Madison and Wall Podcast

The podcast explores intriguing retail sales data, highlighting a surprising 9.4% rise in automotive sales amidst economic challenges. The discussion includes Walmart's burgeoning advertising business and insights on consumer behavior. The hosts also dive into Netflix's growth in ad-supported subscribers, providing a snapshot of shifting viewer preferences. Additionally, they analyze market dynamics and the implications of pulled-forward demand, offering a balanced view of optimism versus reality in today’s economy.

Zac Selby, the Global Addressable Lead for Dentsu Media, shares insights into the landscape of programmatic advertising and its critical role in digital marketing. He discusses the challenges facing the advertising sector, including the effects of tariffs and the changing dynamics of Google's search advertising. Zac emphasizes the importance of data in optimizing campaigns and navigating the complexities of audience targeting in a cookie-less environment, while also delving into how resource allocation impacts agency organization.

Scott Ensign, the Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, shares his expertise on the dynamics of digital advertising. The conversation critiques Mark Zuckerberg's views on AI's influence on GDP. They delve into the latest GDP data and its implications for advertising strategies. Ensign highlights the importance of balancing creativity with data in marketing, the challenges of measuring ROI in digital platforms, and how mobile advertising is evolving. This insightful dialogue addresses the continuous shifts in consumer behavior and advertising trends.

On this week’s M&W Podcast, no Ads 101 - back soon! - we review the meaning of the latest consumer sentiment data for the advertising industry and summarize the work we did this week which included the following pieces:Large Marketer CEO and CFO Commentary for Week Ending April 25, 2025: Capital One,Colgate, Keurig Dr. Pepper, P&G + UnileverIPG's Overall 1Q25 Results Weak As Expected, But LikelyBetter Than Omnicom's Excluding Three Major Client LossesWPP's Soft 1Q25 Results As Global HoldCos Collectively Up 1.0% During QuarterComcast 1Q25 Shows Soft TV Ad TrendsGoogle's 1Q25 Saw Great Growth, But Risks to Outlook Ahead

On this week’s M&W Podcast we summarize our take on what happens if Meta and Alphabet are forced by courts to sell parts of their businesses, the latest earnings results from Publicis and Omnicom and hear from Greg McLelland, Madison and Wall's new General Manager of Canada / CRO Advisory Practice Lead.Plus, on this week's podcast, our Advertising 101 series continues with a focus on digital advertising With Martin Galvin, Co-Founder of Calm Media Investments (a provider of forward media investment programs). Prior to that he ran the Agency commercial program at Pinterest, having previously led Digital investment for GroupM in the UK.This follows the past eight weeks where we explored the role of agencies (Ep. 23 with Macquarie Securities' Tim Nollen, the function of global account leads (Ep. 24 with Heartmore's Carl Hartman), media agencies (Ep. 25 with Boston University professor Janna Greenberg), media planning (Ep. 26 with Scott Wensman), media research (Ep. 27 with Stacey Schulman), national TV and CTV buying (Ep. 28 with Todd Gordon), local TV (Ep. 29 with Janice Finkel-Greene) and outdoor advertising (Ep. 29 with Keither "Kappy" Kaplan).  Our first six parts focused on marketers and how they allocate resources (you can listen to these interviews on episodes 17-22 of The M&W podcast).

In this engaging session, Keith "Kappy" Kaplan, a seasoned advisor and former global CEO of Kinetic, dives into the evolving landscape of outdoor advertising and the implications of new digital taxes and pharmaceutical tariffs. He shares intriguing insights on how these developments could reshape the advertising industry, especially for small businesses. Kaplan passionately discusses strategic messaging and audience targeting in outdoor media, emphasizing the impact of digital transformation on traditional advertising methods.

Janice Finkel-Greene, a former IPG executive with a sharp focus on local TV and radio advertising, joins the discussion. They delve into the complex interplay between current economic policies and advertising dynamics. Janice shares insights on navigating local markets post-election and emphasizes the critical balance between technology and human touch in advertising. The conversation also tackles audience measurement methodologies, comparing Nielsen and Comscore, and examines how traditional advertising is evolving in the digital landscape.

Todd Gordon, a veteran media investment professional with a rich history at major firms like WPP and Adobe, joins the discussion. He shares insights on navigating the evolving landscape of media buying, focusing on the shift from traditional TV to Connected TV. The conversation dives into how economic policies and tariffs pose risks for agencies, especially in cross-border operations. Also explored are modern advertising strategies that rely on data-driven approaches and the importance of adaptability in negotiations with clients.

Stacey Lynn Schulman, a media research executive with a rich history at Nexstar and Interpublic's Initiative, joins the discussion to unravel the latest ad trends. They dive into the significant decline in auto advertising and how political uncertainties are reshaping strategies. Schulman sheds light on the evolving role of media currency in advertising, emphasizing the transition from Nielsen to Comscore and the essential nature of trust in audience measurement. Additionally, they explore advertising dynamics across Europe and the impact of digital platforms.

Stacey Lynn Schulman, an accomplished executive formerly with Nexstar and Interpublic's Initiative, dives deep into the shifting advertising landscape. She discusses the less optimistic forecast for 2024, highlighting the split between digital and traditional media. Schulman emphasizes the essential role of media research in shaping strategies and improving campaign effectiveness. Insights into audience segmentation and the complexities of programmatic advertising reveal how understanding consumer behavior drives successful marketing.