digitalshields

well the upfront calendar opened up a bit

The Creator Ad Tech Paradox Everyone wants to grow spending. The question is how.

I hosted an event the other night featuring a cross section of folks from the creator-meets-media-meets-brands world. They had a lot to say about the future of the industry
mikeshields.substack.com/p/the-creato...

Despite Some Big Talk, When it Comes to Creators, Big TV Brands Are Still Moving Pretty Slowly YouTube landscape dominated by challenger brands, DTCs

All the biggest advertisers say they are going big with creators - but the numbers (at least the ones we have) tell a different story
mikeshields.substack.com/p/despite-so...

From Viral Photographer to Skincare Empire with His Daughter Salish

Fascinating podcast conversation with YouTube Jordan Matter on how his daughter became the star of his channel, and how their new skincare line with Sephora almost shut down New Jersey
open.spotify.com/episode/7dAN...

YouTube video by Next in Media What's It Like to Ride the YouTube Wave for Nearly 20 Years

Talked to Kin Community founder Michael Wayne about the many ups and downs of building a business with creators on YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fV2...

How is a Giant Marketer Like Unilever Going to Spend Half of Its Media Budget on Creators?

New episode of Next in Media features illuminating chat with Unilever's Selina Sykes explaining how the beauty brand is going to work with a bazillion creators at once
open.spotify.com/episode/7DhJ...

How Amazon Built The World's Fastest Growing Ad Business The definitive, inside story of how Amazon joined Facebook and Google as the internet's third dominant ad seller.

Dug deep into the origins of Amazon's ad business as a guest contributor for Big Technology
www.bigtechnology.com/p/how-amazon...

Here's the problem: how do you advertise in Jimmy Kimmel right now? They'll come after you. And I like Jimmy Kimmel

Dhar Mann Wants to Make YouTube Shows With Big Brands

Got to talk with top YouTuber Dhar Mann and his CEO Sean Atkins about why they've leaned into scripted content, and how they plan to partner with brands to make originals
open.spotify.com/episode/7BTz...

Paramount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery The bid will be for the entire company, including its cable networks and movie studio, according to people familiar with the situation.

Exclusive: Paramount Skydance is preparing a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery that is backed by the Ellison family.

Before There Were Micro-dramas - There Was the 'Prom Queen' of MySpace Was the teen soap way ahead of its time? Or do Americans just not want this stuff?

If you think micro-dramas are new, you may not be old enough to remember Prom Queen
mikeshields.substack.com/p/before-the...

Could Amazon Be on a Path to Take Over TV Ads? Would big TV networks, and brands, be ok with a 'crystal box'?

Could anyone actually AI-ify TV buying across networks? Maybe Amazon?
mikeshields.substack.com/p/could-amaz...

Alcarez about to get deported

What is the USTA thinking having the men's final- which should be epic- against the opening of the NFL season?

In case you were wondering, we tried the creator commentary versions of the NFL game on YouTube and I'm rooting for nuclear war

YouTube's Big NFL Audition How to keep fans and sports brands happy, while also showing your unique value

I wrote about YouTube's big first date with the NFL
mikeshields.substack.com/p/youtubes-b...

Can Bari Weiss fix Paramount+?

Regulators: companies shouldn't share data for online ad targeting. Also, Google should share everyone's search data with everyone

So I didn't get the Vogue job

Wow. Trump and Putin to appear later today together on New Heights podcast

Walmart Backing Away From Trade Desk, an Amazon Ad Tech Rival Amazon’s most direct rival in handling ad sales across the web, the Trade Desk, could be in danger of losing one of its most valuable clients—Walmart. Last year, Walmart renegotiated its four-year-old...

whoa
www.theinformation.com/articles/wal...

AppLovin Appears to Be Installing Apps That People Don't Want Via Some Questionable Ad Practices The Wall Street darling keeps having to answer questions

What's going on with AppLovin? It's complicated
mikeshields.substack.com/p/applovin-a...

Paramount Strikes Seven-Year Deal to Stream U.F.C. Fights

This is cool but how about spending $7 to fix the app
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/b...

Elon Musk says X plans to introduce ads to Grok Ads in Grok could provide a "specific solution" to users when they're asking the chatbot about a problem, Elon Musk said.

Hitler is an ad network
www.businessinsider.com/grok-ads-cha...

Disney+ and Hulu are merging and it could save $3 billion Speculation has been mounting inside the media giant that Disney+ could gobble up the Hulu brand altogether.

Disney+ and Hulu coming together. This way it will be easier to show the same ad again and again to the same user
www.businessinsider.com/disney-hulu-...

How Tubi is Embracing Creators - and Trying to Shake up Streaming Next in Media · Episode

Tubi is working with 50 plus creators trying to figure out how to take YouTube and TikTok talent and translate it to streaming
open.spotify.com/episode/3qdu...

Skydance-Paramount Post-Merger Hierarchy Made Official Sources tell us that Skydance-Paramount is going to make official their corporate hierarchy tomorrow morning.

Can any of these people make an app that works?
deadline.com/2025/08/skyd...

Spotify's Misadventures in Video Continue It may be time for a much bolder move if the company really wants to become a serious ad player

When it comes to its ads and media strategy, for Spotify it's been pivot after pivot
mikeshields.substack.com/p/spotifys-m...

For my 50th birthday we got wings

Snap's CMO Grace Kao: Beyond Social Media - Connecting Audiences, Brands & Developers Next in Media · Episode

Latest episode of Next in Media features Snap CMO Grace Kao talking about trying to normalize ads in chat
open.spotify.com/episode/4wLN...