Marketing News

Heinz is spotlighting the 57th pick in the NFL Draft with its new "Mr. 57" campaign, marking its debut as the league's official condiment partner and tying the brand's iconic number to a high-visibility sports marketing moment.

U.S. digital ad revenue hit $294.6 billion in 2025, up 13.9 percent year-over-year, new IAB data shows. Performance channels, video, creators, and AI-powered search drove growth despite a lack of major cyclical events.

Global media price inflation is projected to rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, driven largely by the FIFA World Cup. WFA's latest "Outlook" report shows higher costs across TV, out-of-home, and digital channels as advertisers compete for limited inventory.

Google is upgrading Dynamic Search Ads to AI Max, adding AI-driven controls and automation as search behavior shifts toward generative experiences, with automatic migration coming in September.

Chili's adds its Big Crispy and Spicy Big Crispy chicken sandwiches to the $10.99 3 For Me meal, escalating the chicken sandwich wars with a value-focused campaign targeting fast-food rivals.

Archer Meat Snacks on Tuesday launched its first entertainment tie-in with Disney's Star Wars, rolling out co-branded packaging, media, and promotions ahead of The Mandalorian and Grogu's May theatrical debut.

Popeyes on Monday launched a limited-time partnership with Toei Animation, offering ONE PIECE-inspired menu items and merchandise as fast-food chains increasingly lean on pop culture to attract budget-conscious consumers.

Procter & Gamble (P&G) on Tuesday announced a multiyear partnership with the WBNA, spanning several of the company's brands, such as Mielle, Olay, and Secret. Throughout the WNBA season, which tips off May 8, the league will introduce partnerships with other P&G brands, including Downy, Gillette, and Venus.

Only 4.3 percent of B2B companies show up in artificial intelligence queries for early-stage marketers, according to "2026 2X AI Visibility Index" released on Tuesday by 2X, a go-to-market services platform for B2B organizations. The remaining 95.7 percent of companies mainly appear in searches where buyers are already familiar with the company.

U.S. Bank and the NFL announced on Tuesday their multiyear partnership, renewing the brand's role as official bank and wealth management sponsor. The deal adds player financial education and may signal how sports sponsorships are growing in scope.

Publicis Groupe is acquiring 160over90, a global sports marketing agency from WME Group, and integrating it with Publicis Sports. The deal could reshape how brands plan and measure sports investments across sponsorships, live events, and commerce.

Coca-Cola on Thursday launched "And a Coke," its first campaign uniting multiple foodservice partners, including Arby's, Five Guys, and Panda Express. The move could signal a broader co-marketing play as same-store sales growth for restaurants faces pressure.

LinkedIn on March 23 released new creative assets for its "The Network That Works For You" brand campaign. The two spots, "Cut the Bullspend" and "Grow Your Sales," detail the ways that LinkedIn can help connect businesses with the right people.

Global consumer media consumption rose only 0.3 percent in 2025, a sharp slowdown from the 2.1 percent boost the previous year, according to new research released Tuesday by PQ Media. However, a confluence of marquee sporting events, federal elections, and nationwide celebrations are projected to accelerate usage this year.

Fifty percent of CMOs say their budgets leave them well-equipped to fuel business over the next six months, according to "The Conference Board CMO+CCO Meter," which was released on March 26. However, just 42 percent of CMOs felt well-equipped by their teams, down sharply from 52 percent in the June 2025 study.

Data Quality Co‑op on Wednesday announced its partnership with Advertiser Perceptions to bring independent verification and stronger data integrity to B2B ad research.

YouTube is centralizing creator partnership tools with new AI-powered integrations to help advertisers better identify, collaborate with, and scale work with the platform's 3 million creators.

Ford and MLB strike a multiyear deal expanding the automaker's presence across all levels of baseball and boosting fan engagement through events, youth programs, and sweepstakes

A new ANA survey reveals a growing governance gap in principal media as its use rises across the advertising industry, highlighting marketers' concerns and the need for stronger safeguards and transparency.

Madison & Wall projects 8.1 percent ad revenue growth in 2026, driven by strong digital gains—especially social, commerce, CTV, and AI — while noting regulatory and geopolitical risks.