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The GRADIENT: Why Taste Is the New Moat

New Great British Railways logo sparks unexpectedly heated backlash

The UK Government has revealed the new identity for Great British Railway, a milestone revival marking the transition towards a nationalised rail system. An evolution of the old British Rail that was privatised in 1997, the new design is not only a fresh look for UK railways, but a promise of hope for many. The

So You Want To Paywall?

There are three inevitabilities in life. Death, taxes, and big tech companies dumping on the little guy. As zero-click searches reach an all-time high and content is stolen and repurposed for the gain of the almighty tech loser, there’s only one viable solution. To paywall. To create a value exchange that reduces reliance on third-party

‘Reignite the rebel’: Virgin’s top marketer on the brand’s first foray into women’s rugby

A few months into his role as Virgin’s first chief experience officer, Sam Kelly shares how investing in women’s sport is part of its journey to capture brand love. Source

Zev Deans directs a “maximalist cannon blast” music video for electronic duo Machine Girl

“The video in particular had to match the intensity and dynamic shifts of the song, with frenetic hypersonic chaos as the general pace, later opening up into these epic breakdowns,” Zev says. The fast-paced chaos required a chopped approach. Right from the start, Zev cut up the video into many pieces, working backwards to piece

Google Tests Social Channel Insights In Search Console

Google Search Console is testing a feature that shows how linked social channels perform in Google Search, including clicks, impressions, and queries. Search Console Insights now includes performance data for social channels Google has automatically linked to your website. The feature shows clicks, impressions, top queries, and trending content for connected social profiles. This is

Ad Tech Briefing: Platforms’ measurement transparency moves into view

In an era when the major internet platforms’ share of advertising spend looks set to increase, and no media plan is (seemingly) complete without the slightest hint of AI, there’s a growing curiosity to probe what goes on inside those black boxes among advertisers. And away from the headline-grabbing platforms such as Google’s Performance Max,

Could Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 be the ultimate retro cartoon?

As big fans of the series, we’re more than a little excited about the Stranger Things cartoon coming next year. It was already looking like a strong year for animation in 2026, and a new take on the magic of Hawkins could be the icing on the cake. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is already

Google Disputes Report Claiming Ads Are Coming To Gemini In 2026

Google is publicly pushing back on an Adweek report that claimed the company told advertising clients it plans to bring ads to its Gemini AI chatbot next year. Dan Taylor, Google’s Vice President of Global Ads, responded directly on X shortly after the story published, calling the report inaccurate and denying any plans to monetize

Danone CMO Linda Bethea to Exit as Food Giant Mulls Broader Marketing Changes

Linda Bethea, Danone North America’s chief marketing officer, is leaving the business as the French food conglomerate rolls marketing in the U.S. under its broader leadership team in the region, ADWEEK has learned. Her exit comes some three months after a broader management restructuring initiative disclosed in August. “Danone recently announced a change in the

Last-minute shopping? These creative workshops, classes and one-off experiences could save the day

If you’ve missed the shipping cut-off, or just couldn’t get your head into gear this year, that’s okay, things happen. When time is of the essence, often physical gifts aren’t the way to go, especially for something nice and thoughtful. The safest bet is experiences, memberships, and services that don’t depend on delivery dates. A

What Google’s 2025 Year in Review Tells Us About the Future of PPC

As December is quickly coming to a close, Google released its 2025 Year in Review, with a thorough list of product launches, upgrades, improvements all driven by AI. These updates showed up across the board in Search, YouTube, Demand Gen, Performance Max, Merchant Center, and more. Some updates felt like natural progressions from earlier releases.

Why today’s buyer journey no longer fits the funnel

For decades, marketing leaders guided buyers through a neat sequence from awareness to purchase. Today, that linear funnel model is breaking down. Buyers now chart their own course — jumping between channels, self-educating via digital content and often engaging sales late, if at all. As buyers became harder to corral into a predictable path, marketers

The new Supergirl logo is pure lovable nostalgia bait

The official logo for the new Supergirl movie has just landed, and fans are suitably swept away by the design. With “leaked” logos dividing superfans, the release of the film’s official emblem saw many breathe a sigh of relief. (Turns out sticking to the classics is a safe bet… who’d have thought?) As one of

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says Information Ecosystem Is Richer Than AI

In a recent interview with the BBC, Sundar Pichai emphasized that AI is not a standalone source of information. He affirmed that AI works together with search and that AI and Search have their uses. Pichai also said that AI is not a replacement for either search, the information ecosystem, or actual subject matter experts.

Introducing Marketing Week’s Market-O-Meter: What’s gone up and down in 2025

A snapshot of what has gained traction, investment or interest – for better or worse – over the past 12 months, and what has fallen back. Source

the finest photobooks from Brazil’s indie publishing hub

Doce Sonâmbulo In the opening pages of Doce Sonâmbulo [Sweet Sleepwalker], against a black background, the only textual information in the book provides the reader with some context: “I grew up in Bairro Nacional, on the suburbs of Contagem, Minas Gerais. I’m the son of a white father (whom I never met) and a Black

Paid Ad Scheduling Across Time Zones That Actually Works

Scheduling ads in Google or Microsoft Ads sounds simple until you realize how many hours you’re wasting showing them at the wrong time. A campaign that performs well in one market might fall flat in another, not because your targeting or creative is off, but because of when your ads appear. Managing time zones is

Digital Omnibus publishers data privacy laws

European publishers are feeling pretty grim about the outcome of the Digital Omnibus, released on Nov. 19. For a moment, the European Union’s attempt at a legislative spring clean for Europe’s digital rulebook dangled a few carrots of hope by signaling it might finally simplify Europe’s tangled maze of data privacy rules. Related Insights But

Pantone’s colour of 2026 is more apt than you think

There’s a certain audacity to announcing your 2026 Colour of the Year is white. Not cream, not ivory, not even that trendy greige that’s been haunting Pinterest. Just white. Okay, ‘Cloud Dancer’ if you’re being fancy, but let’s not pretend a dreamy name makes it any less… white. Yes, Pantone has finally done it; they’ve

2026 Marketing Forecast for PPC Leaders [Webinar]

The strategies that worked in 2025 will not carry your campaigns through the new year. Buyer behavior is evolving, budgets demand tighter discipline, and channels like calls, text, and voice agents are becoming essential conversion paths. As the marketing landscape shifts, the question is no longer whether you should adapt but how fast. The Strategic

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