Marketing News

In January, President Trump extended the deadline to April 5 for a law that bans TikTok from operating in the U.S. while under foreign control. With the new deadline now less than a week away, the video-centric social platform's fate remains uncertain.

California Pizza Kitchen earlier this week rolled out what seemed to be a rebranding effort, posting a video on its social channels featuring strobe lights, a pounding beat, and folks wearing hoodies chomping on pizza. But it was just a gag, a faux mid-life crisis to celebrate the restaurant chain's 40th anniversary.

Window and door manufacturer Pella Corp. showcases its windows through the eyes of a 9-year-old girl grooving to a Missy Elliott track as severe weather rages outside.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey this week signed a bill prohibiting the use of several artificial dyes in school lunches and food items sold throughout the state. The move comes less than a month after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a group of food industry CEOs that getting rid of artificial colors in foods is a top priority of the Trump administration.

"La Playa Awaits," a new ad campaign from Corona, celebrates a sunny, sandy lifestyle, even if the closest beach is 300 miles away. The ad campaign kicks off on MLB's Opening Day on March 27 and will include spots running during NBA and WNBA games.

Nearly 80 percent of consumers "expect to see no ads at all" if they're paying for a streaming service, while just about the same percentage say that watching ads is a fair tradeoff for access to free content on streaming channels, per a new report.

Video game "Minecraft" is partnering with McDonald's to promote "A Minecraft Movie," which premieres in theaters on April 4. The latest in a series of partnerships between big brands and gaming companies, the collaboration features "Minecraft"-themed meals along with collectible figurines.

Dentsu and Roblox are teaming up to introduce a new platform called, "Love, Your Mind World." The initiative is designed to help teens learn about mental health and bolster their emotional well-being.

Puma's new brand campaign, "Go Wild," emphasizes a message of self-expression through sport and celebrates amateur and professional athletes alike. The global ad campaign, the athletic apparel company's biggest ever, runs through 2026.

Advertising growth is now expected to slow down due to rising uncertainty about the economy and tariffs, according to one of the ad industry's top analysts. Brian Wieser, CEO and principal of Madison and Wall, wrote earlier this week that he expects ad revenue to grow 3.6 percent in 2025 — excluding political advertising — down from 4.5 percent that he predicted in December 2024.

Actor Pedro Pascal and director Spike Jonze have joined forces with Apple's creative agency, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, to produce the short film "Someday," promoting Apple's new AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation earbuds.

The PepsiCo acquisition of Poppi announced on Monday will enable Pepsi to compete for share with direct rival Coca-Cola, which in February launched prebiotic soda Simply Pop, and Olipop, the top nonalcoholic beverage brand in the U.S. The deal also raises Pepsi's visibility with gen Zers eager for healthier soda drinks.

The average CMO tenure at Fortune 500 companies in 2024 grew slightly from 2023, according to a new study released by executive search firm Spencer Stuart. But while CMO tenure was up, the actual number of CMOs is shrinking.

Inflation is easing, albeit slightly. The Consumer Price Index for February was up 2.8 percent from a year earlier, after rising another 0.2 percent from January. That was a step down from January's surprisingly large 0.5 percent increase and came in below economists' expectations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, existing cracks in the economy, such as a rise in jobless claims, could still lead to a sharp downturn.

The Estée Lauder Companies is partnering with Adobe to use its generative artificial intelligence (AI) system, Firefly, to help launch digital marketing campaigns with greater ease and efficiency. However, consumer sentiment on ads generated by AI is mixed, if not negative.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week told a group of food industry leaders that they must eliminate artificial dyes in their products, adding that if the industry doesn't take action on its own the Trump administration will do so.

Mr. Peanut, the beloved Planters mascot, makes his acting debut in the upcoming Netflix movie "The Electric State." In the film he takes on a more mechanical iteration than his typical cartoon one, playing a robot in the aftermath of a robot uprising in the 1990s.

Score one for gen Z influencers. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) late last week announced a new partnership with Unwell, a beverage company founded by podcaster Alex Cooper, a former Division I soccer player, who has 3.4 million followers on Instagram and 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube.

Sponsorships of women's sports is up 12 percent, compared to 8 percent for men's sports leagues, according to a new report. A wide array of companies, including B2B firms, are starting to sponsor women's sports leagues, which continue to expand at a rapid clip.

Clothing brand Banana Republic has partnered with Max's hit series, "The White Lotus," for a new collection inspired by the show's accessible yet aspirational themes (along with a dash of tropical climes).