On today’s podcast episode, we present our “Unofficial Monthly Retailer Awards” (UMRAs) for September. The awards include “Most Impactful Campaign,” “Best IRL Initiative,” and “Greatest Under-the-Radar Move.” Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian; Senior Analysts Arielle Feger and Rachel Wolff; and Senior Director of Content Becky Schilling.
Marketers should pair stronger engagement with social search, responsive service, and automated ad buying.
Marketers are no longer debating whether to use AI in content production; they're refining how.
The Edits assistant can power stronger branded videos as long as marketers clarify campaign priorities.
Governance mandates are essential to prevent poor verification of AI insights from affecting the bottom line.
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.
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.
Devalued open web inventory means marketers will spend more on walled gardens.
Sellers can now offer box-free, label-free returns through Happy Returns to build shopper trust.
Shoppers rely on peer advice, rewarding brands that pair paid ads with authentic community engagement.
The retailer is multiplying its sports ad spend to keep home goods top of mind before shoppers are ready to buy.
Record H1 profits offer a cushion, but weather risks could expose gaps in catastrophe models.
Coverage nearly doubled in a year, but 41% of uninsured Gen Zers still need inspiration to sign up.
Detailed shopper profiles are improving recommendations and repeat purchases.
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.
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.