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An Advertising Disconnect? AI Covers and Remixes? — The 3 Big Questions for Spotify | Behind the Numbers August 17

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three biggest questions surrounding Spotify right now: Why is there a disconnect between Spotify’s ad-supported revenue and its ad-supported users? Will podcast advertising provide another wave of growth? Can Spotify generate meaningful supplementary revenue from its new “Reserved” ticketing service in partnership with Live Nation? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Editor Daniel Konstantinovic. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

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Global out-of-home (OOH) ad revenues will hit $56 billion in 2026, up 56% from 2019, yet OOH's share of total media spending will sit at 5.1%, still below its 5.8% pre-pandemic peak, according to a July report from the World Out of Home Organization.

Bombas has distributed millions of pairs of socks through Soles4Souls' network since 2018, scaling fast without loosening its mission-driven commitments. Kelly Cobb, vice president of impact at Bombas, joined Teaster to discuss what separates enduring partnerships from one-off campaigns.

Three of the least likely scenarios in social media would also be the most disruptive: a regulatory ban on addictive feed design, a Facebook revival, and an AI chatbot building a $100 billion ad business. None of them is likely. Each one exposes a tension already at work, from how regulators treat engagement mechanics to how much advertising a chatbot can actually carry. "If the EU were to ban infinite scrolling, it seems pretty clear that that would significantly curtail the amount of time people spend watching these kinds of videos," said our analyst Max Willens on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers." Willens and two other analysts walked through three "what if" predictions on the episode.

In July 2026, we analyzed 3,210 ChatGPT responses across eight media and entertainment categories to compile the EMARKETER AI Visibility Index.

CTV spend holds as impressions fall: Advertisers now need to prioritize incremental reach, creative variety, and frequency management.

CTV home screens command viewer attention: High visibility and low disruption can help marketers reach viewers while they decide what to watch.

Retailer-native AI assistants will drive 54.1% of US AI-driven retail ecommerce sales in 2026, keeping retailers ahead of general-purpose AI platforms through 2030, according to a July report from EMARKETER.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three biggest questions surrounding Amazon right now: Are Amazon’s AI tools gaining traction with consumers, advertisers, and enterprise clients? Is Prime Video becoming a true premium advertising opportunity, or is it still an added benefit of Amazon’s core shopping ecosystem? And will cloud overtake retail as Amazon’s biggest business by 2030? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analysts Marisa Jones and Rachel Wolff, as they explore these questions and more. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

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A sharp monthly decline reflects Prime Day timing and lower gas prices more than weakening demand.