Madison and Wall Podcast

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.

Scott Wensman, a veteran media professional, shares insights into the stark shifts in consumer sentiment amid rising inflation expectations. He discusses the slow growth of political advertising for 2024 and the industry's transition to streaming services. Wensman also delves into the evolving media planning landscape, emphasizing the importance of audience data and integrated account leadership. His expertise sheds light on how advertisers can balance creativity with data-driven strategies, offering a fresh perspective on the changing advertising economy.

Join Professor Janna Greenberg from Boston University's School of Communication, a media strategies expert and seasoned advertising professional, as she dives into the impact of auto tariffs on advertising budgets. She discusses MNTN's IPO filing and what it means for small businesses in connected TV. The conversation also reveals insights on the evolving media agency landscape and generational shifts in media consumption. With a focus on the balance between creativity and analytics, Janna shares her journey through the advertising world and the challenges agencies face today.

Carl Hartman, a former global client leader at WPP and IPG and founder of the new agency Hartmore, shares his insights into the advertising landscape. He discusses the financial challenges facing major agencies like WPP and contrasts them with Stagwell's improvement. Hartman emphasizes the crucial role of global account leaders in navigating client relationships and agency dynamics. The conversation also touches on industry profitability metrics and innovation, illustrating the evolving nature of brand equity in advertising.