• Anheuser-Busch InBev SA CEO Michel Doukeris said Bud Light’s drop in U.S. sales throughout April following its partnership with a transgender influencer amounted to just a 1% loss of the company’s total global volumes. (Bloomberg) Meanwhile, the brewer plans to triple its marketing spending on the Bud Light brand this summer and will pay a $500 bonus to delivery drivers, sales representatives and independent distributors, many of whom have experienced personal threats in the wake of the conservative backlash. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Meta Platforms Inc. unveiled a suite of expanded augmented reality advertising offerings at its NewFronts presentation yesterday. Brands can now apply custom AR filters to content within Instagram Reels and Facebook Stories, a feature that was previously limited to in-feed posts on both apps and Instagram Stories. (TechCrunch) 
• Forty-five percent of all U.S. viewing of Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube now happens on traditional TV screens, according to people familiar with the company’s internal data. That represents a significant jump from just three years ago, when this figure was well below 30%. (The Information) 
• Michelle Obama announced she has co-founded a company, PLEZi Nutrition, that will sell healthy food and drinks for kids. The former first lady, who made improving child nutrition a top priority while in the White House, said PLEZi’s mission is to inspire a “race to the top that will transform the entire food industry.” (CNBC)

The State of Travel & Hospitality H1 2023 (Registration Required)

Morning Consult

Digital Video Publishers Tout AI and New Metrics at NewFronts Sales Events 

Megan Graham et al., The Wall Street Journal

A picket line outside Peacock’s presentation to ad buyers spotlighted the shifts and tensions in entertainment.

Agency relationships with Amazon evolve as they adapt to retail media opportunities

Tony Case, Digiday

Given Amazon’s share of the e-commerce market, it clearly is the dominant force, challenging agencies to grow their media spend, said Bertrand Fraboulet, global managing director of Havas Market, which is Havas Media Group’s entry into e-commerce.

Advertisers Brace for Writers’ Strike Fallout Ahead of TV Upfronts

Parker Herren, Ad Age

Industry sources discuss linear TV alternatives, including TikTok, YouTube and FAST.

Havas Media Group Creates New NA Activation Unit

Steve McClellan, MediaPost

Havas Media Group has formed a new activation team for North America. The reorganization brings together Data, Analytics & Martech and Investment disciplines in the region into one collaborative and integrated team, which will be led by Mike Bregman who is elevated to the role of Chief Activation Officer, effective immediately. 

LVMH Hires Publicis Groupe for Media Accounts Including Louis Vuitton 

E.J. Schultz, Ad Age 

Dentsu was the incumbent on the businesses.

Warner Bros Revenue Falls Amid Soft Ad Market

Will Feuer, The Wall Street Journal 

Company targets profitability in streaming segment this year, sooner than forecast.

Hollywood studios push back against striking writers’ claim of ‘gig’ workforce

Lisa Richwine and Danielle Broadway, Reuters 

The group representing Hollywood studios fired back on Thursday at claims from striking film and television workers that they have been forced into the “gig economy” because of changes brought by the streaming TV era.

Paramount Global CEO on Impact of Writers Strike: “Consumers Really Won’t Notice Anything for a While”

Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter

The studio says it has a slate of new releases, a large library and offshore production to get through the strike.

Fox says it settled Dominion lawsuit to ‘buy peace,’ as it tries to block release of more material in the case

Oliver Darcy, CNN

Fox said in a court filing Wednesday that it settled the monster defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million to “buy peace,” and strongly opposed motions to unseal additional redacted material in the case.

Tucker Carlson floats plan to host alternative GOP debate in post-Fox future

Jeremy Barr et al., The Washington Post

The fired Fox host, hoping for a next act bigger than podcasting, would forfeit millions owed to him in his network contract to have a voice in the 2024 election, associates say, and has talked to Trump about a candidate forum.

Paramount Posts Earnings Loss on $1.7 Billion Charge, Cuts Dividend

Will Feuer and Jessica Toonkel, The Wall Street Journal

Charges are tied to a plan to remove certain programming as the media company combines streaming platforms.

NBCUniversal To Wind Down LX Network

Dade Hayes, Deadline

People familiar with the decision told Deadline the nearly 40 workers affected by the move are being actively considered for new positions within NBCU.

Hulu Live TV adds channels to its lineup, including PBS and Magnolia Network 

Lauren Forristal, TechCrunch

Hulu Live TV announced Thursday that it is adding new channels to its library, bringing the total to over 90 channels across live sports, news and entertainment. The streaming service will soon launch channels like PBS Kids, local PBS stations and Magnolia Network.

Ed Sheeran wins copyright case

J.D. Capelouto and Diego Mendoza, Semafor

Ed Sheeran won a case brought against him by the family of singer Ed Townsend, who claimed Sheeran’s song “Thinking Out Loud” ripped off the Marvin Gaye song “Let’s Get It On,” which Townsend co-wrote, according to reports.

Condé Nast Unveils “Vogue World” Plan As It Leans Into Brands During Newfront Pitch

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter 

A new fashion event franchise will run in London this year, as the company orders shows featuring talent like Franklin Leonard and Tan France.

Ban social media for kids? Fed-up parents in Senate say yes

Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press

Legislation introduced by Britt and Murphy, along with Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., aims to prohibit all children under the age of 13 from using social media and would require permission from a guardian for users under 18 to create an account. 

Apple reports better-than-expected quarter driven by iPhone sales

Kif Leswing, CNBC

Apple reported second-fiscal quarter earnings on Thursday that beat Wall Street’s soft expectations for sales and revenue, driven by stronger-than-anticipated iPhones sales.

Roblox reports early positive organic lift after advertising beta test

Alexander Lee, Digiday

Roblox is still developing its advertising offerings — but data from its advertising beta test, shared exclusively with Digiday, indicates that the platform’s Portals advertising product results in considerable organic lift for brands, a metric that has encouraged both Roblox and its partners as it progresses toward the full rollout of ads later this year.

Pamela Anderson Launches First-Ever Swimwear Collection With Frankies Bikinis

Anna Tingley, Variety

Out of the endless stream of celebrity fashion lines that come out of every year, none makes more sense than a swimwear line from Pamela Anderson. The former “Baywatch” star launched a collection with Frankies Bikinis on Thursday morning, filled with a bright array of ’90s-inspired silhouettes — and yes, that iconic high-cut red one piece.

Fashion rental services are growing amid inflation

Gabriela Barkho, Modern Retail

Although inflation is putting pressure on retailers of all sorts, rental services are reporting record numbers of subscribers. These services were hit hard during the pandemic, as people stopped going to work conferences, weddings and attending other events, which, historically, have been popular occasions to call upon a rental service.

Macy’s opens more strip mall stores as expansion strategy faces pivotal test

Melissa Repko, CNBC

CEO Jeff Gennette said it’s a pivotal time for the company’s off-mall push, as the retailer decides on expansion plans by year-end.

Adidas Digs Into Back Catalog for Samba Hit After Yeezy Debacle

Tim Loh, Bloomberg 

Adidas is again seeing interest in Superstars in sneaker resale markets and in trend magazines, he said. So the company is creating new marketing plans for the model.

Peloton’s Progress in Narrowing Losses Falls Short of Expectations

Sabela Ojea, The Wall Street Journal

Exercise-equipment company said revenue declined 22% as demand for connected fitness equipment continued to fall.

The Weeknd and Blue Bottle Coffee launch new Ethiopian coffee brand, Samra Origins

Audrey Kemp, The Drum

The joint effort honors the four-time-Grammy-Award-winner’s heritage while also supporting world hunger relief.

Employers grapple with the weight loss drug craze

Tina Reed, Axios

Employers are fielding a surge of demand from their workers for obesity care benefits — specifically, for a buzzy class of weight loss drugs — and it’s getting pricey.

Tim Cook says layoffs are a ‘last resort’ and not something Apple is considering right now

Kif Leswing, CNBC

Apple doesn’t have plans for big layoffs, CEO Tim Cook told CNBC while discussing the company’s earnings on Thursday, in a stark contrast from Big Tech peers like Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon, which have cut thousands of employees this year.