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This week on Ad Age Insider's Weekly Report: Starbucks leans into culture over explanation with its 'Pink Energy' platform, built around the fan-favorite Pink Drink. Gary Vaynerchuk takes a personal stake in affiliate marketing agency Paul Street. Forward deployed engineers are embedding directly in agencies for AI development. Bayer tests predictive AI targeting that outperforms standard demand-side platform benchmarks. And the 2026 Emmy nominees for Outstanding Commercial include Apple, Nike, Adidas, Coinbase and Levi's. Host Parker Herren breaks down what each story means for marketers navigating AI adoption, affiliate marketing growth and culture-first branding. Subscribe for weekly industry news roundups, plus biweekly deep-dive conversations with Ad Age reporters. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Starbucks builds a summer platform around Pink Drink ~Gary Vaynerchuk on why he's investing in an affiliate marketing agency ~How brands get more from AI with forward-deployed engineers ~How Bayer's head of media is using AI-powered predictive targeting and navigating AI search ~Adidas, Apple, Coinbase, Levi's and Nike earn Emmy nominations for best ad

Ad Age Media Reporter Brandon Doerrer gives a midyear check-in on 2026 ad spend, and breaks down the insights behind the data. He gets into why budgets are holding steady despite the economic pressure, what's happening in the upfronts (Disney's ask was a lot higher than buyers wanted to pay) and why streaming—not linear—is the thing keeping TV's growth numbers alive. Hear more on growth in gaming advertising, Netflix and Omnicom's new AI targeting partnership and the complex shift in search. Plus, how World Cup marketing spend has impacted 2026 budgets. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~More on third quarter media buying trends ~How brands are using AI to solve data challenges ~EA's head of ads on video game brand integrations ~Listen to Ad Age's Marketer's Brief podcast

This week on Ad Age Insider's Weekly Report: how two indie agencies—Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners and Canvas Worldwide—beat holding company giants Stagwell and Publicis for California Lottery's $550 million account. Plus Meta's marketing shake-up as Chief Marketing Officer Alex Schultz moves into a new chief data officer role and Denise Moreno takes over amid Meta's AI race against Google, Microsoft, Amazon, OpenAI and Anthropic. And why brands are underestimating 50-plus consumers; how e.l.f. Beauty, L'Oréal and Tarte are winning at AI adoption; and Windhoek Beer's anti-AI ad campaign. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~BSSP and Canvas land California Lottery's $550 million account ~4 ways to reach older consumers ~Meta switches CMOs ~Why beauty brands are ahead of the curve with AI ~Man born with extra fingers stars in anti-AI campaign

In Ad Age Insider's July 2 Weekly Report: inside Alex Cooper's pitch to brands at Cannes Lions; why Mr. Clean is going after beauty creators; how brands are combating conquesting on ChatGPT; how Q3 ad budgets are being spent; and iShowSpeed's collaboration with Expedia. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Read Ad Age's Q&A with Alex Cooper ~Inside Mr. Clean's beauty influencer campaign ~How conquesting is taking over ChatGPT ads ~What media buyers are prioritizing right now ~IShowSpeed and Expedia's shoppable stream

On this week's episode of Ad Age Insider, host Parker Herren recaps the news, trends and takeaways that have emerged from the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Hear reactions and pitches from companies including Tubi, Microsoft, EA, Google, OpenAI and Anthropic. From how the AI conversation has shifted to how agencies are approaching creator marketing and emerging ad formats, catch up on the industry buzz that will set the tone for the rest of the year. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~See all the Cannes Lions winners here ~How AI has shown up at Cannes ~Inside OpenAI's Cannes ad pitch ~Why Microsoft is connecting with creators in Cannes ~What Ad Age's conversations in Cannes reveal about AI, agencies and creators ~Why gaming ad spend still lags ~Listen: Everything marketers need to know about microdramas ~Cannes Lions entries drop more than 25%

Agency reporters Brian Bonilla and Ewan Larkin break down the key topics, trends and questions to watch at this year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. From how industry mergers including Omnicom-IPG will shift agency priorities to the rise of independent agencies, they describe what factors are impacting the awards, events and conversations on the ground this year. Plus, they discuss why the presence of social media creators is on the rise, how sports marketing is showing up and the top questions they're seeking answers to at Cannes. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Everything to know about Cannes Lions 2026 ~Cannes Lions 2026 schedule ~The Cannes Lions creator playbook ~Enter Ad Age's 40 Under 40 by July 23 ~Listen to Ad Age's Marketer's Brief podcast

Watch this episode and see additional resources for marketers at AdAge.com/cmo. In the first episode of the Ad Age CMOs on CMOs series, Andrea Collins, CMO of Hippo, and Liz Vanzura, CMO of Solo Stove, break down how they're implementing AI into team workflows, and how marketers can start discussing AI implementation with teams mindfully. They also dig into grassroots marketing tactics and the power of bringing your brand to consumers. CMOs on CMOs is a new series from Ad Age. Each episode will feature two marketing leaders, discussing the trends, changes and trials of their work. Stay tuned for more episodes in the coming months.

For years, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been must-buy media inventory for marketers. But numerous controversies as well as the bigger-than-ever nature of the soccer games have presented new challenges and considerations for brands. Creativity Editor Tim Nudd and Senior Marketing Reporter Jon Springer discuss trends that have emerged across World Cup creative, sports marketing trends on the rise versus on the outs and how recent fan disruptions from ticket prices to geopolitical disruption have impacted brand plans. Plus, they reveal the first-ever Ad Age Insider World Cup Marketing Award winners, including the most unique work, best brand strategy and best World Cup campaign. Listen to discover which brands took home trophies. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Everything brands need to know about World Cup marketing ~How brands are using access to break through World Cup clutter ~See Coca-Cola's unique AI activation ~See Air Transat's pricing-themed OOH campaign ~Watch Adidas' campaign starring Timothee Chalamet ~Inside Nike's star-studded World Cup spot ~See McDonald's World Cup collectors' cups ~These brands nailed World Cup work this year ~Enter Ad Age's 40 Under 40 by July 23 ~Listen to Ad Age's Marketer's Brief podcast

Senior Technology and AI editor Garett Sloane breaks down Publicis Groupe's acquisition of LiveRamp, including why it matters for brands and first steps for auditing your ad tech stack. He discusses the impact of data ownership on future AI development, how to leverage greater transparency with ad tech partners and the meaning of a composable ad tech stack. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Publicis-LiveRamp deal reshapes data landscape—what it means for rival agencies and the industry ~Publicis-LiveRamp deal sparks agency scramble for alternatives ~How to lock in your ad tech stack before the Publicis-LiveRamp deal closes ~How to submit for the 2026 Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards ~Listen to Ad Age's Marketer's Brief podcast

The industry is transforming in real time as AI growth impacts workflows, output and career paths from one moment to the next. Industry leaders are continually refining uses of AI platforms, best practices for prompting and how to communicate new tech initiatives to teams. As Ad Age honors trailblazers in innovation with the 2026 Tech Power List, reporters and editors share their tips for where AI use can go right and wrong in marketing. This ICYMI roundup features Tech Reporter Asa Hiken, News Editor E.J. Schultz, Creativity Editor Tim Nudd, Influencer Reporter Gillian Follett and Senior Agency Reporter Lindsay Rittenhouse. They offer tips and tricks for topics ranging from consumers' primary AI fears to worst-case brand scenarios and the new talent pipeline conundrum. Listen to each episode in its entirety: ~Your AI ad playbook: red flags, hard lessons and brand wins, with Asa Hiken ~What's driving marketing impact: lessons from award-winning campaigns, with Tim Nudd ~Decoding 2026 hype vs. reality for marketers, with E.J. Schultz and Adrianne Pasquarelli ~'Fruit Love Island' brand lessons: skip this viral trend, with Gillian Follett ~Agency hiring in the AI era: What grads need now, with Lindsay Rittenhouse