The best of March 🏆 In case you missed it, these are the moments you need to know about. Let's review a month packed with industry moves, expert advice, and one very viral monkey ▶️

Spotify just declared the Sound-On Era and launched the ad products to prove it. Per Sandell on why audio has evolved into the most trusted environment in media and what that means for every brand right now. The Sound-On Era Has Arrived: Spotify just released a landmark report revealing how audio has evolved into the most trusted and intentional environment in media. As the world gets louder, audio is where fans are actively choosing to spend their most engaged moments. 🎧 Spotify Just Reinvented the Sponsored Playlist: RapCaviar. New Music Friday. Today's Top Hits. Brands can now own 100% share of voice on Spotify's most iconic playlists with immersive visuals and a lower ad load. This is advertising that actually respects the fan. 🎵 Meet Carousel Ads: Spotify is testing a swipeable multi-card format right in the Now Playing view. Up to six cards, each with its own image link and pricing, reaching fans exactly when they are in focus and ready to discover something new. 📱 Engaged Audiences Act: Since Spotify's free mobile updates, time spent in the app is up 26 percent, and click-through rates on audio and video ads are up 14 percent. The platform is not just capturing attention; it is converting it. 📈 We Under Credit Music: Per Sandell has spent 20 years in advertising, and his belief has never wavered. Music shapes the way we see the world, and Spotify is building the products to prove it. 🎶

Magnite is not waiting for the future of programmatic to arrive. Mike Laband on why live content is the most valuable environment in advertising right now, and the acquisition that just opened the door for a whole new wave of advertisers. The Ad Advantage Is Live: The buy-side appetite for live content keeps growing, and Magnite is building around it. Sports, news, and award shows are where they are creating formats and tools that make live the most valuable environment in programmatic 📺 AI Is Already In the Building: From optimization tools to agentic workflow, Magnite isn't waiting around to figure out AI. It's already woven into how they operate and what they build for publishers every day 🤖 The Streamer Acquisition Changes Everything: Magnite picked up Streamer in Q4 2025, and what it unlocks is big. Gen AI creative that lets anyone from a small business to a major brand produce high production value video without the massive budget to match 🎬 SMBs Are the Next Big Opportunity: A local business buying into a live event used to feel completely out of reach. Magnite is using Streamer to change that and bring a whole new wave of advertisers into the fold 📈 More Than Monetization: Pause ads, home screen formats, programmatic growth. Magnite is redefining what it means to show up in the right moment, and their tools are built to work for publishers and buyers at the same time ⚡

Rick Milenthal built a career on one belief, and the industry is finally catching up to him. The Shipyard CEO on why this moment of disruption is actually the industry's greatest opportunity and why creativity and innovation have never had a bigger stage. This Should Be Our Best Age: Rick Milenthal has spent 43 years in the agency business, and he has never been more energized. At a time when the industry is navigating so much change, he sees one thing clearly: Creativity and innovation have never had a bigger stage. 🚀 Disruption Meets Opportunity: Rick believes the people in this industry are the most creative and innovative in the world. This moment of change is not something to fear. It is something to lean into. 💡 Data Is Just Listening at Scale: Rick's take on data reframes everything. Data captures the moment you say something relevant to someone who is listening. Now we can do that with billions of people, and that is one of the most human things technology has ever made possible. 🤖 Engineering Brand Love: Shipyard brings together paid, earned, and owned under one roof. Rick calls it a force multiplier. When all the disciplines work together, the result is marketing that moves people and performance. ❤️ Movement Is the Secret: Rick packs his workout gear before anything else because he believes you cannot fuel your imagination if you are not moving. After 43 years, the non-negotiable has never changed. 👟

Vox Media is not running a podcast network. They are building media franchises. Ray Chao on why podcasts are now multi-platform empires, what AI will never be allowed to touch, and the philosophy that is changing how the whole industry thinks about audio. The Show At The Center: At Vox Media, the strategy has never wavered. The show comes first, and the format comes second. That single philosophy has turned an audio network into a multi-platform franchise empire worth paying attention to. 🎙️ Podcasts Are the New Franchises: A format that began as audio files in an RSS feed is now packed with live events, YouTube channels, social media moguls, and direct-to-consumer businesses. Vox Media is not running a podcast network. They are building influential media brands. 📺 The Human Connection Is Non-Negotiable: Ray is clear about AI. Use it to get smarter and more efficient, but never let it touch what makes media special. The real connection between a host and their audience is the whole product, and that cannot be replicated. 🤝 From Consulting to Audio: Ray did not start in media. He started in management consulting and made a deliberate decision to chase what he actually loved. Find the place where your skill set meets your passion and never let it go. 💡 The Physical Newspaper Guy: Ray runs one of the most influential podcast networks in the world, but every Saturday morning, he puts his phone down and reads the physical New York Times with a cup of coffee. The best media diet is sometimes the oldest one. ☕

Creativity and strategy are liquid, and David Droga has spent decades pouring them into every container imaginable. The AAF 75th Hall of Fame inductee and founder of Droga5 on the career and philosophy that proved it. The Name Says It All: David Droga did not stumble into success. From the mountains of Australia to the highest offices in the world, his career has been defined by walking through every door that opened and making sure he opened more for others along the way. 🏆 Creativity Is Liquid: David's philosophy on creativity is as simple as it is powerful. Creativity and strategy are liquid. They fit into any container you want them to. From influencing a presidential election to raising money for UNICEF, David proves that creativity has the power to change the world. 💡 Work Ethic Over Talent: David has always bet on himself but never banked on his talent alone. “You cannot guarantee your talent, but there is a guarantee in your work ethic”. That belief has carried him from the mountains of Australia to a corner office overlooking the Empire State Building. 👑 The Honor Is About the Room: When asked about being an AAF 75th Hall of Fame inductee, David did not talk about himself. He talked about the people standing alongside him and the legends who lit the way. 🌟 True Success Is Who You Inspire: The mark of your success is the people you work with and what they become, more so than what you become. One of advertising's most decorated careers, and David still shines the spotlight on those who’ve supported him along the way. ❤️

TV advertising just got a major upgrade, and James Rooke at Comcast Advertising is here to break it down. The launch of Outcomes+ means TV finally gets the same targeting and attribution capabilities as digital. And the results are already proving the impact. Outcomes+ Has Arrived: Comcast Advertising just launched a next-generation targeting and attribution solution that is amplifying TV's impact as a performance channel. Powered by AI and first-party data from over 30 million households, this is the measurement upgrade the industry has been waiting for. 📺 Prime Video Is Now Open for Local Advertisers: For the first time, Comcast Advertising's local and SMB customers can access Prime Video through a new Amazon Ads partnership. Two hundred million monthly viewers are suddenly within reach for businesses that never had access before. 🎯 TV Finally Gets the Credit It Deserves: For too long, TV performance has been attributed to digital due to outdated attribution models. Outcomes+ changes that with full funnel measurement partnerships across Mastercard, Fandango, Clarivoy, and more. 🏆 AI Gets to Work: Outcomes+ is not just a measurement and targeting tool; it is a full suite of AI-powered activation products that find the right audiences, build smarter campaign schedules, and optimize every dollar from the very start. 🤖 The Results Are Already In: The proof is already in. A recent MINI USA campaign using Outcomes+ drove a 300 percent increase in brand favorability and a 5x increase in high-intent actions on their website. 📈 Bounce The Day Away: James shares his mental health hack is joining his 9 and 7-year-old on the trampoline before dinner. No better way to unplug than bouncing the day away 🤸

NBCU just launched something every Bravo fan needs to know about. Kimberly Francella-Faver on Your Bravoverse, an AI-powered Peacock experience hosted by an AI avatar of Andy Cohen that learns what you love and never stops serving it up. Twenty Years and Still Building: Kimberly Francella-Faver has worked in nearly every content division at NBCU and, in 2023, helped launch their Brand Partnerships division to meaningfully connect sponsors with viewers across entertainment and news ecosystems. Two decades in and she is still finding new ways to make her mark. 🏆 600 Billion Ways to Connect: NBCU is launching Your Bravoverse on Peacock, which delivers curated Bravo moments directly to fans in the Peacock app. Your Bravoverse is a fully immersive experience that learns what you love as you scroll and keeps serving up exactly what you want to see next, whether that is the drama, the reunions, or the most iconic dinner table scenes. 🍸 Meet Andy's Avatar: The immersive experience is hosted by an AI avatar of Andy Cohen with his likeness and his voice powering 5000 hours of curated Bravo content. The future of fandom just got a whole lot more personal. 📺 The Algorithm That Actually Knows You: The more you swipe, the smarter it gets, and the deeper you go into the world of Bravo, finding moments you may have never seen before. Going down the rabbit hole just became a lifestyle. 🤖 Trust Your Gut and Fight Like Hell: When asked what she would tell her younger self, Kimberly did not hesitate for a second. You are so much better than you even know you are, and you are going to be just fine. 💪

Thirty-five years of impact built on one unwavering principle. One so powerful it made the entire industry take notice. Esi Eggleston Bracey, AAF 75th Hall of Fame inductee, on why doing you is always your greatest superpower and the career that proved it. The Accidental Executive Who Changed Everything: Esi Eggleston Bracey didn’t plan for a career in marketing, but she knew she wanted to help people and solve problems. Turns out that is the whole job. Thirty-five years later, the industry is still feeling her impact 👑 She Invented Febreze in Her Twenties: Fresh out of university, Esi walked into a brainstorming session at her job with a personal problem and walked out having sparked a multi-billion dollar brand. The lesson? The most powerful insights come from lived experience. Always 🌟 Do You. It Is Your Superpower: The moment Esi stopped trying to fit someone else's mold and started bringing her full, unfiltered self to the workplace was the moment everything changed. Her number one leadership principle is not a strategy. It is a permission slip 💡 The Art of the Gap: After 35 years, including her role as Unilever's Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, Esi created space for herself on purpose. Restoring, refueling, and being thoughtful about what impact she wants to have next. The best is still to come 🏆 Impact Over Everything: Esi has never chased a title. She has always asked one question. Where can I be most helpful? That single belief has driven one of the most celebrated careers in the history of this industry ❤️

Yahoo Scout is here, and it rode up to SXSW with a wow-worthy entrance. Josh Line on the AI-powered answer engine that is changing how you use and discover on the internet and why Austin was the perfect place to introduce it to the world. Yahoo Scout Has Entered the Chat: Yahoo just launched its AI-powered answer engine, but it is not your average search bar. Scout gives quick, visually rich answers powered by the open web and sends you straight to the source. Big move 🤠 Your Internet Just Got Personal: Scout's newest feature, MyScout, allows you to pull in your inbox, your stocks, and the latest on all your interests in one custom dashboard built around your Yahoo experience. Think of it as your personal homepage📱 Taking Over Texas' Oldest Bar: Yahoo did not just show up to SXSW. They took over and renamed the oldest working bar in Texas, the Scoot Inn, and created Yahoo Scout Inn - a full activation built around discovery. Copper tokens, pickle drinks, merch, and a whole lot of energy 🍻 Best Tacos in Austin? Ask Scout: Yahoo covered Austin's sidewalks and streetposts with QR codes prompting questions only Scout could answer. Wild postings across the city turned the whole festival into one giant live demo, and people could not help but bite 🌮 Austin Approved: Yahoo was a lot of people's first email, and somehow, it is still one of the most exciting brands at SXSW this year. The Scout Inn had lines wrapped around the block, lots of energy, and a crowd that was genuinely impressed 👏

Where does culture meet innovation? Where does tech meet music and film? Where do advertisers meet the moment? One answer - SXSW 2026. Watch ATM on the ground in Austin, following the defining cultural moments and conversations worth having in advertising, media, and technology right now. Austin Was the Room Where It Happened: South by Southwest brought together brands, creators, ad tech, and artists under one very unique and wonderful roof. The loudest conversations in marketing and media happened here, and ATM was in the room 🎯 AI Finally Got Real: For years, the conversation was "AI is coming." This year it shifted. Leaders were talking about what is actually working and what they learned along the way. The moment has arrived 🤖 Human Connection Is the Superpower: Amid all the tech talk, people wanted to talk about people. The most valuable thing you cannot automate is real human interaction. The leaders winning right now are the ones leaning into that intentionally💡 The Next Generation Has Entered the Chat: Young people are coming into this industry fired up, curious, and ready to go. One industry leader put it best: expertise does not come from years. It comes from curiosity🔥 Culture Is the Whole Point: SXSW has never been just about marketing or technology, and 2026 proved it again. Music, film, food, sports, and innovation all collided in Austin, and the energy was everything 🎶

Gordon Bowen, AAF 75th Hall of Fame inductee, was headed to teach English literature until a professor pointed him toward advertising. The founder of mcgarrybowen on building a career rooted in love, trust, and the belief that the right idea at the right moment can change the world. The Professor Who Changed Everything: Gordon Bowen was on his way to teaching English literature at a university when a visiting professor told him he was the best student he had seen in 20 years and that he needed to go into advertising. He listened. The rest of the industry is very glad he did ✏️ The Ad That Touched a Nation: When brands went silent after September 11, Gordon went to his hotel room and wrote Lady Liberty for Verizon. It became the only spot to run that entire week, and 140,000 Verizon employees wrote in to say how proud they were. Some ideas arrive exactly when the world needs them 🗽 Inspiration Over Fear: Gordon's philosophy on creativity is as simple as it is powerful. You cannot force it out. You have to inspire it out. Love and trust will always unlock more than fear ever could ❤️ The Wisdom of Where: After decades of iconic campaigns, Gordon views experience as the ultimate superpower. You may not always know what the answer is, but you know exactly where it lives. And knowing where to look is everything 🧠 A Mantra of Service: Gordon's North Star has never changed. Do what is right and let the consequence follow. From the Olympics to the Vatican, that single belief has guided every decision and defined a career unlike any other 👑

Pull up advertising from the 1950s, and you'll see the same tactics being used today. Rob Medved at Cannella Media on why the messaging really hasn't changed even though the methods have, and why moving faster with testing and decisions beats perfection every time. From 800 Numbers to QR Codes: Rob started marketing directly to consumers in the 90s, when success meant people calling an 800 number. Media has fragmented across decades, but the core principles of direct marketing haven't changed 📺 The Strategic Partner Approach: Cannella Media repositioned as a strategic partner instead of an agency. It's all about attribution and knowing where customer responses came from, whether you're a big brand or a solopreneur 📊 Nothing Changed Since the 50s: Pull up print ads from the 1950s, and the tactics are identical. Pricing, the word "free", and copy are designed to make consumers respond. The channels evolved, but the psychology stayed the same 📰 Fragmented World Different Messages: You need shorter messages on some platforms and different personas on others. But direct marketing is still direct marketing, and those fundamental principles are the same 📱 Test Quicker, Decide Faster: Rob's advice? Test creatives quicker, get clean data faster, and make decisions quicker. Indecision leads to hesitation, which leads to failure. And have more fun doing it ⚡

Not all impressions are created equal, and Shelby Saville has 29 years of receipts to prove it. The Starcom US CEO on what it actually takes to reach a human being in a world where everyone is competing for the same few seconds of attention. Every Impression Is Not Created Equal: Making consumer attention count is what matters. Starcom brings together data, technology, analytics, and real human insights on how people actually act and think to drive impact and action 🎯 AI for the Betterment of Business: Shelby Saville talks with clients about leveraging AI in ways that truly add to business performance. It's about operational rigor and using AI to move faster with demonstrable impact 🤖 Human Insights Can't Be Lost: This conversation is critical and can't get lost in the AI world. Humans are unpredictable, so marrying what we know with how people actually think and behave is what makes marketing work 👤 29 Years of Following Curiosity: Shelby has been at Starcom's holding company for 29 years, doing everything from broadcast trafficking to digital. She followed curiosity and passion, which set her up to be CEO 📈 Your Path Is Your Own: Shelby's advice? Relax and enjoy the ride. The path that works is the one that fits your skill set and what you grow into. Follow what's interesting to you 💡

What happens when two partners keep building together? Mike Laband at Magnite and Tyler DeNicola at DIRECTV Advertising discuss the live content advantage that sets them apart and the dynamic ad insertion play that created a massive opportunity. Five Years Through M&A Together: DIRECTV and Magnite both went through M&A over the last decade, but their partnership stayed the course. The last two years accelerated as DIRECTV brought satellite users into digital, creating opportunities as new advertisers entered programmatic 🤝 DIRECTV Has What Others Don't: Unique access to live content across different markets that not many competitors can offer. Fast channel opportunities and buyer transparency make DIRECTV stand out 📡 First to Lean Into Pause Ads: DIRECTV was among the first to raise its hand for pause ads. Magnite looks for partners who jump on opportunities early, and DIRECTV is always one of the first they call ⏸️ The Dynamic Ad Insertion Win: Converting inventory to dynamic ad insertion was the biggest opportunity. The excitement from the buy side, as advertisers wanted to interact with live events, created something unique 🔄 Making Live Events Accessible: How can they enable small and medium businesses to access DIRECTV's live events? A local mom-and-pop shop is buying a prolific live event. That's the 2026 focus 🚀