peter Adams • June 24, 2025

TikTok brings expanded suite of generative AI ad tools to WPP, Adobe

TikTok Symphony features, including dynamic digital avatars, are coming to WPP Open to provide more “firepower” for agency creatives.

By Peter Adams • June 17, 2025

Why Disney’s Compass seeks true north in data collaboration

A new integration with Amazon DSP demonstrates how platforms are working to bring together first-party data in clean room environments.

By Chris Kelly • June 17, 2025

PepsiCo taps VaynerMedia to evolve in-house agency model

A new integrated team weds PepsiCo beverage’s internal brand-building expertise with VaynerMedia’s ability to activate around social media.

By Peter Adams • June 16, 2025

Can Acxiom and Snowflake break the data black box where others failed?

The need for privacy-safe identity resolution is one of Acxiom parent IPG's “big bets,” even in the wake of Google's decision to keep third-party cookies.

By Chris Kelly • June 15, 2025

Publicis deepens AI transformation services with help from Nvidia

A new Center of Excellence built on Nvidia tech and led by Publicis Sapient speaks to the opportunity the agency sees in taking a consultative approach.

By Peter Adams • Updated June 12, 2025

EY merges design, creative, CX and AI services into EY Studio+

The practice will leverage EY’s capabilities and experience to help clients meet the changing needs of consumers and “shape markets at scale.”

By Aaron Baar • June 9, 2025

WPP CEO Mark Read to retire at challenging juncture for agency giant

The news, dropping a week out from Cannes Lions, follows recent moves such as rebranding GroupM to WPP Media and acquiring InfoSum. 

By Peter Adams • June 9, 2025

WPP Media launches AI-driven tool to push beyond ID-based targeting

Open Intelligence combines artificial intelligence with customized media models to predict audience behavior by leveraging data from 75 markets.

By Sara Karlovitch • June 5, 2025

GroupM becomes WPP Media as holding company prepares for future

The rebranding, first reported last month, is expected to impact about 40% to 45% of the media company’s 40,000-strong workforce.

By Aaron Baar • June 2, 2025

Droga departs Accenture Song CEO post at fluid moment for creativity

The decision marks the close of a chapter for an industry trailblazer whose agency, Droga5, was the cornerstone of Accenture’s bet on creativity. 

By Peter Adams • May 28, 2025

Amazon bolsters ad business with InfoSum, Magnite partnerships

The tie-ups put the spotlight on CTV and first-party data as the e-commerce giant’s advertising offering grows at a faster pace than rivals. 

By Aaron Baar • May 27, 2025

Publicis acquires Captiv8 as influencer marketing ambitions expand

Following its purchase of Influential last year, the agency is fortifying its creator network and technology offering in areas like social commerce. 

By Peter Adams • Updated May 22, 2025

Roblox brings the mall to the metaverse, and vice versa

Fenty Beauty, The Weeknd and Paramount are among the marketers testing new ways to merge virtual and physical shopping experiences and sales. 

By Aaron Baar • May 19, 2025

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

PubMatic brings generative AI to media buying platform

The platform combines proprietary supply-side intelligence with artificial intelligence-powered buying tools to streamline the media buying process.

By Aaron Baar • May 12, 2025

CMOs stretch static budgets further, with downsides for agencies: report

Improved sophistication with tools like generative AI is leading 39% of CMOs to consider agency budget cuts and reductions in labor spending.

By Peter Adams • May 12, 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

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

Brands’ appetite wanes for creative risk-taking, per Lions research

Weak customer insights and a lag in the reaction time to cultural moments are key reasons why marketers struggle to be boldly creative.

By Aaron Baar • May 5, 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

Circana hires Kroger retail media exec for newly created role

Cara Pratt will oversee retail and media strategies as the company’s president of global retail and media beginning later this month.

By Peyton Bigora • May 5, 2025

Publicis acquires Adopt to strengthen connection to sports culture

The four-year-old upstart founded by Nike veterans has worked with brands and athletes including Lululemon and Anthony Edwards.

By Peter Adams • April 30, 2025