Only a few spots left to join us for AI Marketing Strategies
Join us Sept. 24 in NYC to connect with execs from Digitas, Claire's, Marriott, Havas and others
The Barbarian Group COO Rick Webb has some tough words for Silicon Valley. He has little time for those arguing there isn’t a bubble right now in tech company valuations, zeroing in on those that have ad-dependent business models. For all that Silicon Valley companies lament the lack of tech savvy in the advertising, the opposite is clearly true. Webb makes that point clear:
Brands don’t actually want or need any more media channels. As far as they’re concerned, the internet can stop now. We have enough channels. We were happy when we had like seven (TV, print, outdoor, radio, in-store, direct and theater), got a little interested in the first few new ones. Urinals? Uh, okay. Banners? Interesting. Google? Yes. Groupon, Farmville, GroupMe? OKAY I AM GETTING TIRED NOW. Silicon Valley seems to think that advertising’s appetite for new media channels is unending. It is not.
Read more on The Barbarian Group blog. For a counterpoint, see angel investor Chris Dixon and venture capitalist Brad Feld.
Trending in
Most Read
More in Media
‘It’s hard to be a $7 billion company’: The investment banker’s diagnosis for ad tech’s public woes
September 16, 2026
Public ad tech is disappearing and an investment banker just explained why.
IAB Creator Upfront: Why a half-built infrastructure is holding back CFO buy-in
September 16, 2026
IAB’s inaugural Creatorfronts sought to smooth-over some creator economy bumps to help get more CFOs on board.
How Reuters’ dynamic paywall is boosting subscriptions and ads
September 16, 2026
Reuters’ dynamic paywall is helping the publisher grow subscriptions while strengthening (rather than cannibalizing) its ads business.