Last chance to save on Digiday Publishing Summit passes is February 9
DIGIDAY+ MEMBER EXCLUSIVES
Lego is building out an in-house programmatic team
The Danish advertiser is hiring for programmatic roles to flesh out paid digital unit. But it’s not the only brand deepening its in-house bench.
Media
From vibes to data: Why some brands use predictive tech to vet creators
Brands like TheRealReal and Shark Ninja are turning to predictive models and datasets to guide their strategies.
In Graphic Detail: The puny nature of regulatory fines compared to Big Tech’s financial prowess
Big Tech could pay off over $7 billion in 2025 fines in less than one month, demonstrating the disparity between regulatory bite and corporate wealth.
WTF is vibe coding?
Vibe coding is an increasingly popular way of writing code using plain-language prompts that creators are leveraging to build apps, websites, and more.
Marketing
P&G bets big on retail integration as CPGs question incrementality
As P&G doubles down on retail media, CPG brands debate if the massive spending delivers incremental growth or is merely a new, expensive retailer “tax.”
In Graphic Detail: Why TikTok still faces an uphill battle in the U.S.
TikTok’s existence in the U.S. under new ownership, isn’t as smooth sailing as it hoped, at least not yet.
‘There was a conversation’: Vita Coco rides out TikTok U.S. uncertainty with its safety nets built
Vita Coco treats TikTok uncertainty as a cost of doing business, not a reason to leave.
Future of TV
Inside NBCU’s $3 million Peacock Super Bowl pitch
February’s Big Game carries a big price tag for streaming inventory, and buyer need to double down. Still, it hasn’t put marketers off investing.
Future of TV Briefing: The creator’s economy’s ‘very loud, dirty little secret’ of brands’ late, delayed payments
This week’s Future of TV Briefing looks at how lengthening payment windows and late payments from brands continue to roil the creator economy.
Programmatic advertising on TV is set to increase this year
Comcast said programmatic ad spend on TV s trending up, as access widens and old borders between CTV, streaming and linear dissolve.
Media Buying
Ad Tech Briefing: Amazon launches MCP server for agent-driven advertising
At IAB ALM, Amazon unveils beta program as debate around industry standards heats up.
Will Publicis Groupe keep exploring M&A or does it need to focus on what it’s already got?
Sources hint at potentially buying ad tech assets, with data onbarding firm LiveRamp heavily linked to a deal. But it may choose to concentrate on what it’s already bought.
Media Buying Briefing: Marketers are wary of civil unrest at this year’s World Cup
Sports marketers plan for every eventuality. Now, they’re considering how to respond should the World Cup be derailed by the U.S. government.
Annual research reports
Podcasts
Research
This week, I checked in with leading wellness industry investors, including Kelly Chen from XRC Ventures, Po Bronson from SOSV, Rachel Hirsch from Wellness Growth Ventures and Jenny Liu from newly-formed Crush It Ventures, to learn what’s in and out when it comes to 2026 wellness investments.
This week, I checked in with leading wellness industry investors, including Kelly Chen from XRC Ventures, Po Bronson from SOSV, Rachel Hirsch from Wellness Growth Ventures and Jenny Liu from newly-formed Crush It Ventures, to learn what’s in and out when it comes to 2026 wellness investments.
The Modern Retail Marketing Summit is taking place in Huntington Beach, California this year from April 20-22, featuring speakers from top brands like Thrive Market, ThredUp, Pacsun and more. Here’s a preview of what you can expect out of the event.
The Modern Retail Marketing Summit is taking place in Huntington Beach, California this year from April 20-22, featuring speakers from top brands like Thrive Market, ThredUp, Pacsun and more. Here’s a preview of what you can expect out of the event.