The news: Consumers in Canada under 40 switched financial institutions at twice the rate of older consumers over the past four years, per a J.D. Power survey. Meanwhile, the number who use digital-only banks jumped from 11% to 21% between 2022 and 2025, according to a study by Oliver Wyman LLC. Our take: We have covered how more than half of consumers in Canada would leave their current bank over poor experiences. All of these findings together show that no bank is safe in assuming customers will stay with them if they aren’t getting the best experience, the lowest fees, the best rates, etc. To stem this outflow and retain younger generations, Canada's Big Six banks must invest in competitive, digitally forward offerings that eliminate punitive fees, provide better rates, and deliver personalized financial guidance beyond traditional services.
The big idea: Pharma marketers should pivot away from TV advertising even if the government doesn’t implement a ban on D2C drug ads. Our take: Pharma is a unique industry that still benefits from linear TV. However, more drug brands should consider D2C online platforms that serve as quasi substitutes to TV commercials at a much lower cost, plus channels like influencer partnerships.
The news: Audioboom agreed to acquire Adelicious, potentially creating the UK’s largest homegrown podcast network with 125 million monthly downloads, per Podnews. The deal will cement Audioboom’s expansion and amplify its global reach through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms. Our take: As podcasting shifts from a fragmented space to a few dominant networks, smaller creators risk losing ad revenue and visibility. Advertisers that balance buys across major platforms and independent shows will stretch their budgets further—and stay closer to engaged, loyal audiences.
The news: The connected TV (CTV) market is in flux as retail giants Amazon and Walmart escalate their fight for dominance—staking claims not just on content or devices, but on the operating systems themselves. Our take: Amazon and Walmart are racing to close the gap between attention and action. Controlling TV hardware and CTV operating systems while linking them to first-party retail data helps build seamless, closed-loop ad ecosystems where viewers can become buyers in a click. To stay competitive, marketers must optimize for closed-loop attribution, prioritize retail media integrations, and treat smart TVs as both screen and storefront as retail media and CTV ad spending surge.
In this podcast episode, we discuss the importance of physical touchpoints for brands and explore what attracts younger generations to in-store shopping experiences. We also examine the expectations consumers have for engaging in person experiences. Join our conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Chief Client Strategy & Integration; President of Quad Agency Services, Tim Maleeny, and Vice President of Content, Suzy Davidkhanian. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
The news: Global influencer marketing is booming, with spending increasing over $8 billion this year to reach $32.55 billion, per a Later report—and smaller tier influencers are leading the charge. In an exclusive interview with EMARKETER, founder of creator company HYDP Thomas Markland discussed what trends are driving the shift and why smaller creators are making waves. Our take: As advertisers lose confidence in traditional media and creators proliferate across platforms, influencer marketing will continue making strides and driving the way forward for brands—especially those who are cost-conscious amid economic uncertainty.
The news: Most big banks reported better-than-expected profits for Q2 2025, per Reuters. Our take: These strong Q2 earnings show that big banks are capitalizing on opportunities—but they’re not letting their guard down. We’ll see that continue as banks tap new revenue streams given a relaxation of financial regulations, like JPMorgan charging fintechs for customer data. With risks like more tariffs, deficits, and geopolitical tensions looming, banks will likely stay disciplined on costs and risk exposure. To stay ahead, banks should double down on tech-driven efficiency and monetization strategies that can scale regardless of market headwinds.
The news: Tech company Hewlett Packard (HP) is reportedly pitching HP Media Network, an ad network focused on laptop-targeted ads and desktop streaming, per Adweek. HP Media Network will sell ads that show up on HP computers and apps, and will promote its first-party data to give adtech firms access to offsite ads. Our take: HP’s launch could capitalize on growth in the desktop and laptop ad market—but the company needs to prove its offerings as distinctly beneficial compared with competitors, or risk falling victim to advertisers’ concerns over investing in new offerings as budgets are slashed.
The news: Roblox rolled out new teen-focused safety tools, including age estimation, stricter communication filters, and parent insights. The shift to ramp up age-specific protections follows growing pressure from regulators and parents over child safety risks on the platform, per Fast Company. Our take: Using Roblox’s new rules as a blueprint, marketers looking to cater to younger audiences should build campaigns that align with verified connections, invest in brand-safe messaging, and prepare for an age-gated future across platforms as this becomes the norm. Adapting early ensures compliance and preserves access to a key Gen Z and Gen Alpha audience.
Privacy regulations are mounting. Signal loss is accelerating. Omnichannel advertising has become impossibly complex. These forces are driving marketers back to MMM for holistic, privacy-safe measurement.
The news: Linear TV—already struggling amid the rise of digital—is at risk as US leaders across parties push for a crackdown on the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical ad market. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pursuing policies that would require advertisers to disclose drug side effects more transparently or risk losing the ability to deduct ad spending from their taxes, per Bloomberg. Our take: Restrictions on pharma advertising would isolate linear TV from omnichannel budgets and put it at a greater disadvantage against more data-rich platforms, accelerating the shift to digital.
The news: Roblox debuted a licensing platform in collaboration with companies like Netflix and Lionsgate to give IP rights holders the ability to partner with Roblox creators. Launched on Tuesday, the platform allows brands to connect with Roblox creators and set parameters for use of their IP. Launch partners include Netflix, LionsGate, and Sega, offering access to IP like “Squid Game,” “Stranger Things,” “Saw,” “Twilight,” “Divergent,” and more. Our take: Roblox’s move could give the platform a better chance of achieving its 10% goal—but success hinges on whether the licensing platform can enhance, rather than interrupt, the gamer experience.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the state of some of our 2025 predictions, including GenAI’s influence on business growth, the influence of China’s e-commerce disruptors, the squeeze on retail media networks, and more. Then, we offer a few more slightly spicier predictions for the remainder of the year ahead. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Vice President Suzy Davidkhanian and Senior Analyst Carina Perkins.
The news: The vast majority of referral traffic from AI sources comes from desktop users while mobile traffic lingers in single-digit percentages. 94% of ChatGPT referral traffic is from desktop users, per BrightEdge’s The Open Frontier of Mobile AI Search report. Google Gemini’s traffic is 94% desktop versus 5% mobile, while Perplexity’s is 96% desktop and just 3% mobile. Our take: As search engines increasingly reduce organic visibility and prioritize zero-click searches, brands and publishers need to develop unique content strategies for different devices. Providing a mix of long-form, in-depth posts for desktop users along with snappy headlines and skimmable content for those on mobile could help achieve the best of both worlds
The news: The window to monitor AI’s reasoning in chatbots and agents is quickly closing, according to 40 researchers from Google DeepMind, Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta, and more. In a rare show of unity, the researchers stated that chatbots and agents are shifting from human-readable chain-of-thought reasoning to opaque, non-verbal methods, per VentureBeat. Our take: The collective call for transparency and standards marks an inflection point. Without urgent action, AI systems may soon outpace our ability to audit them—leaving marketers, creators, and regulators flying blind. Unseen logic means unchecked bias that could result in reputational damage.
The news: The breakneck speed of AI development makes bugs easier to miss and slower to patch, leaving platforms vulnerable to flaws and potentially leaked data. This week, Meta revealed it had patched a bug in January that would have let its AI chatbot users access others’ private prompts and responses, per TechCrunch. Key takeaway: As AI tools become central to marketing workflows, so do the risks tied to prompt exposure, IP leaks, and client data breaches. Marketers must approach AI adoption with the same scrutiny they apply to any vendor handling sensitive assets.
The strategy: We’ve covered how smaller financial institutions (FIs) sometimes lose sight of differentiators in marketing campaigns when they focus on being “just as good” as bigger competitors. And The Financial Brand recently highlighted a similar trend of community banks straying from focusing on their community-centric strengths in marketing campaigns. So, what? It is important for smaller FIs to prioritize and improve their digital experiences. But for the time-being, they likely won’t beat bigger FIs and fintechs at their digital game. Instead, according to The Financial Brand, the true strength of community banking is its people. FIs should involve their staff in the customer journey, prioritizing quick human follow-up on leads over marginally improving online forms. This people-first approach fosters deeper relationships. In practice, it involves building experiences—both digital and in-person—that keep customers connected to team members who know them personally.
The news: Virtually all community bank leaders (99%) see embedded finance as important for their institutions' long-term survival, with 60% considering it extremely important, per a recent study by Treasury Prime. Our take: Embedded finance is a popular and effective avenue for community banking growth—if pursued with careful consideration and a priority on compliance. And there's an opportunity to maximize marketing opportunities when entering such partnerships.
The news: Zelle significantly increased its network in late 2024 and early 2025, adding 178 financial institutions (FIs) in six months compared to just 69 the prior year, per American Banker. Our take: Zelle’s expansion goals are clear, but the fintech could hit a ceiling with smaller FIs if it doesn’t mitigate the concerns raised by Family First Credit Union. Ultimately, Zelle's long-term success hinges on balancing its drive for network ubiquity with robust protections and equitable partnerships for all participating FIs.
The news: Governments across the UK, EU, and Australia are mandating age verification online and reshaping how platforms handle user identity and access to content. Reddit now requires UK users to prove they’re 18 via selfie or photo ID to access adult or harmful content, in compliance with the Online Safety Act. Our take: Age assurance is becoming the new standard. Advertisers need to move now by adjusting targeting strategies, creative assets, and compliance practices to stay effective in an increasingly verified and government regulated web.