31% of US adults say poor customer service while trying to resolve a problem is the most likely reason they would post publicly about a brand, more than double the 14% who would post about paying for expedited shipping that never showed up, according to a March survey from Radial.
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.
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.
Gift-giving travelers are an increasingly captive audience for brands this upcoming holiday season. Watch and accessories brand Fossil tapped into this group successfully last year, and more brands will likely follow as travel media networks mature. US travel media ad spending is expected to reach $2.39 billion in 2026, up 22.9% YoY, according to EMARKETER's June forecast. While travel media’s share of commerce media is declining due to a concentration of endemic travel brands, according to EMARKETER analysis, Fossil’s positive results indicate that travelers are open to shopping, especially around the holidays and other high-volume travel periods. Reaching holiday travelers at major hubs In Q4 of last year, Fossil executed a travel media campaign in six major airport hubs, including New York (LaGuardia Airport), Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Chicago. The mix included in-flight Wi-Fi on JetBlue and American Airlines, in-stream video at airports, and a “virtual holiday pop-up store.” Fossil also amplified the campaign on Instagram and TikTok. Digital Culture Group (DCG) managed multiple arms of the campaign, in collaboration with media agency Assembly and ReachTV.
As satisfaction falls, retailers that keep prices and experiences aligned can win shoppers back.
A playful campaign highlights the tradeoffs of bargain shopping, but stronger differentiation is needed to win back customers.
Faster checkout experiences and better inventory information can lift loyalty without making shoppers feel watched.
Wider consideration gives lesser-known brands an opening, but more product options can make final decisions take longer.
Its Ulta launch comes as Chinese brands look beyond a weaker home market and seek broader global appeal.
Protein-focused RXBAR and Quest top their category in EMARKETER’s inaugural US Food and Beverage AI Visibility Index, giving them an edge over general nutrition brands in a high-demand category.
PayPal’s fusion with Stripe could reorder the landscape of crypto, BNPL, agentic commerce and digital wallets.
Its airport lounge plan tests whether mobile-first customers value owned experiences enough to open accounts.
In July 2026, we analyzed 3,210 ChatGPT responses across eight media and entertainment categories to compile the EMARKETER AI Visibility Index.
Reddit’s AI appeal creates a marketing trap: The tactics meant to earn LLM visibility could erode the human content that makes Reddit valuable.
Agency efficiency separates the pack: Holdcos are pairing AI with integration and acquisitions to tackle siloed systems and streamline delivery.
AI ad tracking gets more transparent: A new Similarweb tool reveals ad context and competitors, which could help marketers make smarter budget decisions.
Fewer inbound visitors could hit airlines, hotels, restaurants, and retail.
CTV spend holds as impressions fall: Advertisers now need to prioritize incremental reach, creative variety, and frequency management.