Verizon-owned Visible launches Pride Month game show ‘No Straight Answers’

The ‘70s-inspired game show will stream on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube and challenges two teams to games like “LGBTQ&A” and “Slang Slam.”

How State Farm meets the challenge of Gen Z marketing with esports

The insurance firm’s “Gamerhood Challenge” is returning for a second year with bigger challenges and adding YouTube as a streaming partner.

Instacart begins nationwide rollout of ChatGPT search tool

The tool allows customers to find products as well as recipes, food prep tips and more using “natural language” instead of keyword-based searches. 

Frito-Lay makes largest-ever investment in women’s sports for World Cup

As women’s sports continue to gain viewers, the snack marketer’s activations will span popular brands and include its Cracker Jill campaign.

Unilever’s chief digital and commercial officer Conny Braams departs

The executive spent more than 30 years at the CPG giant and has served as its top marketer since the start of 2020.

How restaurants can get a slice of Gen Z’s $360B spending power

This generation's prioritization of time, social media and altruism — combined with a comparative mistrust of tech — sets it apart from millennials and Gen X.

WPP shakes up creative process with AI-powered content engine

Supported by Nvidia, the new platform promises to generate large volumes of assets like images and videos while staying true to client goals. 

Campaign Trail: Don Julio’s fantastical disco day party introduces a new innovation

The Diageo distiller created a vibrant, pink-hued world to position its new Rosado expression as the daytime counterpart to its popular 1942 product.

LinkedIn emphasizes the power of networking in global push

Created with Droga5, “Find Your In” includes a minute-long spot and creator-led activation and arrives following a major round of layoffs at the company.

How Cashmere’s blend of culture and data is winning clients

Recent AOR appointments from Marriott Bonvoy and Dave & Buster’s demonstrate how the agency’s approach is resonating at a fraught time for brand messaging.

Updated May 26, 2023

Milk checkoff’s ‘Wood Milk’ campaign featuring Aubrey Plaza violates federal laws, health group says

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine filed a complaint with the USDA’s inspector general, claiming the website and videos with the “White Lotus” star disparages another product and was intended to influence policy.

Smoothie King pens paperback romance novel with aid of ChatGPT

The 250-page “A Summer Fling to the X-Treme” is laced with secret codes readers can crack for the chance to win a free smoothie via the brand’s app.

Invisalign rejects the hassle of braces for creator-led social media push

“Stay Clear of Drama” enlists popular TikTok creators to share the perks of Invisalign compared to braces, like the ability to eat gummy candy.

McDonald’s spotlights Black Girls Surf to promote ‘Little Mermaid’ tie-up

The fast food giant is doubling down on inclusivity around a film that has faced racist backlash, while the chain faces its own accusations of racial bias.

Bacardi extends brand platform with custom Snap AR lens, sneaker NFTs

A speakeasy pop-up event in New York and music festival experiences are also part of the brand’s latest iteration of its “Do What Moves You” platform.

Chipotle gears up for a fight with Street Fighter 6 activation

The chain is rewarding consumers who place orders on the web or via app with in-game currency and will trade free food for viewing time on Twitch.

Inside Google’s plans for improving paid search with generative AI

More efficient ways to produce and edit assets and ensure responses are relevant to consumers were a focus of this year’s Google Marketing Live.

In massive executive shuffle, Nike names new Jordan president

Heidi O’Neill's promotion to president of consumer, product and brand will “fully integrate [Nike’s] brand marketing storytelling to build deep relationships and engagement with the brand.”

Kroger brings digital smart screens to 500 locations

The grocer is adding units from Cooler Screens on the heels of a three-year pilot, with the goal of strengthening its retail media offerings. 

Peloton’s latest brand revamp arrives as revenue drops 22%

The refresh brings a free membership tier and a new in-app content feature, Peloton Gym, as the brand strives to be more accessible.

Walmart Connect enlists creative partners to help brands craft better ads

Companies including VidMob and The Mars Agency are allying with the retailer’s ad division amid a run of growth, with sales up 30% last quarter.

Kraft Singles refreshes brand with bold colors, easier-to-open packaging

The first overhaul in five years arrives as the brand looks to maintain its momentum during a period of high inflation. 

71% of CMOs lack the budget needed to execute marketing strategy in 2023

Martech is the recipient of the biggest boost in spending while labor faces the largest pullback, a dynamic that could present challenges down the line.

Pitching new business is busted for agencies and brands. Can it be fixed?

Stakeholders agree the long-standing pitch model is broken and too expensive, thanks in part to inertia and misaligned objectives, per Forrester.

Report: As CTV commands advertiser interest, fraud grows nearly 70%

A focus at this year’s upfronts, the channel has also seen the variety of schemes triple since 2020, according to DoubleVerify.