Southwest social post on baggage policy change draws backlash—how a joke backfired
Southwest is inviting controversy with a tone-deaf social media post amid consumer backlash to the end of its bags fly free policy.
Balancing Innovation, Authenticity, and Human Creativity With AI
This post was created in partnership with Kantar AI is transforming marketing, pushing brands to rethink not just strategy but also how they engage consumers and balance automation with authenticity. As AI evolves from a behind-the-scenes tool to a driver of real-time decisions, marketers face a critical challenge: How do they harness its potential without...
Streaming Ratings, Week of Feb. 10: Sweet Magnolias Climbs to No. 1
The power of friendship pushed the Netflix drama series Sweet Magnolias to the top of the chart of the most-watched streaming title for the week of Feb. 10, according to Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings. Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias, which debuted in second place the week of Feb. 3, enjoyed 1.162 million viewing minutes, dethroning...
How Interactive TV Is Reshaping Consumer Engagement
This post was created in partnership with IRCODE Television has long been a passive experience, but what if you could engage with your screen in real time? At the ADWEEK House Austin Fireside Chat, interactive technology took center stage as Matty Beckerman, founder of IRCODE, explored how AI-powered engagement is reshaping television. In conversation with...
Flau’Jae Johnson Drops Bars and Buckets in Powerade’s March Madness Ad
Powerade is the official drink of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and ahead of March Madness, the brand wants to land a slam dunk as the fans' bottle of choice. The Coca-Cola-owned label has rolled out "It Takes More to Get This Far," a two-ad campaign expanding on "It Takes More," which first debuted...
EXCLUSIVE: ‘You Threw Gasoline on the Fire’: Madwell CEO Lashes Out at Unpaid Employees
The CEO of Brooklyn-based creative shop Madwell, Christopher Sojka, is lashing out against distressed employees--according to internal communications obtained by ADWEEK--for pushing back against the agency's in-office policies after not being paid in time, and for speaking to the press about the company's financial woes. The indie shop, which has serviced major brands including Verizon...
The New Rules of Crisis Response
This post was created in partnership with Brandwatch A brand's response to a crisis can define public perception for years. In an era where misinformation spreads in seconds and consumers demand swift, transparent action, companies must navigate high-pressure moments with precision to maintain trust. During an ADWEEK House Austin Group Chat, co-hosted with Brandwatch, a...
Madison Reed Appoints Sheila Shekar Pollak as CMO
Sheila Shekar Pollak has joined hair care and color brand Madison Reed as chief marketing officer (CMO). Pollak was most recently chief brand experience officer at outdoor apparel and gear provider Orvis. Before she joined Orvis in 2022, she also held CMO roles at skincare brand Biossance and activewear business Athleta, spending nine-and-a-half years at...
What’s Next in the Evolution of Generative AI-Powered Marketing
This post was created in partnership with Adobe Generative AI has shifted from an experimental playground to a vital part of modern marketing. From hyper-personalized content to scaled creative production, brands are harnessing AI's power to deepen consumer engagement. But as AI takes center stage, new challenges emerge: How can brands ensure authenticity, protect intellectual...
Apple Plays With Action Movie Tropes in New iPhone 16 Ad
Most every self-respecting Hollywood action flick contains the following scene: a few grizzled cops walk directly toward the camera--in dramatic slow motion--while the background lights up with explosions and fireballs. It's a trope for a reason. Apple pokes fun at that well-worn concept, reuniting a pair of law-enforcement characters who have appeared in previous commercials,...
