Not everyone gets news from creators and influencers. But alternative voices, especially podcasters, hold a lot of sway over key demographics, including Gen Z, men, and consumers who feel marginalized by mainstream media.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what the verdict is on Netflix's sports streaming experimentation and how small and mid-sized advertisers are spending more on CTV ads. Tune in to the conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Ross Benes and Vice President Paul Verna. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Many notable data points emerged from this busy week, including Google's search usage, resounding global trust in influencer recommendations, and most Americans don't know they're using AI-enabled products (even though 99% recently have).

A lot can happen in a week. Rue21’s customer overlap with TikTok Shop could position the brand to benefit from a potential TikTok ban. Meanwhile, Gen Z consumers are increasingly choosing alcohol-free lifestyles, reflecting health-conscious preferences. Cost-consciousness drives brand switching, but convenience remains key in purchase decisions. Here are five stats that caught our eye this week.

We explore the key contributors to record profits and the second-highest earnings year to date.

Financial institutions (FIs) will burst through the financial media network (FMN) door first cracked open in 2024. Chase made headlines in April by announcing its new ad business, followed by PayPal in May. They’re the most high-profile FIs to do so yet, signaling that FMNs could be a meaningful new revenue stream for the financial services industry.

Apple pulls its AI news alerts after hallucinations misrepresent major stories. The controversy shows Big Tech’s ongoing struggle to make AI both useful and trustworthy.

The AI agent era is here: Businesses are using AI agents to streamline operations and reduce staffing costs. As adoption rises, balancing efficiency with customer trust will be the real challenge.