At long last, Google seems to do a 180 on its third-party cookie policy. What does this mean for marketers and advertisers? META introduces Llama 3 for developers, apparently giving away its AI technology and investment for free. Could this be for real or is it a Zuckerberg trick? And does Spotify use podcasts for loyalty first? Hits and misses include Deadpool and Heinz and Informa's purchase of the Cannes Festival. Rants and raves include British Airways and Field & Stream magazine. ----- This week's links: Google Leaves Cookie Policy Llama 3.1 Launch Spotify's Bet on Podcasts Informa Bu ..read more

This week Taboola does a big deal with Apple to sell their advertising space. Great for Taboola, but what does this message for Apple? Dax Shepard does an $80 million dollar podcast deal with Amazon. Is Amazon going after Spotify and YouTube for podcast dominance? And CMO's are under huge pressure, as stated by the latest research. Are we actually in a marketing recession? Rants and raves include VidCon Baltimore and StickerMule. ----- This week's links: Ken Griffin Buys Dinosaur Taboola to Sell Apple Ads Dax Shepard Does Deal with Amazon's Wondery CMOs Under Pressure ----- This week's sponsor ..read more

Has the content creator/influencer business model gone bearish? Glamour seems to think so. We  disagree. The Paramount/Skydance deal is finally done...we think. Spotify is beginning to court more video podcasts. Is it working in their fight against YouTube? And BusinessWeek has a 120-page print issue on the way. Does this mean a new opportunity in print? Wins and losses include ArtBotAI and Mohawk Chevy. Rants and raves include Trump speaking at the Bitcoin Conference and AI spammers. ----- This week's links: Power Slap and Dana White Paramount Skydance Deal Spotify's Continuing Shift to ..read more

In breaking news, the Supreme Court is allowing the White House to press social media companies to remove disinformation. Did this really need to go to court in the first place? Time strikes a deal with OpenAI, while the recording industry files suit against Suno AI and Uncharted Labs citing copyright infringement. And...have we learned anything from moving text to video online? Hits and misses include the Verizon logo and the Toys R Us commercial produced with OpenAI. Rants and raves include the Olympics and AI forgetting to read the room. ----- This week's links: Supreme Court Ruling on Soci ..read more

While Wells Fargo is into employee surveillance, the US Surgeon General pushes for a warning on social media much like those on cigarette packages. Forbes threatens Perplexity with legal action, while TikTok debuts humanlike AI-generated avatars for advertising. Hits and misses include Oscar Mayer and American Express. Rants and raves include indie print and the Cannes Lions award winners. ----- This week's links: Wells Fargo Fires Employees Surgeon General and Social Media Forbes Threatens Perplexity TikTok Debuts AI Ad Features Oscar Mayer Bacon Ad Cannes Lions 2024 High-End Indie Print Publ ..read more

Apple's big developer conference meeting saw the launch of IOS 18 and Apple Intelligence? Apple decided to partner with OpenAI and not Google for their AI integration. Is this a big miss for Google Gemini?  Plus, Adobe and Meta have big terms and conditions issues this week. Hits and misses include OpenAI, Google and Nathan's hot dogs. Rants and raves include "Infectious Generosity" by Chris Anderson and yet another AI content marketing launch. ----- This week's links: Adobe's Missed Terms Adobe's Apology META's content problems with Europe Apple Intelligence Is Launched Joey Chestnut and ..read more

Twitter/X leans into NSFW content and vertical video. Is this the sign of a turnaround or more desperate measures to stay alive? Robert and Joe take opposite sides and fight, fight, fight. Spotify's CEO makes comments about the cost of content being almost nothing. Should we care or should we boycott? Hits include Four Seasons and 10 Cent Beer night. Rants and raves include signals from Marcus Sheridan and Suits. ----- This week's links: Twitter's New NSFW Strategy Twitter/X Will Do Vertical Video Spotify CEO Is Out of Touch Facebook Going After Gen Z 10 Cent Beer Night - Craig Irons Four Seas ..read more

While the world gets distracted by Scarlett Johansson's possible case against OpenAI, the AI giant continues to do deals with media companies.  This time, Open AI signed a deal with News Corp (owners of WSJ) for $250 million over five years (reported). Who's next? Trump Media's quarterly reported was more than a disaster, and yet the stock keeps going up. And we have a nice disagreement about whether Chick-fil-A should embrace or fire their internal social media influencers.  Hits and misses include GaryVee's new book and Coca-Cola lens. Rants and raves include content marketing plat ..read more

A special live recording of Joe and Robert with Philip Hernandez from the Haunted Attraction Network, recorded at Content Entrepreneur Expo (CEX) in Cleveland, Ohio on May 5th. Philip goes into detail about how he thinks about and creates content for the network, including the challenges and opportunities in social media content creation. Please follow Philip on Instagram and check out the Haunted Attraction Network. Special thanks to Hubspot for sponsoring the opening reception at CEX, and to our friends at VividFront for producing this recording.  ------- Liked this show? SUBSCRIBE to t ..read more

It was another crazy week in AI news. On the heals of Google's AI announcement, OpenAI launches ChatGPT4 Omni (o). What does the new iteration mean for creators and marketers? If that wasn't enough, TikTok is upgrading its algorithm with AI. Thank you (not so much). And is the beef between Kendrick and Drake real? We think it's marketing. Hits and misses include John Mulaney's new show and Prof G's podcast strategy. Rants and raves include OEF's 100 Holes of Golf model and more on MarTech cuts. This week's links: OpenAI Releases Omni TikTok Is Testing AI in Algo The Drake/Kendrick Beef John Mu ..read more