Adspeak

Publishers are bleeding traffic, battling 15 problems at once—and experimenting like never before. Mark Stenberg breaks down the rise of on-site answer engines, the Substack vs. Patreon turf war, and why the New York Times quietly killed its audio app. It’s messy, but there is a playbook. And if you're interested in getting Mark's insights on a weekly basis, be sure to sign up for his newsletter O...

A hidden link in the ad tech supply chain is raising eyebrows. Buyers found themselves unknowingly transacting through Epsilon’s SSP, owned by Publicis—giving a rival agency potential access to sensitive targeting data. We dig into how reselling obscures transparency and accountability. Learn more about miniMBA courses HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The retail media gold rush is getting crowded, and Criteo’s role is being tested. ADWEEK’s Kathryn Lundstrom unpacks the battles ahead in one of digital advertising’s hottest sectors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Jordan hasn’t played in two decades—but the Jordan Brand he built is turning 40. We explore how Nike is keeping it relevant in a world where most Gen Z fans never saw him play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brooke Shields did it in the ’80s. Sydney Sweeney did it in 2025. We compare the ad playbook then and now—and how American Eagles' “Great Jeans” campaign became a Rorschach test for the American psyche. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can anyone topple Nielsen? We break down TV’s biggest (and nerdiest) turf war. For a while in 2021, the longtime ratings king looked vulnerable—inviting challengers like VideoAmp, iSpot, and Comscore to step up. But now, Nielsen is reasserting its dominance. We explore how the measurement landscape is shifting, who’s gaining ground, and why a multi-currency future might be harder than it sounds. H...

As X pivots to AI and WPP bets on a systems exec, we explore what Linda Yaccarino’s departure and Cindy Rose’s arrival mean for the future of marketing leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can a single deal between streaming frenemies redraw the streaming power map? Roku’s partnership with Amazon could transform connected TV, shaking up rivals like The Trade Desk, Walmart, Google, and LG. It’s a clear win for Amazon—but is Roku gaining scale at the cost of control? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cannes Lions wants to honor creativity. But in 2025, it also honored fabrication. We investigate the fallout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of jobs gone. Decades of prestige, erased. What really killed The Mill? We go inside parent company Technicolor’s mismanagement and hidden debt, and the talent drain behind one of the production and VFX industry’s most shocking implosions. Plus: what it all means for the future of VFX and ad production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holdcos promise prestige, but are they killing creativity? We unpack ADWEEK’s exclusive survey about staffer satisfaction at big agencies, and hear from ex-employees who’ve gone indie for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the rosé and rooftops, Cannes 2025 laid bare a deep anxiety in advertising. With AI unease and retail media consolidation looming, Cannes became ground zero for creative one-upmanship. We break down the land grab, the ad tech wars, and the award season drama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WPP’s CEO is on his way out, with no clear successor in place. Mark Read inherited a holding company in crisis, and the company is still in crisis. We unpack his legacy and what the future holds for the ad giant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adalytics has become the industry's most polarizing watchdog, praised for its transparency crusade—and sued for it. We unpack how its research is shaking up ad tech and whether the company can survive its own impact. Guest: Kendra Barnett, ADWEEK senior tech reporter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The power struggle among ad giants has never been fiercer. Publicis has surged ahead, WPP is wobbling, and Omnicom is making a massive play by plotting a historic merger with IPG. Ryan Joe and Alison Weissbrot unpack the drama behind the consolidation frenzy reshaping Madison Avenue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Batman’s selling insurance. Sally is unreasonably excited about mayonnaise. Morpheus has more than a few chip flavors to offer. Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery’s Storyverse – where your favorite characters become the face of your household products. On this episode of Adspeak, Editor in Chief Ryan Joe and Deputy Editor Bill Bradley unpack the strategy, risks, and ripple effects of turning every...

Can billionaires save journalism—or are they accelerating its collapse? ADWEEK’s Mark Stenberg reports on how Patrick Soon-Shiong’s hands-on management of the Los Angeles Times sparked internal chaos, subscriber losses, and advertiser backlash. With insights from Janice Min, we explore what this case says about the future of legacy media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Women’s sports aren’t “having a moment” – they are the moment. Sue Bird saw it coming. Now, with NIL deals, $2 billion media rights contracts, and brands pumping in sponsorship dollars, the playbook is changing fast. This episode features trailblazers who've helped turn women's sports into an audience magnet, including WNBA legend Bird, Ally Financial CMO Andrea Brimmer, and Google global marketin...

Possible began as an upstart industry event with yachts, sun, and a surprise Elon Musk cameo. But in just three years, it’s become a legitimate power center for senior marketers. In this episode, host Ryan Joe speaks with industry veteran Lou Paskalis and ADWEEK senior reporter Kendra Barnett about the Miami-based conference's rapid expansion, the business done in hotel hallways, and how Possible...

Google comfortably controls over 25% of the $303 billion ad market in the U.S. That will probably look very different in five year's time. This episode unpacks Google's adtech antitrust violations, explaining the tangled path that led us here and what it means for the industry, plus Google itself as it faces looming threats of a break up. Experts join us to make sense of the acronyms and intrigue...

Retail media is a major growth area for digital marketing, and retailers like Walmart, Target, and Instacart and making huge investments to grow their ad selling businesses. But with that growth comes outsized expectations. This year, Walmart in particular has been clawing for bigger ad commitments from the companies that sell in its stores — up to 25% more from the previous year. And that’s a pro...

In this exclusive 1:1, Madwell CEO Chris Sojka speaks with ADWEEK editor in chief Ryan Joe about the controversial investments he’s made, the investments he’s making, and how he hopes it’ll all bring Madwell back. From the $17.5 million private jet to a mysterious theme park “exercise” in Texas, Sojka reveals how he hopes to bring Madwell back after two turbulent years. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Madwell, a Brooklyn-based indie agency, once was known for punching above its weight. Its impressive client roster includes big brands like Verizon Visible, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and Branca. But in 2023, the agency became embroiled in financial and cultural trouble under the leadership of CEO Chris Sojka, and staffers tell ADWEEK they’ve struggled with “dictatorial” leadership and severely delayed pay...

Love it or hate it, advertising is the ultimate broker of power and influence in the world today. Adspeak, hosted by Adweek editor in chief Ryan Joe, brings to life stories from our top reporters, delving into the people and companies that shape how we view the world, the products we buy, and the entertainment we enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.