Why brands should stand firm on their values despite the fear of backlash

Executives discussed the importance of brand values in growing loyalty and the future of inclusive strategies during Advertising Week New York.

By Jessica Hammers • Oct. 7, 2025

Huge expands AI creative capabilities with Both&Yes acquisition

Agencies are preparing for a world in which generative AI-powered experiences are expected to play a dominant role.

By Aaron Baar • Oct. 6, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Marketing Dive

From the evolution of influencer marketing and paid media to the ongoing importance of data and culture, here's a look at key trends driving marketing in 2025.

By Marketing Dive staff

Cracker Barrel sacks brand consultancy, shuffles leadership

The chain fired the firm that advised it on its recent logo and restaurant refresh after significant consumer pushback led to a strategy reversal.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 3, 2025

Qdoba’s new CMO on turning the fast-casual chain into a national brand

As it rapidly expands, the chain is relying on an agency roster including Leo, Influential and other Publicis shops, newly appointed CMO Jon Burke explains.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2025

Mastercard makes bigger grab for commerce media dollars with new network

In its bid for advertisers’ dollars, the payments giant draws on existing technology and partnerships with firms like WPP, Citi and Microsoft. 

By Peter Adams • Oct. 1, 2025

Top marketing conferences to attend in 2026

Organizers including the Association of National Advertisers and the Consumer Technology Association have already started to map out their plans.

By Jessica Hammers • Oct. 1, 2025

Horizon Media, Havas form joint venture to woo global marketers

Horizon Global will focus on U.S.-centric global clients and bring together Horizon’s Blu and Havas’ Converged.AI platforms.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 29, 2025

Lower-funnel marketing accelerates amid flagging economy, IAB finds

With tariff fears growing, IAB revised its 2025 ad spend forecast down. 

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 29, 2025

Omnicom, IPG agree to finalized FTC order with stricter ad rules

Omnicom needs to appoint a commission-approved monitor to ensure it is staying complaint with the FTC’s directives around ad spending.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 29, 2025

Oreo transforms crosswalks into cookies to spur impulse purchases

The Mondelez brand and agency VML decorated crosswalks outside of select Kroger locations to include QR codes accessing special offers.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 24, 2025

How Kellanova uses AI to predict creative performance and drive KPIs

The CPG marketer, in partnership with data firm Vidmob, found that predictive impact scoring can boost creative performance and media ROI.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 24, 2025

Campaign Trail: Lego transforms Tom Holland to celebrate creativity

The latest chapter in the toy brand’s “Rebuild the World” campaign demonstrates the power of its in-house agency.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 19, 2025

YouTube simplifies brand, creator partnerships with new solutions

A new artificial intelligence feature is designed to help advertisers and agencies find and connect with relevant creators more easily.

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 18, 2025

Best Buy builds retail media chops with in-store takeovers, sports deals

The retailer touted the strength of its advertising services for brand partners during its inaugural Best Buy Ads showcase.

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 18, 2025

How Yum’s AI factory supercharges marketing at Taco Bell and beyond

Executives at the fast-food giant detail an approach to artificial intelligence that is already powering transformation throughout its digitally focused businesses.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 16, 2025

Dentsu grows programmatic know-how with Index Exchange, Chalice AI

The two companies will bolster Dentsu’s NextGen initiative, which is meant to evolve its capabilities through data, artificial intelligence and modularity.

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 15, 2025

How Häagen-Dazs evolved its Super Bowl campaign into a brand platform

The brand has worked with an agency team including Nice&Frank, The Door and Spark Foundry to find unique ways to get out its “Slow” message.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 11, 2025

Why DSW teamed with Epsilon to bring footwear brands to retail media

Front Row Connection is powered by Epsilon Retail Media and comes as the commerce media space continues to evolve and mature.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 10, 2025

Inside the Empower-Ocean merger that formed a $1.5B indie media agency

Two independent media companies have joined forces to provide marketers an alternative to agency holding companies.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 8, 2025

How Shake Shack removes friction between web traffic and app downloads

As it begins to invest in paid media at scale, the fast casual chain teamed with Google to drive more app conversions and return on ad spend.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 8, 2025

H&R Block doubles down on social marketing amid modernization push

The tax-preparation firm is uniting its social creative and media duties under VaynerMedia, a move it says will enable more agility and performance.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 26, 2025

Circana acquires Nielsen MMM to grow measurement capabilities

The move enables the data analytics company to address everything from media planning and targeting to optimization and post-campaign analysis.

By Aaron Baar • Aug. 25, 2025

Macy’s partners with Amazon for retail ads ahead of holiday season

The retailer will pilot Amazon Retail Ads Service, which allows the tech giant to serve as a third-party provider of ad-serving capabilities.

By Aaron Baar • Aug. 25, 2025

Accenture Song acquires Superdigital as marketing shifts social-first

The deal responds to the increasingly central role for social media and influencers in CMO strategies, as well as the impact of AI on marketing.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 20, 2025

WPP Media notches ‘landmark’ win with Mastercard as AI fuels interest

Sister WPP agency Ogilvy is also being enlisted by the global payments firm to help “build, foster, and engage online communities.”

By Peter Adams • Aug. 19, 2025