I hosted an event the other night featuring a cross section of folks from the creator-meets-media-meets-brands world. They had a lot to say about the future of the industry mikeshields.substack.com/p/the-creato...
The Creator Ad Tech Paradox
Everyone wants to grow spending. The question is how.
mikeshields.substack.com
All the biggest advertisers say they are going big with creators - but the numbers (at least the ones we have) tell a different story mikeshields.substack.com/p/despite-so...
Despite Some Big Talk, When it Comes to Creators, Big TV Brands Are Still Moving Pretty Slowly
YouTube landscape dominated by challenger brands, DTCs
mikeshields.substack.com
Fascinating podcast conversation with YouTube Jordan Matter on how his daughter became the star of his channel, and how their new skincare line with Sephora almost shut down New Jersey open.spotify.com/episode/7dAN...
From Viral Photographer to Skincare Empire with His Daughter Salish
open.spotify.com
Talked to Kin Community founder Michael Wayne about the many ups and downs of building a business with creators on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fV2...
What's It Like to Ride the YouTube Wave for Nearly 20 Years
YouTube video by Next in Media
youtube.com
New episode of Next in Media features illuminating chat with Unilever's Selina Sykes explaining how the beauty brand is going to work with a bazillion creators at once open.spotify.com/episode/7DhJ...
How is a Giant Marketer Like Unilever Going to Spend Half of Its Media Budget on Creators?
open.spotify.com
Dug deep into the origins of Amazon's ad business as a guest contributor for Big Technology www.bigtechnology.com/p/how-amazon...
How Amazon Built The World's Fastest Growing Ad Business
The definitive, inside story of how Amazon joined Facebook and Google as the internet's third dominant ad seller.
bigtechnology.com
Here's the problem: how do you advertise in Jimmy Kimmel right now? They'll come after you. And I like Jimmy Kimmel
Got to talk with top YouTuber Dhar Mann and his CEO Sean Atkins about why they've leaned into scripted content, and how they plan to partner with brands to make originals open.spotify.com/episode/7BTz...
Dhar Mann Wants to Make YouTube Shows With Big Brands
open.spotify.com
Exclusive: Paramount Skydance is preparing a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery that is backed by the Ellison family.
Paramount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
The bid will be for the entire company, including its cable networks and movie studio, according to people familiar with the situation.
on.wsj.com
If you think micro-dramas are new, you may not be old enough to remember Prom Queen mikeshields.substack.com/p/before-the...
Before There Were Micro-dramas - There Was the 'Prom Queen' of MySpace
Was the teen soap way ahead of its time? Or do Americans just not want this stuff?
mikeshields.substack.com
Could anyone actually AI-ify TV buying across networks? Maybe Amazon? mikeshields.substack.com/p/could-amaz...
Could Amazon Be on a Path to Take Over TV Ads?
Would big TV networks, and brands, be ok with a 'crystal box'?
mikeshields.substack.com
What is the USTA thinking having the men's final- which should be epic- against the opening of the NFL season?
In case you were wondering, we tried the creator commentary versions of the NFL game on YouTube and I'm rooting for nuclear war
Regulators: companies shouldn't share data for online ad targeting. Also, Google should share everyone's search data with everyone
Wow. Trump and Putin to appear later today together on New Heights podcast
whoa www.theinformation.com/articles/wal...
Walmart Backing Away From Trade Desk, an Amazon Ad Tech Rival
Amazon’s most direct rival in handling ad sales across the web, the Trade Desk, could be in danger of losing one of its most valuable clients—Walmart. Last year, Walmart renegotiated its four-year-old...
theinformation.com
This is cool but how about spending $7 to fix the app www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/b...
Paramount Strikes Seven-Year Deal to Stream U.F.C. Fights
nytimes.com
Disney+ and Hulu coming together. This way it will be easier to show the same ad again and again to the same user www.businessinsider.com/disney-hulu-...
Disney+ and Hulu are merging and it could save $3 billion
Speculation has been mounting inside the media giant that Disney+ could gobble up the Hulu brand altogether.
businessinsider.com
Tubi is working with 50 plus creators trying to figure out how to take YouTube and TikTok talent and translate it to streaming open.spotify.com/episode/3qdu...
How Tubi is Embracing Creators - and Trying to Shake up Streaming
Next in Media · Episode
open.spotify.com
When it comes to its ads and media strategy, for Spotify it's been pivot after pivot mikeshields.substack.com/p/spotifys-m...
Spotify's Misadventures in Video Continue
It may be time for a much bolder move if the company really wants to become a serious ad player
mikeshields.substack.com
Latest episode of Next in Media features Snap CMO Grace Kao talking about trying to normalize ads in chat open.spotify.com/episode/4wLN...
Snap's CMO Grace Kao: Beyond Social Media - Connecting Audiences, Brands & Developers
Next in Media · Episode
open.spotify.com