Most (63%) of global social media users prefer short videos from creators, according to a March impact.com and EMARKETER survey.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how much TV streaming is really going on around the world, in which countries radio is holding its own, and short-form video’s place in the social media world. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Principal Analyst, Paul Briggs, Vice President of Research, Jennifer Pearson, and Chief Insight Officer at GWI, Jason Mander. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

The connected car is shifting from a tech talking point to a marketing one as in-car entertainment becomes the next attention battleground for advertisers. Nearly two-thirds (63%) want infotainment systems to give them personalized recommendations based on listening behavior, and 67% want those systems to organize content seamlessly. A brief window exists before in-car ecosystems mature and become harder to penetrate. Marketers should act now by experimenting with partnerships, designing “car-first” experiences, establishing a cross-device identity, and investing in personalization.

Despite audience preference for relevant advertisements, users across age groups maintain a generally negative sentiment toward ad personalization, per a Verve study—representing a unique challenge for advertisers. Marketers must understand the factors that make consumers more receptive to personalized ads and adapt accordingly.

Klarna rolled out Klarna balance and Klarna Card in the UK. Credit cards aren’t as big a market in the UK as they are in the US, but issuers should be concerned by what Klarna calls its “balances.” Klarna is a real bank in the EU and recently was granted an Electronic Money Institution license in the UK. That means even without getting a bank charter in the UK—or the US for that matter—it can use its existing bank infrastructure to offer a robust suite of bank-like services in the style of Cash App or even Apple Wallet.

Premium media delivers measurable value: Ads that integrate smoothly into trusted environments boost purchase intent by 40% and trust by 85%.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how much of a splash ChatGPT’s new ‘Instant Checkout’ is likely to make, what kinds of things people are most likely to use it to buy, and if Amazon and Google can offer compelling alternatives. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and guest host, Marcus Johnson, and Senior Analysts, Carina Lamb (formerly Perkins) and Zak Stambor.

As Primark celebrates its 10-year anniversary in the US, the European retail giant navigates the challenges of building brand awareness in a competitive American market while staying true to its core value proposition that made it a cultural institution in the UK and Ireland.

Google and WPP struck a $400 million, five-year deal to expand AI tools and services across the UK ad agency’s services. The extension of their partnership, first announced in April 2024, marks a structural acceleration of how AI is becoming embedded in marketing operations. Deals like Google and WPP’s redefine what “AI maturity” looks like in marketing and how alliances are reshaping competitive dynamics. For CMOs, announcements like this emphasize the need for strong oversight of agency partnerships and a clear framework for measuring AI-driven efficiency and creative quality.