How brands can assert control as AI rewrites advertising’s playbook

As promises of one-stop, AI-powered solutions proliferate, marketers will need to navigate the changed ecosystem and separate reality from hype.

By Chris Kelly • Jan. 20, 2026

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.

By Jeffrey Kennedy • Jan. 15, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Multichannel Optimization

There’s greater urgency around the need to optimize multichannel marketing efforts and unite channels including retail media, social media and others.

By Marketing Dive staff

How Macy’s Media Network navigates complex ‘coopetition’ with Amazon

The platform, among the first major retail media networks to pilot Amazon’s Retail Ad Service, has drawn in 175 new brands since August. 

By Peter Adams • Jan. 14, 2026

Streaming widens sports marketing field: Here’s what the numbers say

Airing games across both linear and streaming platforms can help boost performance, according to Nielsen data.

By Sara Karlovitch • Jan. 9, 2026

Instacart unveils clean room solution in latest bid to CPG advertisers

Data Hub provides deeper insights into first-party grocery shopping data and customer behaviors, including lifetime value and repurchase frequency.

By Aaron Baar • Jan. 8, 2026

PubMatic debuts agentic platform to address programmatic’s AI headaches

AgenticOS is intended to cut down time spent on campaign setup and troubleshooting while freeing up focus for more high-level strategy. 

By Peter Adams • Jan. 5, 2026

Nielsen, Roku deepen data-sharing pact to enhance streaming measurement

As part of the agreement, Nielsen will continue to receive support for offerings like Big Data + Panel while Roku gains access to streaming TV ratings.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 23, 2025

Horizon introduces open ad tech partnership network

Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Orkin have already begun using the platform, which features partners including ID5, Kargo, The Trade Desk and others.

By Aaron Baar • Dec. 22, 2025

Inside Walmart Connect as retail media, CTV convergence accelerates

Scale, investment in measurement solutions and newfound connected TV prowess is turning the retailer into an advertising powerhouse.

By Chris Kelly • Dec. 18, 2025

Magnum Ice Cream Company names Publicis media AOR, with AI in focus

The standalone business, freshly spun off from Unilever, plans to leverage the agency to anticipate rising consumer trends and cultural moments. 

By Peter Adams • Dec. 17, 2025

Nielsen’s data-backed panel currency is ‘unstable, unpredictable’: VAB

The measurement giant has strenuously denied the allegations, calling the report about its Big Data + Panel offering “seriously flawed and manipulated.”

By Chris Kelly • Dec. 16, 2025

WPP Media enriches influencer offering with YouTube creator data deal

The Goat Agency, which WPP acquired in 2023, is among the first partners to directly integrate a new API for creator matchmaking and campaign delivery.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 15, 2025

Is your brand overlooking the value of convenience retail media?

Every day, millions of Americans stop to fuel up their cars—grabbing coffee, snacks or essentials on the go.

Dec. 15, 2025

The Black Friday trends that will shape retail strategy in 2026

Holiday shopping has become a multi-week value season. Here’s what retailers should learn from 2025.

By The Talon.One team • Dec. 15, 2025

Pinterest expands into CTV advertising with TvScientific acquisition

This is the first time Pinterest has wedded its intent-based audience data with a CTV engine, pointing to the growing importance of cross-screen capabilities. 

By Peter Adams • Dec. 12, 2025

Will 2026 be more volatile for marketing? Here’s what the numbers say

Up to one-third of consumers will leave brands for cheaper options as they continue to feel an economic pinch, according to Forrester.

By Sara Karlovitch • Dec. 12, 2025

Advertising growth resilient in face of tariff, AI disruption: report

WPP Media revised its full-year revenue projections upward by over two percentage points as areas like retail media and gaming attract investment.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 8, 2025

Activating the long tail: a digital-first strategy for SMB customer acquisition

Digital-first customer hubs show how SMBs can fuel faster growth when data and action connect.

By Kunal Shah, Kajal Narasimha and Mrugesh Agarwala • Dec. 8, 2025

Consumers in 2026 will be full of paradoxes, predicts Dentsu

As consumers increasingly turn to AI, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional values and living.

By Sara Karlovitch • Dec. 4, 2025

Omnicom outlines new agency structure as IPG deal sharpens AI, data focus

The newly combined network is built around six capability-based divisions and will retire legacy creative brands MullenLowe, FCB and DDB.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 1, 2025

Winners and losers of Black Friday 2025

Online discounts were flat year over year. However, some retailers won with exclusive giveaways that enticed customers into stores.

By Dani James • Nov. 29, 2025

Omnicom-IPG deal closes as agencies chase scale to revive growth

The combined companies form the world’s largest agency as size becomes a key advantage in the race to win in areas like data-driven marketing. 

By Peter Adams • Nov. 24, 2025

Gap ties viral marketing to retail results as Gen Z relevance rises

A recent campaign with girl group Katseye delivered 8 billion media impressions and contributed to double-digit gains in the adult denim category.

By Peter Adams • Nov. 21, 2025

The CMO-CFO relationship: Here’s what the numbers say

Less than a quarter of marketers are completely aligned with their CFO regarding metrics and budgets, according to new research.

By Sara Karlovitch • Nov. 21, 2025

Creator ad spend to reach $37B as marketers turn to AI for scale: IAB

While nearly three-quarters of advertisers already use or are planning to use AI in the next year to boost efficiency in the creator space, concerns remain.

By Aaron Baar • Nov. 20, 2025