Performance Marketing Unlocked

The latest IPA Bellwether report reveals an optimistic advertising industry continually mired by broader geopolitical turmoil. Marketers want to spend, but are being hampered by conditions beyond their control – leaving much of the industry stuck in a state of uncertainty and subsequently, feeling unsure about their future prospects.

In this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford and Senior News Reporter Bethany Lee joined host Joe to analyse the deeper meaning behind the IPA's latest figures. The trio talk consumer sentiment, the opportunities and threats that come with AI, and whether or not marketers should be more buoyant about the months ahead.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(4:28) Analysing the IPA Bellwether's top-line takeaways

(8:55) Which channels are an opportunity and which are a waste?

(16:45) Are we ignoring consumers?

~ Further reading ~

IPA Bellwether: UK adspend enjoys second successive quarter of growth, up 6.9%

IPA Bellwether: ‘There's just too much competition’

IPA Bellwether: ‘We must move beyond isolated channel performance’

IPA Bellwether: Is AI starting to disrupt adspend?

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AI is making product search increasingly seamless for consumers, but it risks blanking out the trackable data that funds the very ecosystem powering AI summaries. In the era of zero click search, how can publishers, comparison sites and even influencers survive?

To explain the future of attribution, and offer some much needed hope, Adam Ross, CEO of affiliate network Awin, joins host Joe. Together, the pair outline the challenges the industry is facing and map out the blueprint for a resolution.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:24) How is consumer discovery changing?

(12:54) Are affiliate networks evolving into data brokers and compliance partners?

(20:10) Is marketing to machines different to marketing to people?

(23:51) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

UK affiliate marketing spend up 7.3% YoY as brands pivot away from traditional advertising

Affiliate performance shifts as consumers buy less but spend more

Brands are chasing AI visibility. They’re ignoring the sources both consumers and AI actually trust

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The traditional marketing funnel hasn't just changed – it has completely collapsed. With consumer-focused AI models taking the reins, we are rapidly moving toward a future where algorithms, not humans, make the final purchasing decisions.

In this live-panel episode of Performance Marketing Unlocked, Sammy Parker, Brand Partnerships Lead for Calfreezy, and Dimitris Beis, Data & Innovation Strategist at IAB Europe, join PMW's Editor Robin Langford to dive deep into this massive paradigm shift.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Editor, Robin Langford.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(4:37) Has AI broken the marketing funnel?

(17:25) Which brands become more important when machines make purchase recommendations?

(25:10) What mistakes are marketers making in the era of AI?

~ Further reading ~

5 things I learned at Cannes Lions (that have nothing to do with AI*)

‘Not everyone is prepared for how fast the ground is moving’: Cannes fallout continues

The ad ecosystem is facing a once-in-a-generation change – Meta is building what’s next

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The platforms gave us the tools, but how can actually use them to drive growth? Welcome to episode two of Performance Marketing Unlocked's Cannes Lions podcast miniseries, where we step off the tech yachts and into the brand war rooms.

In this episode, leading executives from Tesco, Spotify, AEG Global Partnerships, BeReal and Specsavers offer a blueprint for moving past the top-line AI optimism and into the real-world strategy for building a lasting brand in an automated world.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(6:23) What dominated the discourse at Cannes Lions?

(20:34) What will we be talking about more at Cannes Lions 2027?

(34:08) Surprises and highlights from Cannes Lions 2026

~ Further reading ~

5 things I learned at Cannes Lions (that have nothing to do with AI*)

‘Not everyone is prepared for how fast the ground is moving’: Cannes fallout continues

‘AI was the connecting thread running through everything’: Cannes Lions 2026 review

Cannes Lions Live round up: We’re drowning in data – so why are we still so thirsty?

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What is the future of performance?

For the final episode of this year’s Digital Disruptors miniseries, we’re looking to the future with Sarah Shum, Paid Performance Director at Brave Bison, Nat Abell, Senior ASO Manager at Yodel Mobile, and Charles Taylor, Senior Marketing Manager at Herdify. 

They discuss whether the industry is too obsessed with digital, how audience behaviour is changing, and why data is so important to keeping track of it all.

This podcast episode was hosted by PMW's Senior News Reporter, Bethany Lee.

All episodes of this four-part miniseries can now be found on your preferred podcast platform of choice. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Further reading ~

30 Winners in 30 Days: Sarah Wan Yu Shum, Brave Bison

30 Winners in 30 Days: Nat Abell, Yodel Mobile (part of NP Digital)

30 Winners in 30 Days: Charles Taylor, Herdify

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What happens when you bring the world’s leading minds in AI, entertainment, retail, and tech together at Cannes Lions? You get the ultimate roadmap for the future of performance marketing.

In episode one of Performance Marketing Unlocked's annual Cannes Lions podcast miniseries, we’re cutting through all the 'Cannesdemonium' to bring you direct insights from the industry giants shaping tomorrow. Listen to leaders and executives from OpenAI, Disney Advertising, Amazon, Yahoo, Snap, and Wolt as they pull back the curtain on what's actually moving the needle along the Croisette.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(10:48) What will make Cannes Lions 2026 a success?

(20:09) How has Cannes Lions changed?

(29:32) What is making the biggest tech platforms at Cannes most excited?

~ Further reading ~

Cannes Lions 2026: Google unveils new Gemini-powered YouTube tools and Amazon Retail Ad Service hits the UK

Cannes Lions Live Day 3: What happens when we can measure everything?

What is a problem you wish Cannes would solve?

‘Scale plus AI does not equal client value’: dentsu CEO Takeshi Sano reveals fresh playbook

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How can you scale performance beyond the obvious channels? 

For episode 3 of this year’s Digital Disruptors miniseries, Sasha Sadovaia, Product Marketing Manager at Taboola, Cam McIntyre, Campaign Director at The Goat Agency, and Claudia Sava, Senior Paid Social Manager at PureGym share their insights. 

They discuss how they are adapting to new technologies, which channels should be always-on, and what it takes to put your trust, and money, into new channels.

This podcast episode was hosted by PMW's Senior News Reporter, Bethany Lee.

New episodes of this four-part miniseries will be released weekly alongside our main show, Performance Marketing Unlocked. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Further reading ~

30 Winners in 30 Days: Sasha Sadovaia, Taboola

30 Winners in 30 Days: Cam McIntyre, The Goat Agency

30 Winners in 30 Days: Claudia Sava, PureGym

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Are marketers still stuck in a binary of data and creative?

In the second episode of this year’s Digital Disruptors miniseries, host Bethany speaks with Molly Peake, Head of Customer Success and Partnerships at AUDIENCES and Eraj Lodhi, Founder of marketing agency Plot Out Loud and Creator of Plotcast. 

They dive into what metrics still matter, whether a false divide between data and creative is holding back results, and whether brands truly know what to do with their data, even if they have it. 

This podcast episode was hosted by PMW's Senior News Reporter, Bethany Lee.

New episodes of this four-part miniseries will be released weekly alongside our main show, Performance Marketing Unlocked. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Further reading ~

30 Winners in 30 Days: Eraj Lodhi, Plot Out Loud

30 Winners in 30 Days: Molly Peake, AUDIENCES

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As the World Cup gets underway, how can performance marketers best leverage the opportunity before them?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Alex Maude, Head of Insight & Research at Ozone, joins host Joe to assess the best ways for brands to win a share of attention during the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.

Are traditional ad placements the way to go, or is the real attention battle taking place on second screens? Also, where does the premium web come into this? Listen on to uncover the answers to these burning questions and many more.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(3:30) Bigger tournament, bigger advertising opportunity?

(10:46) Ensuring social media is an asset, not a burden

(21:35) Making the World Cup count beyond June and July

(24:05) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

Everything advertisers need to focus on ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The ads scoring biggest ahead of the World Cup

Half of the World Cup audience doesn’t watch weekly football. Are you planning for them?

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Can marketers afford to still be siloed by channel?

In the first episode of this year’s Digital Disruptors miniseries, host Bethany speaks with Chanelle Urquico, International DSP Engagement Lead at TripleLift, Jack Murray, Senior Paid Social Search Account Manager at Incubeta, and Michael Holloway, SEO manager at Hookflash. 

Together, they discuss how the performance stack is converging and where each of their specialisms sit in a strategy, touching on the biggest changes they’ve seen since the beginning of their careers and the challenges they are anticipating facing in the years to come.

This podcast episode was hosted by PMW's Senior News Reporter, Bethany Lee.

New episodes of this four-part miniseries will be released weekly alongside our main show, Performance Marketing Unlocked. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Further reading ~

30 Winners in 30 Days: Jack Murray, Incubeta

30 Winners in 30 Days: Chanelle Urquico, TripleLift

30 Winners in 30 Days: Michael Holloway, SEO Manager, Hookflash

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