AI browsers are here, streaming giants have become ad platforms and tech giant's are warning of being 'forced' to remove privacy regulations – how's that for news?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's News Reporter Reem Makari joins host Joe to discuss several of the industry's biggest headlines from the past couple of weeks. In an attempt to help you keep up with a news cycle that never stops, consider this a quick-fire round-up of everything marketers need to be aware of heading into November.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Does the introduction of ChatGPT Atlas represent a paradigm shift in search? (2:17)

Netflix's ad sales are booming, so why are its earnings down? (11:43)

~ Further reading ~

OpenAI launches ChatGPT’s first web browser, Atlas

‘A new milestone in the AI browser arms race’: What ChatGPT Atlas means for marketers

Netflix records ‘best ad sales quarter ever’ despite disappointing earnings

US and China ‘nearly finalise’ TikTok sale deal

Apple claims it may be ‘forced’ to disable ATT across Europe

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Retail media is no longer a plucky, upstart new channel. It's rode the first wave of investment and excitement, but now is the time to prove its staying power.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe sits down with two retail media experts, Ollie Shayer, Senior Director, Global Strategy and Innovation at SMG, and Daniel Knapp, Chief Economist, IAB Europe, to talk about the future of the channel.

Recorded on the ground at Retail Media Summit UK 2025, the respective interviews dive into what the "second phase" of retail media is going to look like, from deployment of the channel in the UK versus the US to its growth prospects amid a turbulent economy.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Ollie Shayer on his move to SMG and the challenges surrounding retail media (1:29)

Daniel Knapp forecasts retail media's future and talks differences between the UK and US (9:03)

~ Further reading ~

Six spicy predictions for retail media in 2026

Rory Sutherland explains everything wrong with performance marketing

Iceland expands retail media network through Epsilon partnership

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Rory Sutherland famously dislikes much of what performance marketing offers, acknowledging that while the lower-funnel is important, many marketers are "painting themselves into a performance corner" to justify their existence.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Sutherland explains what marketers are doing wrong and how they can better utilise performance-orientated data to generate sustainable brand building. He also outlines retail media's role in generating 'brandformance' and why the success of the frozen paratha should propel a return to frozen food in Britain.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

What's wrong with performance marketing? (1:48)

How retail media can build a bridge between brand and performance (23:15)

Why frozen food needs to make a return in Britain (31:31)

~ Further reading ~

Investing in performance marketing is not enough, a view from Rory Sutherland

Havas Market’s Alex Walker on navigating adland in a time of ‘information overload’

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With OpenAI officially seeking a 'Growth Paid Marketing Platform Engineer', it appears that ChatGPT becoming an advertising platform is finally upon us.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's editorial team dissect industry leaders' hot takes on the rumours, outlining how the innovation may impact marketers, whether or not competing large-language-models will follow suit, and how regulators can catch-up with generative AI's ever-growing expansion.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

What does adland make of ChatGPT's advertising potential? (1:26)

Are we about to see the formation of yet another monopoly? (13:39)

~ Further reading ~

ChatGPT ad plans revealed? OpenAI seeks ‘paid marketing’ engineer

‘A seismic shift’: How ChatGPT becoming an ad platform would impact adland

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The final quarter of the year is often a tense time for marketers. Despite the festive atmosphere, many get swept up in quarterly KPIs and a need to please the CFO with a short-term sales boost – but is this best way to make the most of peak season?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Suzanna Chaplin, founder and CEO of esbconnect, argues that a long-term approach focused on customer retention and first-party data collection is the best way to utilise Q4's annual spending surge.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

How can marketers and advertisers best deal with Q4's sales expectations? (2:14)

Which metrics matter most during peak season? (15:30)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (25:35)

~ Further reading ~

PMW Retail Playbook 2025: Dreaming of an AI Christmas?

Where marketers should spend (and save) this Christmas

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Amazon and Netflix have joined forces with a deal that will soon see Amazon DSP granted access to Netflix’s premium ad inventory, expanding the pool of audiences available to Amazon Ads's clients.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe is joined my PMW's Editor, Robin Langford, and News Reporter, Reem Makari, to unpack exactly what this partnership means for the industry. From how it impacts competing DSPs and the broader open web, to what changes it will prompt among advertisers and consumers.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Who wins and loses from Netflix and Amazon's partnership? (0:59)

How will this partnership impact consumers? (14:16)

~ Further reading ~

‘A win-win for advertisers, Netflix and Amazon’: Industry reacts to Amazon Ads’ partnership with Netflix

Amazon Ads and Netflix team up for programmatic buying on ad-tier audience

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Modern marketing is full of challenges, so much so, that leaders in the space often feel as if they are being set up to fail.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Paul Evans, founder and Chief Positioning Officer at V2RSION – a seasoned marketing specialist across brand, agency and client-side – offers marketing leaders a path through all of the industry muck.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

How can marketing leaders can succeed in the face of so much pressure? (0:48)

What channels do marketers young and old need to be leveraging? (14:50)

~ Further reading ~

Havas Market’s Alex Walker on navigating adland in a time of ‘information overload’

How to demonstrate and increase advertising’s impact

CMOs losing customers due to martech failures

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The future of advertising is always uncertain, but with AI innovating at breakneck speed, forecasting what the industry will look like in five years time is more challenging than ever... which is why PMW has done it for you.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's News Reporter Reem Makari joins host Joe to unpack AI's impending impact on marketing jobs, campaign targeting, and measurement. Also, the pair touch on Google's mounting legal battles and whether or not it really holds monopolies over both search and adtech.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Answering AI's biggest marketing questions (1:12)

Is Google feeling the pressure from its ongoing legal battles? (15:32)

~ Further reading ~

3 tough questions on... AI

Pubmatic sues Google over adtech monopoly

EU fines Google nearly €3bn for abusing adtech dominance

‘A relative slap on the wrist’: Industry reacts to Google’s search monopoly remedies

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Savvy shoppers recently realised that Amazon's AI shopping assistant Rufus now uses memory signals, signalling the e-commerce giants' continued ambitions to innovate with automation.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing podcast, host Joe is joined by Sue Azari, e-commerce Industry Consultant at Appsflyer, to discuss AI's influence on e-commerce, and whether the technology is helping or hindering competition with industry giants such as Walmart and Amazon.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Is AI further affirming Amazon's e-commerce dominance? (1:00)

What opportunities and threats is the e-commerce industry facing? (17:22)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (25:20)

~ Further reading ~

Amazon Rufus’ memory upgrade signals ‘massive shift’ for e-commerce

Tech giants dominate list of world’s most valuable brands

Why Amazon will not devour advertising

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Meta is the latest tech giant facing allegations of foul-play with regard to its reporting of advertising performance, specifically that it inflated the ROAS of its Shops ads' tool by 17 to 19%, as alleged by a former employee.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing podcast, host Joe is joined by PMW's News Reporter Reem Makari and Premium Content Editor Jyoti Rambhai to break down exactly why advertisers' blind faith in big tech black-boxes can't go on.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Did Meta inflate Shops ads' performance? (1:26)

How can brands compete with big tech? (15:56)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (26:03)

~ Further reading ~

‘There are a lot of elephants in the room’: Industry reacts to claim Meta inflated Shops ads’ performance

Advertising without AI? That era’s over

Big tech Q2 earnings: Amazon, Alphabet, Netflix, Meta, Apple, and Microsoft

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AI has already changed most aspects marketing immensely, but perhaps no more than in search. With SEO now GEO, traffic, clicks and CTRs all falling off a cliff, what are we to do?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe is joined by Sarah Aird-Mash, CMO of Future Group (), who breaks down exactly what has happened to search, where it's headed in the future, and what marketers can do to respond.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Which big tech platform had the best Q2? (1:19)

What drove growth in Q2? (18:38)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (26:45)

~ Further reading ~

How do you judge creative campaign success in a zero click world?

1% click-through rate: How Google AI Overviews is killing publishers

Don’t fear the scraper: AI needn’t be a threat

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The AI arms race is here and big tech platforms such as Meta are prepared to invest billions of dollars into the personnel engineering the technology.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe is joined by PMW's Editor Robin Langford and News Reporter Reem Makari to discuss Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon releasing their Q2 2025 earnings reports.

In terms of each platforms respective investment plans, one thing is clear, AI is the future – and with all the money being put towards it, an automated future might be upon us sooner than we think.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Which big tech platform had the best Q2? (1:06)

What drove growth in Q2? (15:06)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (24:43)

~ Further reading ~

Big tech Q2 earnings: Amazon, Alphabet, Netflix, Meta, Apple, and Microsoft

Platform watch: Reddit introduces automated bidding as X incentivises ‘beautiful ads’

Meta to stop all political ads in the EU

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Is Amazon the sleeping giant of the advertising world? Surely that's impossible... right?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's editorial team bands together to analyse some of the biggest news from the past fortnight, namely Amazon's sudden departure from Google Shopping ads and the latest respective AA/WARC and IPA Bellwether reports for the opening of 2025.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Why did Amazon disappear from Google Shopping ads? (1:16)

What do the latest AA/WARC and IPA Bellwether figures mean for adland? (12:51)

Is retail media part of search? (24:21)

~ Further reading ~

Amazon disappears from Google Shopping ads

Strategy shift or test?: Marketers react to Amazon's shock Google Ads exit

‘Reacting fast isn't the whole story’: UK ad industry on the latest AA/WARC report

AA/WARC: UK adspend increases 8% to open 2025

IPA Bellwether: Increase in 'short-term' marketing budgets reverses decline

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Return on adspend (ROAS) has long been touted as the holy grail of metrics for advertising campaigns, but is it still a true barometer for a brand's success?

Jake Higgins, Partner at MNC, joins host Joe to dissect his latest essay 'The ROAS Illusion'. Together, they discuss why ROAS is no longer representative of the full story and in some cases, high ROAS campaigns are actually hindering brands' incremental growth.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

What is the ROAS illusion? (1:03)

How should brands approach their media planning in light of this issue? (15:45)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (21:58)

~ Further reading ~

Platform watch: YouTube and Meta crackdown on unoriginal content as OpenAI integrates in-chat checkout

Meta unveils a host of new tools to help partners leverage its AI ads system

WhatsApp monetisation is overdue, but will users tolerate it?

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Attention has quickly gone from an immeasurable advertising pipe-dream to a leading metric compatible with emerging channels such as connected TV, digital out-of-home, and most recently, retail media.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Mike Follett, CEO and co-founder of Lumen Research (16:38), reveals how his company became an "overnight success", moving from a problem-identifier to a problem-solver for brands, advertisers and agencies alike.

Preceding that discussion, is a catch-up with PMW's intrepid News Reporter Reem Makari (1:21), who joins host Joe to talk Mad//FEST London, Prime Day 2025, and review a turbulent H1 ahead of a potentially even more turbulent H2.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

A review of H1 and a look ahead to H2 (1:21)

Marrying attention and retail media (16:38)

What is the true value of attention? (35:58)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (45:20)

~ Further reading ~

Co-op plugs in-store attention data into major agency planning tools

Social media is becoming a vanity metric

Mike Follett

AI’s ‘Sputnik moment’: What the arrival of DeepSeek means for marketers

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Marketing can be a polarising resource among the C-suite and with budgets dwindling, it appears that more often than not, CEOs are convinced the practice is a cost centre rather than an investment opportunity.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Kathryn Rathje, Partner at McKinsey (17:18), reveals that the general quality of CMO and CEO relationships is worsening, according to research from McKinsey. While CMOs are somewhat to blame, it isn't all their fault and Kathryn dives into the factors exacerbating this issue. Fortunately however, she also reveals a roadmap for how CMOs can win over CEOs are begin to earn the C-suite's trust, even in trying times.

Also on this episode, PMW's Editor Robin Langford (1:51) joins host Joe to recap Cannes Lions 2025, detailings the week's highs and lows.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Recapping Cannes Lions 2025 (1:51)

Why don't CEOs trust CMOs? (17:18)

How can CMOs future-proof themselves? (32:52)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (38:37)

~ Further reading ~

A tough economy means it’s time to rationalise the marketing suite

Marketers might be over last click attribution – but what if your CFO isn’t?

The real growth strategy for CMOs: Connecting brand and performance marketing

ROI Romance: why it’s time for CMOs and CFOs to rekindle their relationship

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Expectations often run high for marketers at Cannes Lions, with big budget dealmaking top of mind. But what really drives success at the Festival of Creativity?

On this Cannes Lions special edition of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford (2:28) joins host Joe to analyse the hottest talking points from the week. The pair make reference to conversations they've had along the Croisette with many of the industy's best and brightest, such as Spotify's Head of Global Advertising Sales & Partnerships Brian Burner, Alice Beecroft, Senior Director of Global Strategy and Partnerships at Yahoo, Unilever's Global Marketing Director Mario Draghi, Kate Bird, EMEA Senior Marketing Director at Snap, and many more – including some returning guests.

Also included are several snippets recorded directly from the PMW team's conversations with industry experts – look forward to those interwoven throughout the episode!

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Cannesdemonium with Robin and Joe! (2:28)

Spotify's Brian Berner talks industry growth and innovation (26:43)

The Trade Desk's Phil Duffield reflects on his 11th Cannes Lions (35:05)

Yahoo's Alice Beecroft reveals the recipe for success along the Croisette (43:42)

~ Further reading ~

When will we stop talking about AI?

Cannes Lions Live Day 3: Creativity is back on the menu

Cannes Lions 2025: Havas and TikTok double down on AI while Dentsu rolls out new offerings

What is most interesting about Cannes Lions 2025?

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How did programmatic go from misunderstood tech jargon to a foundational piece of modern media strategy, and why are younger marketers so drawn to it?

In this Digital Disruptors episode, PMW News Reporter Reem Makari speaks with Babajide Sotande-Peters, Senior Manager of Global Programmatic & Innovation at a team x Omnicom, Milica Lukic, Account Director at Adform, and Sophie Marsh-Baldry, Senior Programmatic Account Manager at Azerion. Together, they share how they each found their way into the programmatic space and why they’ve stayed.

The trio discuss why programmatic is often seen as the perfect entry point for digital-native gen Z and millennial marketers, thanks to its data-driven nature, channel diversity, and demand for analytical thinking. But it’s not just a young person’s game, they also reflect on the importance of having mixed-experience teams to drive innovation, context, and creativity.

New episodes of the mini series will continue to come out fortnightly alongside the main show, Performance Marketing Unlocked. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(0:00 - 4:23): Introduction to programmatic advertising and personal journey

(4:23 - 9:59): Programmatic as an entry point and generational differences

(9:59 - 16:33): Collaboration between generations and client openness to innovation

(16:33 - 27:11): Programmatic in wider marketing strategy and traditional media

(27:11 - 41:20): Risks, AI, and myth vs. fact in programmatic

~ Further reading ~

Spotify opens programmatic marketplace to advertisers with launch of new solution

Netflix expands programmatic offering to EMEA with Google DV360 and The Trade Desk partnerships

Big tech under fire after report finds programmatic ads running alongside CSAM sites

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Is social media a safe space for brands? Despite some recent news coverage, the data suggests that it may well be – especially if you invest in the right platform.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Steve Riad, VP of Global Mid-Market and SMB sales at Reddit (16:19), outlines how the news aggregation and social forum platform has managed to remain a useful resource for advertisers for over two decades, and why now is the best time to get in on the action.

Also, PMW's Editor Robin Langford (1:25) joins at the beginning of the episode to discuss what makes the perfect performance marketer, and how to best convey this to make the famous PMW 100 Powerlist.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

The perfect performance marketer (1:25)

Is social media a safe space for advertisers? (16:19)

The future of Reddit's ads business (35:28)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (40:34)

~ Further reading ~

Reddit enhances Ads Manager to give smaller businesses a boost

Social media is becoming a vanity metric

Reddit launches own version of AI Overviews using discussions on its platform

PMW 100 Powerlist 2025

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How has growing up online shaped the next generation of marketers—and how are they rewriting the rules of social media and influencer strategy?

In this episode, PMW News Reporter Reem Makari speaks with Olivia Tutton, Senior Campaign Director at The Goat Agency, and Sophie Somers, Director of Paid Social at Journey Further. The duo discuss how their digital upbringing gives them a distinct edge in navigating shifting platforms, cultural trends, and influencer dynamics.

From TikTok uncertainty and the resurgence of platforms like Facebook and Snapchat, to the rise of influencer-led communities and the power of micro-creators, the conversation dives into how younger marketers balance authenticity, agility, and brand alignment. Olivia and Sophie also reflect on the generational divide in leadership opportunities, misconceptions among older marketers, and the risk of siloing social talent too early in their careers.

Plus, the pair break down some of the most common myths about followers, virality, and influencer impact—offering practical advice for brands that want to stay ahead of the curve in an industry where trust, relevance, and adaptability reign supreme.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(0:00 – 1:47) Introduction to the episode and generational differences in social media adaptation.

(1:47 – 6:50) The dynamic landscape of social media platforms and the resurgence of older ones. 

(6:50 – 19:55) The evolving role of influencers and common marketing misconceptions. 

(19:55 – end) Navigating social media trends, career progression, and a 'myth or fact' game.

~ Further reading ~

Majority of performance marketers see diminishing returns on social media adspend

Why brands must stay agile as social media rapidly evolves

Navigating social media in the era of 'free speech'

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