The leaders of the 2026 Ad Age Small Agency Awards—Judy Pollack, Brian Bonilla and Ewan Larkin—break down what actually separated this year's winners from the pack. They dig into why small shops are ditching billable hours for outcomes-based and equity models and how agencies like Conscious Minds and Zambezi rebuilt their entire structures to compete at scale. They also talk about why social-first, technology-driven creative work, from CAPTCHA microsites to intern jackets, is what's winning clients over right now. Tune in for the full breakdown of consolidation, reinvention and what clients are actually paying for in a leaner ad economy.

Host Parker Herren presses the judges on where the industry goes next: expect more shops merging into "super indies," pitches built around certainty rather than promises and creative-first agencies pushing into media and production to avoid getting boxed into one lane. Listen to hear what it takes to survive—and win—as a small agency in 2026. Subscribe to Ad Age Insider so you don't miss what's next.

Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode:

~See the winners of Ad Age's 2026 Small Agency Awards

~Read Ad Age's Small Agency Playbook

~Apply to join Ad Age's Small Agency Network

~Listen to the Marketer's Brief podcast

This week on Ad Age Insider's Weekly Report: Taco Bell's Cyclospora outbreak and what it reveals about crisis communications, food safety, and brand trust. Plus, four Madwell alumni launch independent agency Five Cherries; ChatGPT's advertising platform shifts toward conversion-based pricing; creators Grant Gibbs and Ashley Gill talk brand partnerships without sanitizing their content; and Plato's Closet's immersive back-to-school campaign with agency Tombras.

Host Parker Herren breaks down what each story means for marketers navigating food safety and crisis response, the shift toward senior-led independent agencies and creator partnerships built on trust over reach. 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:

~How the cyclosporiasis outbreak is testing Taco Bell's brand

~Four former Madwell executives launch their own agency

~How ChatGPT advertising works now—and what marketers still need

~'A Twink and a Redhead' on landing brand deals without sanitizing their risqué comedy

~Plato's Closet built a high school hall inside a store for kids to test their outfits

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