Madison and Wall Podcast Ep. 69: Meta's Growth, YouTube vs Barb, M&W Category Data and Much More
Jan 30, 2026
They dig into Meta's robust ad growth and how AI and targeting shifts are reshaping advertiser strategy. They unpack YouTube's clash with UK measurement and what measurement fragmentation means for media. They highlight TV operator trends, content costs and Charter's push into performance TV. They also announce new proprietary category advertising data and note turnover across major ad companies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Doomscrolling And Snowstorm Setup
- Brian joked about doomscrolling and recovering from a five-year record snowstorm in New Jersey.
- The hosts set a tone of unease about the broader world but frame analysis through advertising.
Meta's Growth Looks Exceptionally Robust
- Meta's ad business is growing rapidly and management expects continued strong growth driven by share gains and AI features.
- Brian Wieser and Luke Stillman view Meta's guidance as optimistic but grounded in sustained commercial strength and product improvements.
Measurement Is Becoming Fragmented
- Measurement is fragmenting as large platforms build proprietary metrics that favor their own ecosystems.
- Brian warns this makes cross-platform comparison harder and benefits walled gardens that control first-party data.