Discover AGM Labs: Pioneering Tomorrow’s Marketing Today
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AGM Labs is our brand new innovation arm, dedicated to exploring the latest tech, building groundbreaking products and shaping the future of marketing.
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Get a sneak peek of our latest Labs innovation:
Beyond the Sketch: Harnessing AI for 3D Environment Visualization
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Our team used AI-assisted tools and Unreal Engine to revolutionize 3D object generation and creating 3D environments. Our latest experiment features a mock branded activation for a fictional music streaming service, showcasing the convergence of technology and creativity to enhance marketing experiences. Delve deeper into our creative journey on our website:
TL;DR
In a hurry? Here's our pick of the top news items of the week.
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Google unveiled new AI-powered advertising tools, providing advanced search ad experiences, brand profiles, image editing and immersive shopping ads to improve ad creation and engagement. (MarTech)
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Frequent podcast listeners in the US are more likely to shop, attend live events and travel for leisure compared to all US adults. (Morning Consult)
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YouTube has expanded its pause ad feature to all advertisers after initial positive responses, allowing adverts to target viewers during paused screentime. (The Verge)
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According to Tumblr, in the days since the X ban in Brazil, the site saw 222.99% growth in communities and 349.55% growth in users. (Tech Crunch)
Audiences
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EE's study found that UK households argue about TV choices for 2.5 hours weekly, prompting the company to upgrade its TV service with flexible viewing options to reduce conflicts. (Advanced Television)
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BBC iPlayer's viewership increased by 20% in 2024, surpassing competitors like Netflix with its unique British content and live events, underscoring the success of its digital transformation strategy. (Advanced Television)
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Support for the US order to sell TikTok is decreasing as the deadline nears, with more people and public figures starting to oppose it. (Social Media Today)
Platforms
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Instagram introduced stricter protections for teen users to mitigate harmful exposure, but it's unclear if this will change behaviours or drive teens to other platforms. (Social Media Today)
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Snapchat introduced an AI video-generation tool for creators, enabling video creation from text and image prompts. (TechCrunch)
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YouTube's new feature, Hype, boosts smaller channels by letting viewers promote favored videos on a leaderboard, prioritizing channels under 500K subscribers. (The Verge)
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A group of US state attorneys general is advocating for mandatory warning labels on social media to highlight mental health risks for youth, facing concerns over potential impacts on advertising revenue. (The Drum)
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India's premium streaming revenue hit $1.04B in early 2024, up 38%, with sports, especially cricket, driving significant viewership and monetization on platforms like Jio Cinema, Netflix, and Disney+ Hotstar. (Variety)
Content
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Netflix is boosting investment in Southeast Asian original content from Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines to attract local and global subscribers with regionally authentic stories. (Rest of World)
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VoD services have significantly reduced new Romance titles, with a 71% drop from H1 2022 to H1 2024, preferring to localize successful shows like "Love is Blind" in various markets. (Ampere Analysis)
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Sony Pictures Television has launched Kidzuko, a YouTube channel for children ages 3-8, to introduce young viewers to their content and expand into platforms like Roblox.(The Hollywood Reporter)
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UK TV production revenues declined from £3.61B in 2023 to £392M in 2024, attributed to reduced commissioning budgets, advertising downturns and high inflation, though still above pre-pandemic levels. (Advanced Television)
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Streaming services are focusing on children's content to reduce churn, with stable support from public broadcasters and independent funding despite a slowdown in new content production. (Ampere Analysis)
Tech & AI
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The Epica Awards introduced AIJE Advisor, an AI tool designed to support its jury by offering optional insights on creative entries, enhancing but not replacing human judgment. (Campaign Brief)
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Big Tech may see a change in regulatory interactions with the European Commission as new leaders focus more on tech sovereignty and Europe's critical technology dependencies. (Wired)
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Kiwibot has acquired advertising startup Nickelytics to turn its delivery robots into mobile billboards across high-traffic areas in more than 20 states. (TechCrunch)
Location-based entertainment
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Swingers is expanding globally with new locations in Dubai and Las Vegas in 2024 and Boston in 2025, bringing mini-golf to the masses. (Blooloop)
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Lionel Messi's transfer to Inter Miami has raised Major League Soccer's value by $3.2B, though concerns linger about the league's future when he retires. (Bloomberg)
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Theater chains are adapting their marketing strategies to engage Gen Z, using themed events, collectible merchandise, and wallet-friendly loyalty programs as they recover from pandemic lows. (AdAge)
Travel & hospitality
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Expedia launched Travel Shops, an app feature where influencers share travel recommendations to simplify trip bookings and offer curated suggestions. (AdWeek)
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La Grenouille, a famed New York City restaurant known for attracting Hollywood stars since 1962, is closing due to rising costs and economic pressures affecting the restaurant industry nationally. (The Daily Mail)
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The Brightline West high-speed rail between Los Angeles and Las Vegas will feature luxurious amenities such as sleek seats and a party car upon completion in four years. (Travel + Leisure)
Gaming
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PlayStation launched a 30th-anniversary collection inspired by its original console, featuring limited editions of the PS5 and PS5 Pro in PS1 grey. (The Gamer)
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Despite minimal discussion at EA's Investor Day, mobile games remain a key component of EA's growth strategy, contributing $1.2B and 16% of EA's fiscal 2024 revenue. (PocketGamer)
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D3T suggests that merging AAA and indie game development practices can benefit the industry by fostering creativity and sustainability in an increasingly challenging environment. (Games Industry)