BRIEFS
NINE TO FIVE
MEDIA MARGINS BLOG
JAN 21 2026
Microsoft Advertising launches new Performance Max controls
Microsoft Performance Max (PMax) is an automated ad campaign that aims to drive specific actions, like online purchases or form submissions. Before the January 15, 2026 update, these campaigns could spend budget on both new and existing customers.
With the update, advertisers can now prioritize or only target new customers, helping brands focus on growth instead of paying again for people who would have likely converted anyway. This change is most useful for ecommerce and lead‑generation advertisers who care about measurable results. Microsoft also added more transparency, making it easier to explain why ads did or didn’t show.
This is important because it aligns Microsoft much closer with Google’s tactics, intensifying the competition between the two.
JAN 21 2026
Fanatics Studios launches with top-shelf partners
Fanatics has officially entered content production with the launch of Fanatics Studios, created in partnership with L.A.-based OBB Media and led by CEO Michael Ratner. The new studio will produce films, documentaries, live event specials, and scripted and unscripted series, partnering with LA28, ESPN, Fox Sports, WWE, MLB, and Tom Brady. As part of its LA28 deal, Fanatics Studios will produce the official Olympic film, along with additional film, TV, and digital projects tied to the games.
The company is also expanding its ESPN relationship with multiple hours of programming through 2027, including renewed Fanatics Fest coverage and support for the ESPY Awards. Fanatics Studios formally launched on January 13 at the Intuit Dome, signaling a major shift toward Fanatics becoming a full‑scale sports and entertainment content player.This is important because it aligns Microsoft much closer with Google’s tactics, intensifying the competition between the two.
JAN 21 2026
Infillion + Yobi bring performance‑style AI targeting to the open web
Infillion announced a strategic partnership with behavioral AI company Yobi to deliver walled‑garden‑level optimization to the open internet. The collaboration promises Google‑style performance automation—without relying on cookies—reshaping how independent advertisers compete outside major platforms.
JAN 21 2026
Microsoft plans an ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming Tier
Microsoft is preparing an ad-supported tier of Xbox Cloud Gaming, launching some time in 2026. This means users will be able to stream owned games for free in exchange for viewing ads, which introduces a new, high-attention advertising surface tied to logged-in accounts. This announcement repositions gaming closer to a scaled video-ad environment, not just sponsorship territory.
JAN 27 2026
Artlist Launches End-to-End AI Video Creation Platform Following Record Growth
Artlist, a creative technology company used by more than 50 million creators for licensing music, footage, and advanced AI tools, has unveiled a full AI-powered production ecosystem after finishing 2025 with $260M in ARR and 50% YOY growth. The new suite includes Artlist Studio, the AI Toolkit, and the Artlist Original 1.0 model, all designed to give creators faster, more intuitive, end-to-end control over video production.
JAN 27 2026
A Sparkly New Star: Hellmann’s Introduces ‘Meal Diamond’ for Super Bowl 60
Hellmann’s has released a 15 second teaser for its Super Bowl 60 ad, introducing “Meal Diamond,” a glittery Neil Diamond-inspired performer who snacks on a mayo stacked turkey sandwich as part of his backstage ritual.
The spot is meant to spark curiosity and appetite ahead of the full fourth quarter commercial, hinting at a fun, sandwich-centered moment where this new character finally takes the spotlight.
JAN 27 2026
Google Restricting AI Overviews for Certain Health Queries
Google is partially rolling back its AI Overviews feature following concerns surrounding dangerous medical inaccuracies. AI Overviews were found giving incorrect guidance on critical topics such as liver function tests and cancer-related queries. In response,
Google began removing AI Overviews from specific health searches, including “what is the normal range for liver blood tests” and similar phrases, replacing them with standard search results from trusted medical sites. However, experts warn that variations of the same queries can still trigger AI-generated answers, indicating the issue is systemic rather than isolated.
FEB 02 2026
TikTok Freezes Over: Winter Storm to Blame for Mass Outages?
TikTok’s first week under new US ownership was marred by major outages and user backlash after a winter storm disabled Oracle data centers, causing videos to register zero views and sparking censorship fears. Although TikTok blamed infrastructure issues, updated privacy policies and distrust of the new owners deepened scrutiny and concern among users.
FEB 02 2026
The Muppets Make a Comeback for 50th Anniversary
Early February 2026 brought the revival of The Muppet Show, with Kermit back in charge and the action set once again in the Muppet Theater. The new episodes are said to balance nostalgia with fresh energy, featuring modern guest stars (such as Sabrina Carpenter) while preserving the humor, chaos, and warmth that defined Jim Henson’s original 1976 series.
FEB 02 2026
Netflix Releases New “Miracle” Doc Ahead of Winter Olympics
The documentary revisits the U.S. men’s hockey team’s stunning upset of the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics through firsthand interviews and archival footage. It focuses on the players’ bond, Herb Brooks’ demanding coaching style, and how a group of college athletes came together to achieve one of the greatest underdog victories in sports history.
FEB 02 2026
American Idol Takes Stage on Disney+ with Live Streaming
American Idol is moving to Disney+ where it will stream live for the first time. Starting in March 2026, the show will air simultaneously with its ABC broadcast, unlike its Hulu run, which streams the next day. This follows the success of Dancing with the Stars’ live streaming in 2025 and aligns with Disney’s plan to phase out Hulu in early 2026.
FEB 10 2026
FCC Launches Investigation into ABC’s THE VIEW
The investigation follows concerns and viewer backlash of potentially violating equal‑time rules after giving Texas Senate candidate James Talarico airtime without comparable opportunities given to other candidates. Talarico used this time to discuss family, faith, and positions on Texas political issues.
FEB 10 2026
Scrolling Into Trouble: Big Tech Faces Landmark Trial for Claims of Addiction
Opening arguments have begun in a landmark trial accusing Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube of deliberately designing addictive features that harm young users’ mental health. Meta and YouTube deny the allegations, insisting they provide safeguards and that many factors influence youth well‑being.
FEB 10 2026
Stream and Shout! Youtube Out-Earns Netflix in 2025 Ad Revenue
YouTube saw over $60 billion in revenue earnings in 2025, surpassing Netflix and marking Alphabet’s (the holding company of Google, Youtube, Android, etc.) first full revenue disclosure for the platform. Its Q4 ad revenue reached a record $11.38 billion, albeit still shy of Wall Street expectations. Alphabet says the growth was driven by surging subscriptions across YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and Google One.
FEB 17 2026
Old Spice Infuses Iconic “Mom Song” with a Modern Motherhood Twist
The brand revived its iconic 2014 “Mom Song” by releasing a revamped version: “Mom Song 2.0: The End of Adolescents”, an R&B-style spoof inspired by Boyz II Men’s End of the Road. The fresh tune offers an emotionally grounded take on mother-son relationships as moms sing and humorously credit Old Spice’s Swagger products for their son’s transitions to manhood.
FEB 17 2026
Taylor Swift vs. Cathay Home: Scrapping Trademark after Branding Dispute
Cathay Home has withdrawn its bedding brand’s “Swift Home” trademark application after Taylor Swift’s legal team objected, arguing the branding’s stylized “Swift” too closely resembled her trademarked signature. Cathay states the decision was simply practical and inessential to their business, ending the dispute. The debacle resurfaces speculation about Swift’s iconic reputation for aggressively protecting her brand, with some wondering if it’s smart business or simply professional bullying.
FEB 17 2026
Baz Luhrmann: Reviving Elvis Presley for Upcoming Stage Musical
Baz Luhrmann is developing a new stage musical about Elvis Presley, offering a fresh theatrical tribute to the icon’s life and career. The project promises a reimagined exploration of Elvis’ legacy, continuing Luhrmann’s long-standing creative connection to the singer. Early reports highlight growing anticipation as fans await how his signature style will translate to the stage.
FEB 19 2026
Post-IPG Deal Boosts Omnicom Sales Despite Integration Costs
Omnicom reported a surprising Q4’25 revenue of $5.53 billion, boosted by its recent $13.25 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG) and new client wins—resulting in a ~4% rise in shares after unveiling an additional $5 billion share buyback. This is a significant bounce-back considering the $1.12 billion spent on restructuring and severance costs in the closing months of 2025.
(Omnicom is my agency’s parent company, since late 2023)
UNIV – RESEARCH
BRIEFS
NINE TO FIVE
MEDIA MARGINS BLOG
JAN 21 2026
Microsoft Advertising launches new Performance Max controls
Microsoft Performance Max (PMax) is an automated ad campaign that aims to drive specific actions, like online purchases or form submissions. Before the January 15, 2026 update, these campaigns could spend budget on both new and existing customers.
With the update, advertisers can now prioritize or only target new customers, helping brands focus on growth instead of paying again for people who would have likely converted anyway. This change is most useful for ecommerce and lead‑generation advertisers who care about measurable results. Microsoft also added more transparency, making it easier to explain why ads did or didn’t show.
This is important because it aligns Microsoft much closer with Google’s tactics, intensifying the competition between the two.
JAN 21 2026
Fanatics Studios launches with top-shelf partners
Fanatics has officially entered content production with the launch of Fanatics Studios, created in partnership with L.A.-based OBB Media and led by CEO Michael Ratner. The new studio will produce films, documentaries, live event specials, and scripted and unscripted series, partnering with LA28, ESPN, Fox Sports, WWE, MLB, and Tom Brady. As part of its LA28 deal, Fanatics Studios will produce the official Olympic film, along with additional film, TV, and digital projects tied to the games.
The company is also expanding its ESPN relationship with multiple hours of programming through 2027, including renewed Fanatics Fest coverage and support for the ESPY Awards. Fanatics Studios formally launched on January 13 at the Intuit Dome, signaling a major shift toward Fanatics becoming a full‑scale sports and entertainment content player.This is important because it aligns Microsoft much closer with Google’s tactics, intensifying the competition between the two.
JAN 21 2026
Infillion + Yobi bring performance‑style AI targeting to the open web
Infillion announced a strategic partnership with behavioral AI company Yobi to deliver walled‑garden‑level optimization to the open internet. The collaboration promises Google‑style performance automation—without relying on cookies—reshaping how independent advertisers compete outside major platforms.
JAN 21 2026
Microsoft plans an ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming Tier
Microsoft is preparing an ad-supported tier of Xbox Cloud Gaming, launching some time in 2026. This means users will be able to stream owned games for free in exchange for viewing ads, which introduces a new, high-attention advertising surface tied to logged-in accounts. This announcement repositions gaming closer to a scaled video-ad environment, not just sponsorship territory.
JAN 27 2026
Artlist Launches End-to-End AI Video Creation Platform Following Record Growth
Artlist, a creative technology company used by more than 50 million creators for licensing music, footage, and advanced AI tools, has unveiled a full AI-powered production ecosystem after finishing 2025 with $260M in ARR and 50% YOY growth. The new suite includes Artlist Studio, the AI Toolkit, and the Artlist Original 1.0 model, all designed to give creators faster, more intuitive, end-to-end control over video production.
JAN 27 2026
A Sparkly New Star: Hellmann’s Introduces ‘Meal Diamond’ for Super Bowl 60
Hellmann’s has released a 15 second teaser for its Super Bowl 60 ad, introducing “Meal Diamond,” a glittery Neil Diamond-inspired performer who snacks on a mayo stacked turkey sandwich as part of his backstage ritual.
The spot is meant to spark curiosity and appetite ahead of the full fourth quarter commercial, hinting at a fun, sandwich-centered moment where this new character finally takes the spotlight.
JAN 27 2026
Google Restricting AI Overviews for Certain Health Queries
Google is partially rolling back its AI Overviews feature following concerns surrounding dangerous medical inaccuracies. AI Overviews were found giving incorrect guidance on critical topics such as liver function tests and cancer-related queries. In response,
Google began removing AI Overviews from specific health searches, including “what is the normal range for liver blood tests” and similar phrases, replacing them with standard search results from trusted medical sites. However, experts warn that variations of the same queries can still trigger AI-generated answers, indicating the issue is systemic rather than isolated.
FEB 02 2026
TikTok Freezes Over: Winter Storm to Blame for Mass Outages?
TikTok’s first week under new US ownership was marred by major outages and user backlash after a winter storm disabled Oracle data centers, causing videos to register zero views and sparking censorship fears. Although TikTok blamed infrastructure issues, updated privacy policies and distrust of the new owners deepened scrutiny and concern among users.
FEB 02 2026
The Muppets Make a Comeback for 50th Anniversary
Early February 2026 brought the revival of The Muppet Show, with Kermit back in charge and the action set once again in the Muppet Theater. The new episodes are said to balance nostalgia with fresh energy, featuring modern guest stars (such as Sabrina Carpenter) while preserving the humor, chaos, and warmth that defined Jim Henson’s original 1976 series.
FEB 02 2026
Netflix Releases New “Miracle” Doc Ahead of Winter Olympics
The documentary revisits the U.S. men’s hockey team’s stunning upset of the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics through firsthand interviews and archival footage. It focuses on the players’ bond, Herb Brooks’ demanding coaching style, and how a group of college athletes came together to achieve one of the greatest underdog victories in sports history.
FEB 02 2026
American Idol Takes Stage on Disney+ with Live Streaming
American Idol is moving to Disney+ where it will stream live for the first time. Starting in March 2026, the show will air simultaneously with its ABC broadcast, unlike its Hulu run, which streams the next day. This follows the success of Dancing with the Stars’ live streaming in 2025 and aligns with Disney’s plan to phase out Hulu in early 2026.
FEB 10 2026
FCC Launches Investigation into ABC’s THE VIEW
The investigation follows concerns and viewer backlash of potentially violating equal‑time rules after giving Texas Senate candidate James Talarico airtime without comparable opportunities given to other candidates. Talarico used this time to discuss family, faith, and positions on Texas political issues.
FEB 10 2026
Scrolling Into Trouble: Big Tech Faces Landmark Trial for Claims of Addiction
Opening arguments have begun in a landmark trial accusing Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube of deliberately designing addictive features that harm young users’ mental health. Meta and YouTube deny the allegations, insisting they provide safeguards and that many factors influence youth well‑being.
FEB 10 2026
Stream and Shout! Youtube Out-Earns Netflix in 2025 Ad Revenue
YouTube saw over $60 billion in revenue earnings in 2025, surpassing Netflix and marking Alphabet’s (the holding company of Google, Youtube, Android, etc.) first full revenue disclosure for the platform. Its Q4 ad revenue reached a record $11.38 billion, albeit still shy of Wall Street expectations. Alphabet says the growth was driven by surging subscriptions across YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and Google One.
UNIV – RESEARCH
SOCIAL NETWORKING AND NARCISSISM:
UNFILTERING THE STATISTICS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA- PSY228, APR20
THE IRRATIONAL BRAIN: A META-ANALYSIS
ON SOCIAL COGNITION & DECISION MAKING
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA- PSY507
COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE, APR19
Alisa Flum Creative Portfolio 