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Viewers put price ahead of every other streaming perk September 29

Low price makes up 21% of a TV or streaming service's perceived value among US TV viewers, up from 12% in 2025 and well ahead of live sports at 13%, according to a July report from Hub Research.

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Spotify keeps adding millions of ad-supported users, but its advertising revenue has stayed stubbornly flat. That disconnect, visible again in its latest earnings, puts the streaming giant's chances of becoming a major player in digital advertising in doubt.

Spotify keeps adding millions of ad-supported users, but its advertising revenue has stayed stubbornly flat. That disconnect, visible again in its latest earnings, puts the streaming giant's chances of becoming a major player in digital advertising in doubt. "Over the last five quarters, Spotify has grown its ad-supported user base from 420 million to 490 million users. Yet over that same period, ad-supported revenue has declined year-over-year in four of the five quarters and grew just 1% in the most recent one," said our analyst Marcus Johnson on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers." The company's Q2 2024 results showed total revenue growth of 14%, but that performance was driven almost entirely by premium subscriptions, which account for 90% of Spotify's business.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the secret ingredient behind the success of sports shows, whether ancillary content ultimately makes the live broadcast more or less valuable, who now owns the fan relationship, and which sports or leagues are currently under-leveraging this entertainment IP opportunity. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Ross Benes, and Senior Forecasting Analyst Zach Goldner. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

FAST fragments advertiser reach: Free viewing attracts value seekers, making cross-platform buying and flexible budgets essential.

In August 2026, we analyzed 4,480 ChatGPT responses across 16 B2B software and platform categories to compile the AI Visibility Index.

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss the future of digital — what data points best tell the story of AI consumer adoption so far, which stats best explain how AI is actually impacting marketing, the most important factors marketers need to consider as we move from an SEO to a GEO world, and more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Vice President of Insights Stephanie Paterik and Principal Analyst Yory Wurmser. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Beauty has proven resilient even as consumers become more intentional with spending, prompting retailers from Old Navy to CVS to expand their beauty strategies. But social platforms like TikTok and YouTube have rewired the path from discovery to purchase, reshaping how consumers find, research, and buy beauty products.

Next week, Advertising Week New York will be buzzing with brand leaders, agency executives, tech experts, and creators, all offering perspectives from the front lines on how the media playbook is changing and how making personal connections with customers is still possible amidst all the noise. This fall marketers are bracing for big changes brought on by AI transformation, social media, and the maturing creator landscape. AI discoverability is on everybody’s radar, building on presentations this month at EMARKETER’s Future of Digital summit.

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Brands and retailers both drive revenue by serving and engaging customers, yet separate teams within each organization serve different functions and reach customers through different channels. Commerce media experts who spoke at a recent conversation hosted by Mars United Commerce described ways to bring these competing interests closer. Commerce media combines two traditionally separate areas: the channels brands use to communicate with customers, and the touchpoints and data retailers use to engage shoppers and drive purchases. When brands align internally around commerce media strategies, they bring these teams together and move the organization closer to shared revenue goals.