Netflix enriches ad-targeting prowess with Amazon, Yahoo audience data

Deeper integrations with the companies’ demand-side platforms and a new Conversion API tool land ahead of the key upfronts season. 

By Peter Adams • March 6, 2026

Retail and grocery brands dominate ChatGPT ads

Since OpenAI began running ads four weeks ago, data tracked by Sensor Tower showed more than 100 individual brand promotions.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 6, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Marketing Dive

From the continued rise of artificial intelligence to the emergence of new digital channels, here's a look at key trends driving marketing in 2026.

By Marketing Dive staff

Influencer pay lacks transparency: Here’s what the numbers say

Despite an increase in spending on creators, just 51% of marketers have full clarity into influencer compensation.

By Sara Karlovitch • March 6, 2026

CMOs face risks locking brands into agency AI platforms: Gartner

The researcher predicts that half of agencies’ proprietary AI platforms will become obsolete by 2029 and emphasized the value of human talent.

By Peter Adams • March 4, 2026

Trade Desk ups bid to improve CTV advertising value with Ventura Ecosystem

The new industry collaboration is meant to deliver a more transparent marketplace and includes initial partners Nexxen and TV operating system V.

By Jessica Hammers • March 2, 2026

Kantar Media enters new era as Fifty5Blue following $1B sale

Along with aesthetic changes, including a new visual identity, the rebranded measurement firm is stepping up investment in artificial intelligence. 

By Peter Adams • March 2, 2026

How WPP aims to cut down agency complexity with its Elevate28 strategy

A cost-savings plan will impact jobs, but the agency network plans to reinvest in talent in areas like commerce, analytics and influencers, executives indicated.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 27, 2026

WPP abandons holding company model in major strategic overhaul

The Elevate28 plan creates a single company with four units and introduces a talent framework meant to foster a “high-performance culture.”

By Peter Adams • Feb. 26, 2026

The fractured, fragile US consumer

There are various reasons why spending in the U.S. remains strong despite low consumer confidence, and it’s not just about having higher incomes.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 24, 2026

Gartner: CMOs want AI transformation, but few are upgrading their skills

By 2027, lack of AI literacy could be a top-three reason CMOs are replaced, yet a fifth of marketers don’t feel a need to meaningfully update their skills.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 23, 2026

Walmart raked in $6.4B from ads last year. Execs see plenty runway ahead.

Marketplace offerings and Vizio provide additional U.S. growth opportunities while recent structural changes are meant to support global expansion.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 20, 2026

Microdrama apps stand out on mobile: Here’s what the numbers say

Last year, mobile users spent 5.78 billion more hours on short drama apps compared to the previous year, according to Sensor Tower data.

By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 20, 2026

Loyal customers think brands place more value on new shoppers, survey finds

Customers want brands to recognize them as loyal customers, and they’re looking for more than discounts or rewards, according to EY’s Patricia Camden.

By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 20, 2026

Unilever changes its brand discovery calculus with Google Cloud AI pact

A new deal sees the CPG giant trying to account for the impact agentic commerce will have on marketing as Unilever reorients around technology.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 17, 2026

Roku says it’s growing video advertising faster than broader OTT market

The platform’s Ads Manager expects to see a boost from AI tools while a major partnership with Amazon Ads is still only in the “early innings.”

By Peter Adams • Feb. 13, 2026

Super Bowl 2026: Viewership, engagement and ads analysis

Breaking down all the key stats from the big game’s ads, including cost, reach, social engagement and more.

By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 9, 2026

Amazon enables communication between ads platform and AI agents

The Amazon Ads MCP Server acts as a translation layer between AI agents and the Amazon Ads API to turn simple prompts into structured campaigns. 

By Aaron Baar • Feb. 9, 2026

Amazon’s annual ad revenue passes $68B, boosted by full-funnel strategy

The company realized about $12 billion in incremental revenue last year as services like Prime Video contributed meaningfully to growth.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 6, 2026

Maintaining brand relevancy: Here’s what the numbers say

Public perception may be a key indicator of brand performance, according to a report from The Harris Poll company QuestBrand.

By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 6, 2026

YouTube annual revenue tops $60B as Google’s focus expands beyond ads

Traction for subscriptions like YouTube Premium is growing in a way that could hurt ad revenue but boost the overall business, executives said.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 5, 2026

Publicis wants to be an AI marketing MVP. Now comes the hard part.

Despite AI’s promise in media and creative, executives acknowledged the tech is difficult to scale and fails to deliver measurable value in most cases.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 3, 2026

VML: Marketing must balance consumer anxiety and hope in 2026

Marketing trends, such as microdramas and consumers who are expressing a sense of “dysoptimism,” are identified in the agency’s “Future 100” report.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 3, 2026

IAB seeks to standardize interoperable media measurement

Artificial intelligence risks reinforcing the black-box decisions that marketers are forced to make with current measurement systems, per a new IAB report.

By Aaron Baar • Feb. 2, 2026

3 advertising stats from Meta’s record holiday ‘25 period

AI-driven improvements to ads ranking and learning models boosted clicks and conversions during the key Q4 window, which drew record demand. 

By Peter Adams • Jan. 29, 2026

Unpacking the marketing industry trends forecast for 2026

Marketers must remain resilient as they navigate ongoing challenges, including an uncertain economic backdrop and the advancement of AI.

By Marketing Dive staff • Jan. 29, 2026