Is there user demand for social audio? Results are mixed, but Amazon is pressing on with a creator fund for audio app Amp.

On today's episode, we discuss Peloton's strategy to sell through Amazon, how much people really trust influencers, what to make of The Walt Disney Co.'s new membership program, what to do about a tidal wave of returns, which brand has the least intrusive ads, an explanation of what makes retail apps sticky, how much different countries spend on their militaries, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti and analysts Dave Frankland and Suzy Davidkhanian.

Prime Day is Amazon’s biggest sales event, but it offers other retailers a boost as well. This year, 44% of Prime Day digital buyers in the US considered shopping only on Amazon, while 32% checked out Walmart and 24% browsed Target as well.

The personal luxury goods sector is riding a wave of high demand in the US and China, buoyed by wealthier consumers who are relatively immune to the impact of price increases. But brands will need to appeal to the rising Gen Z consumer, as well as strengthen loyalty among their most important customers.

Amazon’s iRobot deal under investigation: iRobot’s fate hangs in the balance as interest groups and the FTC target the acquisition. If the deal fails, Amazon can make its own robot vacuums while iRobot flounders.

Voice assistant and smart speaker users are still increasing, but growth for brands will increasingly come from engaging existing users. Voice assistants are still very much in the process of transforming how users interact with and across devices.

Consumers plan to get an early start on holiday shopping: That’s good news for retailers as it should help smooth out the traditional late-season shipping bump.

It’s not the fastest-growing channel, but paid search is still a vital component of the digital advertising ecosystem, especially as privacy changes and a potential recession put ad budgets in jeopardy.

The digital ad industry is under regulatory scrutiny: Reforms laid out by the Biden administration focus on the use of personal data for advertising purposes.

On today's episode, we discuss Facebook's plan to be cool again, Amazon testing a TikTok-style feed, what to make of the price of Netflix with ads, WhatsApp's superpowers in India, TikTok and YouTube making TV their new home, an unpopular opinion about ad-free social media, the most livable cities in the world, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our director of reports editing Rahul Chadha and analysts Evelyn Mitchell and Max Willens.

While Amazon Prime Day was bigger than ever this year, one key category took a hit. Electronics sales decreased by 5% from last Prime Day, while growth shot past 25% in home, garden, and tools, as well as in beauty and health.

On today's episode, we discuss the significance of Amazon securing the rights to NFL Thursday Night Football, how the broadcast could look different, and what other tech players might secure sports rights in the future. "In Other News," we talk about whether video streaming platforms looking too similar is a problem and what to make of two Snapchat ad execs going to Netflix. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Andrew Lipsman and Paul Verna.

6 Amazon warehouses, 6 solar fires: Solar panel fires and explosions at Amazon facilities were linked to poor installation practices. The problem underscores the need for more cleantech training and safety.

The digital shelf has grown more competitive for CPG brands amid the rise of grocery ecommerce and increasing retail media ad spend.

Shopify warns merchants against using Amazon’s ‘Buy with Prime’ service: The move is a sign that Shopify is growing concerned about its ability to combat the retail giant.

Disney looks to emulate Amazon with membership offering: The entertainment giant could also advance its flywheel by introducing in-app commerce for Disney+ and improving cross-selling opportunities.

Amazon will let sellers use its excess warehouse space: The retailer's new service offers long-term inventory storage, luring sellers deeper into its ecosystem.

No economic pain for RaaS: Formic’s cheap rental robots are a lifeline for factories and warehouses suffering from labor shortages. RaaS could help companies compete globally and accelerate US manufacturing.

Google and Meta have maintained a steady lead in digital ad revenues worldwide, ahead of the likes of Amazon, Twitter, and Snapchat. But that's not without their own growing pains. Both Meta and Google saw revenues dip by several billion dollars in Q1 of this year. Still, the companies are tens of billions of dollars ahead of triopoly competitor, Amazon, in digital ad revenues.

For one-third of US digital buyers, Prime Day offered an opportunity to finally click purchase on lower-priced items. But for 28%, inflation had the opposite effect, leading them to pass on deals that weren’t a necessity.