On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how LGBTQ+ streaming platform Revry has been able to gain traction in a crowded, highly competitive streaming TV universe; what advertisers misunderstand about marketing to the queer community; and some examples of when queer representation in media hit the nail on the head—and when it missed the mark. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with analysts Paola Flores-Marquez and Emmy Liederman, and Revry CEO and Co-Founder Damian Pelliccione. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
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Become a ClientThe US accounts for just 10% of TikTok users but generates 41% of the platform's ad revenue worldwide, according to a July forecast from EMARKETER.
While commerce media networks expand, retailers can take advantage of the efficiencies and measurement capabilities that they can provide.Retail media networks alone are expected to claim one-fifth of US digital ad spending by 2029, according to EMARKETER’s September forecast.
The commerce media landscape is bracing for a defining year. Pressure is building across retailers and platforms to rethink how shoppers discover, evaluate, and buy products.
In their earnings last week, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and TD Bank—Canada’s two largest financial institutions—flagged investments in AI R&D. This builds on recent data about banks’ deployment of agentic AI as well as detailed insights from JPMorgan’s and Bank of America’s public statements about their massive spending on AI and supporting infrastructure. Dollars spent on technology matter—so do how the money is spent and the number and severity of conflicting priorities. Business troubles are metastasizing more quickly because of the rapid pace of change technological innovation is imposing on a historically staid industry.
e news: Multicultural consumers—a segment whose buying power has grown 345% over the last 20 years—now expect brands to prioritize representation in ads, per a Snapchat study. Brands must tailor ad strategies to appeal to multicultural consumers, but should understand that simple, one-off campaign inclusion won’t be enough to drive action.
The rise of AI browsers like OpenAI’s Atlas and Perplexity’s Comet is setting up a possible bifurcation of the web. These agent-driven browsers navigate pages, click through tasks, and fetch information on a user’s behalf while traditional browsers anchor the search-centric behaviors most people rely on. The divergence could result in further fragmentation where there are two versions of websites. Brands that structure their content for both—with product metadata, clear semantic HTML, and agent-ready pages focused on specs, summaries, and FAQs—will have a higher chance of visibility across browsers.
US ad spend growth will grow a total of 11% in 2025, excluding political spending, per an updated Madison & Wall forecast cited by Mediapost. The figure is well above Madison & Wall’s previous estimate of 3.6% growth and follows 13% YoY growth in Q3. Even as total media ad spending continues to grow, growth doesn’t entirely negate the overall climate of uncertainty that will undoubtedly affect the ad industry in the year ahead. Slowing growth expected from Madison & Wall in 2026 and ongoing economic headwinds indicate that advertisers are still operating in an era of caution.
Retailers experimenting with agentic AI are doing so with commercial urgency, not curiosity. In an EMARKETER interview, Criteo’s Michael Greene said retailers now see onsite AI as “mission critical” for owning the shopping journey—especially as consumers increasingly use chat-based tools for early discovery. Generic LLMs lack real retail signals like inventory, regional availability, and nuanced category expertise, making proprietary data the retailer’s strongest edge. With Gen Z already leaning heavily on AI for purchase research, retailers must build systems that deliver more relevant, trustworthy guidance than general chat interfaces. The mandate is clear: build AI that improves baskets, conversion, and shopper retention.
L’Oréal is doubling its stake in cosmetic injectables company Galderma to 20%, the company said, as it looks to expand in the fast-growing aesthetics market and support growth amid global headwinds. While some competitors retrench, L’Oréal is pursuing acquisitions in categories like fragrance and haircare with the strongest growth potential. L'Oréal's moves reflect the shifts in consumer beauty spending. Resilient demand for self-care, wellness, and premium products is fueling growth in fragrances and haircare, while K-beauty is gaining traction as consumers search for affordable and effective skincare products.