Madison and Wall Podcast Ep. 53: S4 + M&C Agency Read-Throughs, Retail Sales Trends + Implications of Jimmy Kimmel's "Pre-Emption"
Sep 19, 2025
Dive into insightful discussions about the recent Fed interest rate cut and its impact on advertising budgets. Explore how strong retail sales, especially in e-commerce, influence the advertising landscape. The analysis of agency earnings from M&C Saatchi and S4 Capital reveals client trends, while the unexpected implications of Jimmy Kimmel's pre-emption might redirect TV advertising toward more sports and digital channels. Get ready for a mix of economic insights and industry shifts!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Weekend Travel And Spinal Tap Visit
- Brian Wieser describes a rare low-work weekend and travel-heavy prior week.
- He shares seeing the new Spinal Tap and having Elton John’s Stonehenge tune stuck in his head.
Rate Cut Raises Nominal Budget Implications
- The Fed's quarter-point cut complicates inflation and growth dynamics for advertisers.
- Wieser notes nominal growth from inflation often boosts advertising budgets even if real growth is modest.
Retail Sales Show Broad Strength
- August retail sales surprised strongly, signaling healthy consumer demand despite mixed narratives.
- E-commerce (non-store retail) grew ~10% and likely supports faster retail media growth this quarter.