The Trump administration claimed Thursday that China has greenlit a US TikTok transfer agreement, just over a month after President Trump signed an executive order to keep the short-form video leader operational in the US. China’s commerce ministry simultaneously announced that it will collaborate with the US to solve “issues related to TikTok,” but similarly did not elaborate. Tentative talks around TikTok’s future offer short-term stability for advertisers but don’t resolve issues TikTok will face in the long-term.
Amazon is continuing to see success with its maturing ad offerings. Q3 advertising services reached $17.7 billion, up 24% YoY, while net sales increased 13% to $180.2 billion. Q4 guidance points to continued confidence, with Amazon expecting growth between 10% and 13% YoY. Amazon’s ad success indicates that it will continue to be a promising opportunity for marketers that offers a unique proposition combining data-driven targeting, commerce integration, innovative ad formats, and the ability to reach consumers both onsite and offsite.
Most video game players treasure the end of the year, both to splurge on their favorite hobby and to spend more time in-game.
YouTube is reorganizing staff within its product teams, which won’t directly involve eliminating any roles, per Business Insider. Starting November 5, those teams will fall into three categories with distinct priorities. At the same time, the company implemented a “voluntary exit program” with severance offers for US employees. YouTube’s now-separate product segments could open up new pathways for TV ads and influencer marketing, and brands should watch for how these siloed divisions could change campaign development and ad placement, and whether outreach with YouTube will become more complicated.
Nearly half (49%) of US holiday shoppers earning $80K–$99K are worried that gifts will cost more this year, found a July survey from Bankrate.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of October. Each month, host Suzy Davidkhanian, Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Emmy Liederman (aka The Committee) put together a very unofficial list of the top eight retailers they're watching based on which are making the most interesting moves: Who's launching new initiatives? Which partnerships are moving the needle? Which standout marketing campaigns are being created? In this month's episode, Committee members Suzy Davidkhanian and Arielle Feger will defend their list against Senior Analyst, Blake Droesch and Analyst, Rachel Wolff, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.
Omnicom will retire advertising network DDB as part of its merger with Interpublic Group (IPG), set to close in November, per various reports. For advertisers, the end of DDB carries deeper implications than a simple brand retirement. It represents the erosion of a creative philosophy brands have historically relied on, and advertisers lose a partner that offered a distinct voice and strategy.
Google parent Alphabet reported strong Q3 earnings on Wednesday, with revenues growing 16% YoY to $102.35 billion, while Google Search & other, YouTube Ads, and Google subscriptions, platforms, and devices all saw double-digit growth. But Google simultaneously experienced a notable loss in an ongoing antitrust case that could carry implications for the future of search advertising. Google will remain a cornerstone of successful ad strategies, at least in the short-term.
Samsung Ads and AdGood have launched a partnership enabling nonprofits to advertise on connected TV for the first time at scale. Samsung will donate ad inventory from its free streaming service, Samsung TV Plus, to AdGood’s nonprofit exchange, allowing mission-driven organizations to reach viewers across premium streaming environments. The initiative reflects a broader shift in the CTV ecosystem—where unused inventory and automation are being repurposed to advance social impact, equity, and accessibility in digital media.
Hulu + Live TV and Fubo have struck a deal that will see the streaming platforms merge into a live TV streaming business after initially announcing an acquisition in January. Brands will benefit from access to growing subscribers and vast sports audiences that increasingly embrace digital, as the platforms combine scale with innovative ad formats.
A growing cohort of companies, including Next PR, Parcel Perform, and Geostar, is helping brands optimize their generative engine presence, ensuring that content surfaces in queries from consumers seeking recommendations and new products. Marketers should consider their brands’ strategic goals—whether it’s driving conversions or boosting visibility of web content—and identify the GEO partners that best align with them. As genAI tools become more mainstream for consumer discovery, proactive optimization is key to stay relevant and manage reputation in AI outputs.
Amid pressure to establish better child safety guardrails in the AI industry, Character AI will block users under 18 from chatting with bots on its platform. Starting November 25, minors will only be able to generate photos and images with safety limits in place and review prior chats. As regulatory and safety concerns rise, advertisers face greater scrutiny when looking to reach younger audiences. CMOs should assess brand alignment with AI platforms and, on platforms that have the potential to pose a safety risk for children, shift efforts to target adults users.
Heading into peak season, D2C ecommerce professionals are as concerned about technology limitations as they are about tariffs (37%), according to a July survey from Passport and Drive Research.
Adobe announced an expansion of its GenStudio at its Adobe MAX conference today, with updates including key AI innovations and new ad partner integrations. Advertising teams are faced with a landscape that increasingly relies on genAI for key processes once handled by humans.
Pinterest announced AI-powered updates for its boards feature on Monday, with a new look and upgrades aimed at offering users a more personalized and relevant experience. With Pinterest now capable of picking up more subtle signals about user interests, including their aesthetics and preferred boards, advertisers can now better appear in contexts that are more aligned with user mindsets.
Streaming ad revenues continued a growth trajectory in Q3 while national linear TV spend shrunk, per a recent MoffetNathanson Research forecast. A successful advertising strategy will understand the increasing need to invest in cross-platform campaigns in the digital age.
Streaming music is gaining momentum as radio starts to lose share in the ad-supported audio listening market. Fifteen percent of audio listening time goes to ad-supported streaming audio, per Nielsen’s The Record report, up 36.4% YoY. Radio’s share dropped 5 percentage points YoY to 62%. Marketers should diversify audio spend by incrementally shifting dollars from radio to streaming to follow the ears as listening time shifts platforms. Test creative formats like interactive audio—including shoppable ads or tap-to-engage spots—to boost engagement and brand recall.
"In this world of filters and celebrities and influencers, what I'm seeing is that people are wanting something that feels real," said Patrick Buchanan, SVP of marketing at Lulus on a recent episode of “Behind the Numbers.” "When they hear stories that feel like their own or see people who look like they're in a similar life stage, you see people relating to that."
Elon Musk’s X has lost another key figure in its advertising business, with ad chief John Nitti announcing his departure last week after joining just ten months ago, per the Financial Times. Another key loss signals that X’s ad strategy remains turbulent—and until its AI-powered ad focus proves valuable, ad investment should be executed with an air of caution.