• Linda Yaccarino, head of advertising at Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal, is reportedly in talks to become the next the CEO of Twitter Inc., replacing Elon Musk, who plans to transition to executive chairman and CTO once the move is formalized in approximately six weeks. The news comes as NBCU is preparing for its annual upfront presentation to advertisers next Monday, where Yaccarino, who conducted an on-stage interview with Musk at an industry conference last month in Miami, is expected to play a large role. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Meta Platforms Inc. introduced a new product, called AI Sandbox, that lets advertisers try out several new artificial intelligence ad tools, including ones that generate copy text and background images. The offering, which Meta described as an advertising “testing playground,” marks the latest effort by a big tech company to lure ad buyers via the emerging technology. (CNBC)
• Adidas AG CEO Bjoern Gulden said the company plans to sell some of the remaining Yeezy inventory from its now-defunct partnership with rapper Ye and donate a portion of the proceeds to global organizations that serve communities harmed by the musician’s comments. The sportswear giant also mulled burning the merchandise, but Gulden said it was ultimately decided that such a move “would not be a solution.” (Reuters)
• Peloton Interactive Inc. recalled more than 2 million of its exercise bikes made from January 2018 to May 2023 due to a seat post assembly issue that can cause “fall and injury hazards.” It’s the second major product recall for the fitness startup since 2021, when it pulled its Tread+ and Tread treadmill machines off the market following reports of several injuries and one death. (Axios)

More Consumers Want Brands and CEOs to Get Political

Morning Consult

Podcasters focus on expansion and reach despite slower ad revenue growth at upfronts

Sara Guaglione, Digiday

Despite the challenges bringing the boom of podcasting back down to the Earth, podcast networks and advertising platforms were optimistic about the continued growth of the medium in their presentations to marketers at the IAB’s annual Podcast Upfront held in New York City on Thursday.

The Trade Desk Says It Isn’t Competing With SSPs – It’s Taking On Inefficiency

Anthony Vargas, AdExchanger 

TTD reported $383 million in revenue, a 21% YoY increase, in its Q1 earnings call on Wednesday. It beat investor expectations, prompting a 2.6% bump in stock price during after-hours trading, though that later reversed to a 2% decline in the morning.

As retail media continues to grow, Meta & Google announce new AI-powered ad products

Vidhi Choudhary, Modern Retail

Tech giants are moving in to take a larger share of retail advertising money. In doing so, they are offering newer advertising solutions using artificial intelligence, a wildly popular buzzword in the industry.

BET+ To Launch Ad Tier As Brands Seek Black Audiences

Parker Herren, Ad Age 

BET+ Essential will launch on June 25 and be sold in the upfronts.

How YouTube Plans to Use NFL Sunday Ticket to Take On Cable

Sarah Krouse and Miles Kruppa, The Wall Street Journal 

Google unit plans to have content creators post videos from NFL sidelines, locker rooms.

Peacock to Stream All 2024 Olympics Events Live In a Major Bet by NBCUniversal

Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter   

NBC says the broadcast network will have more programming hours than in any prior Olympics, with the opening ceremony and key finals to air and stream live.

CNN’s Trump town hall draws 3.1 million viewers

Sara Fischer, Axios

CNN’s controversial town hall with former President Donald Trump drew 3.1 million viewers Wednesday night, making CNN the most-watched cable news network of the evening, according to preliminary ratings from Nielsen.

Penske Media Launches Live Event Streaming Platform Harmony

The Hollywood Reporter 

Viewers will be able watch Thursday’s live Academy of Country Music Awards red carpet show starting at 4 p.m. in partnership with Amazon.  

Dungeons & Dragons Free 24-Hour Streaming Channel Set to Launch This Summer

Todd Spangler, Variety 

Free, ad-supported TV streaming (FAST) service from Hasbro’s eOne to include originals series, episodes from ’80s animated show.

NBA’s Phoenix Suns set off US sports television dispute

Sara Germano, Financial Times

Billionaire Mat Ishbia’s basketball club seeks to ditch cable contract and shift to free broadcasts.

How Europe is leading the world in building guardrails around AI 

Kelvin Chan, The Associated Press 

Authorities around the world are racing to draw up rules for artificial intelligence, including in the European Union, where draft legislation faced a pivotal moment on Thursday.

Airbnb reports highest first-quarter earnings ever in advance of summer travel boom

Jasmine Sheena, Marketing Brew 

The company said it’s marketing more heavily in the first half of the year compared to 2022, ahead of the summer travel frenzy.

Twitch made it easier to edit clips for TikTok and YouTube Shorts

Jess Weatherbed, The Verge 

The streaming platform’s new Clip Editor tool makes quick work of editing livestream content ready for vertical video platforms.

Tarte Cosmetics CEO announces brand is overhauling influencer program, apologizes

Liz Flora, Glossy 

“I take full responsibility for a TikTok video that I posted responding to claims by a respected and valued Tarte creator,” Kelly said in the video released on May 9. She was referring to her initial response to a controversy that ensued over the past week after a Black influencer spoke out about canceling participation in a Tarte brand trip, stating she had been treated like a “second-tier person” when the invitations were sent out.

Airline Advertising Gets a Creativity Upgrade: Behind the Industry’s Messaging Pivot

Adrianne Pasquarelli, Ad Age 

Brands such as Delta and United are reinvigorating their marketing with fresh messaging and mediums.

Why BMW Is Resurrecting Its Bond-Style Short Movies

Stephen Lepitak, Adweek

German luxury vehicle manufacturer BMW aims to emulate the Hollywood experience again through its marketing. After a seven-year absence, the brand film series, BMW Films, will be resurrected.

How to get comfortable with, and even enjoy, doing tedious work

Aakash Shah, Fast Company

The same way you’d commit to a fitness routine, designate specific times throughout the day for the tedious tasks.

Why You’re Probably Hearing Less About Corporate Climate Initiatives

Michael Skapinker, The New York Times

Amid accusations of “greenwashing” and “woke capitalism,” some business advisers say staying quiet might be the best option.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky ‘guarantees’ many bosses calling people back to the office ‘are going away to the Hamptons for the summer’

Nicholas Gordon, Fortune

Brian Chesky also suggested that the ability to hire from anywhere could be more valuable than forcing people to work in one location.