
Madison and Wall Podcast
Madison and Wall's Brian Wieser digs nto how the advertising business really works. Subscribe for analysis, insight and more about advertising, media and technology trends.
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Latest episodes

Jul 4, 2025 • 8min
Ep. 42: Global Digital Services Taxes, Tarrifs' Impact on Marketing and More
This week we review our latest work exploring digital services taxes in context of Canada-US trade disputes, the latest commentary from marketers' CEOs and CFOs on the impact of tarrifs on their businesses and more.

Jun 28, 2025 • 8min
Ep. 41: RTL, TF1 and Corus vs. Amazon, Disney and Netflix, Politics in Agency + More
In this week's episode of the Madison and Wall podcast we review our latest work, including a review of the strategic choices broadcasters such as Canada's Corus, France's TF1 and Germany's RTL are making in the face of growing competition from streamers as well as the political reality facing global agency holding companies in the wake of last week's FTC consent decree.

Jun 20, 2025 • 8min
Ep. 40 AI's Impact on Agencies, Accenture Reorg, AdTech Everywhere at Cannes
Discover the vibrant energy of Cannes and its impact on the advertising industry! Enjoy personal anecdotes, like a whimsical train ride to Italy. Dive into the shifting landscape of ad tech with insights on how giants like Amazon and Roku are evolving. Explore Accenture's media strategy and the game-changing role of AI in marketing. This lively discussion blends industry news with personal reflections, providing a comprehensive view of current trends.

Jun 13, 2025 • 12min
Ep. 39: WPP CEO Change, Agency Industry Forecast, Warner Media Split, Bell Media's Ad Tech Partnerships and More
The podcast dives into the impact of WPP's CEO change on the agency landscape. Listeners will gain insights into a growing advertising sector, despite individual agency struggles. There's a fascinating discussion on Warner Bros. Discovery's split and how it affects video buying trends. The hosts also share their thoughts on Bell Media's strategic ad tech partnerships. Finally, they reflect on maintaining a work-life balance amidst economic challenges and manageable inflation.

Jun 6, 2025 • 8min
Ep. 38: New Ad Forecast! Behind Our 2025 Upgrade
In this week's episode of the Madison and Wall podcast we review our newest advertising forecast and some of the potential drivers of recent advertising strength in the US. We then explain why despite the upgraded forecast, many risks loom.

May 30, 2025 • 12min
Ep. 37: Digital Ad Taxes, CPG Trends + What Caused 1Q25's Strength?
In this week's episode of the Madison and Wall podcast we review new economic news, discuss the impact of taxes on digital advertising, look at CPG industry growth rates and explore factors impacting the most recent quarter's ad market strength.

May 23, 2025 • 10min
Ep. 36: Big, Beautiful Business Deterrents, New Pay TV and Video Data, Publicis Buys Influencer Agency and More
On this week's M&W Podcast we review our take on the potential consequences for foreign capital investment that may follow from tax policy changes in the US, go over new TV data we published on pay TV subscriptions, video ad loads and video spending and assess the news of Publicis' acquisition of a new influencer agency.

May 16, 2025 • 10min
Ep. 35: TV Upfronts, Retail Sales, Netflix Data, Dentsu + Globant and More
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.

May 9, 2025 • 23min
Ep. 34. Google's Search Durability, Tariffs and Advertising, More 1Q25 Results + Ads101 on Programmatic Advertising With Dentsu's Zac Selby
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.

May 2, 2025 • 23min
Ep. 33. 1Q25 Ad Results Flurry, A Critique of Mark Zuckerberg’s Take on AI Advertising and GDP + Ads101 on Digital Advertising With Butler/Till's Scott Ensign
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.