Global Scans · Media & Entertainment · Weekly Summary

• [New] More ad buyers expect to strengthen focus on using generative AI in media campaigns in 2026 (78% vs 62% in 2025) - representing the top-cited area. StreamTV Insider
• [New] Social media creator revenue will increase 16.2% in 2026 to $20.6 billion. eMarketer
• [New] If 2025 was the year AI-generated content flooded social media platforms, 2026 will be the year both brands and creators truly reckon with it. Digiday
• [New] Forrester expects retail media spending in Europe to more than double, reaching $43 billion by 2030. Forrester
• [New] US retail media spend will hit $69.33 B in 2026; Amazon and Walmart capture ~89% of incremental dollars Insider Intelligence/eMarketer. MixBright
• [New] In 2026, media companies will invest in data warehousing solutions that securely and intelligently provide data access to power analytics, integrations, and AI. WideOrbit
• [New] In 2026, sales teams will rely more on AI tools that use predictive modeling to build media plans that accurately forecast audience reach across platforms, identify optimal flighting patterns, and enable fluid budget allocation and optimization. WideOrbit
• [New] TikTok will become more similar to American-owned social media applications when it comes to access to data and how it's monetized. Los Angeles Times
• [New] SpaceX, one of the world's most valuable private companies, will gain xAI properties such as its Grok chatbot and the social media platform X. The Guardian
• [New] One of the most disruptive Social Media Marketing Trends In 2026 is the normalization of AI-generated and AI-optimized content. Hopes Tech
• [New] With global revenues projected to surpass $3 trillion by 2026, the Media & Entertainment industry is not evolving - it is being structurally redefined. TO THE NEW
• [New] By 2026, over 85% of global media consumption will occur via connected TV, mobile-first, and hybrid OTT platforms. TO THE NEW
• [New] By 2026, generative AI in media and entertainment will shift from experimentation to operational dependency. TO THE NEW
• [New] In-store media accelerates as the next major retail media growth frontier: By 2026, retailers will expand in-store media through deeper partnerships with signage and content platforms and use AI to tailor messages to real-time traffic and shopper behaviour. Supermarket News
• [New] We are forecasting $70 billion in ad spending in 2026, and by 2029, we are forecasting that retail media alone will make up about one-fifth of all digital ad spend. eMarketer
• [New] Microdramas are rapidly transforming LATAM's media landscape, with revenues projected to reach $14 billion globally by the end of 2026, including $3 billion generated outside China. Yahoo Finance Singapore
• [New] U.S. ad spend is projected to grow 9.5% in 2026, with double digit gains expected in social media (14.6%), CTV (13.8%) and commerce media (12.1%). Digiday
• [New] Media spending by advertisers is projected to reach $664.2 billion in 2026, continuing a steady shift away from offline media and toward digital and data-driven channels. Insideradio.com
• [New] Meta's ability to monetize advertising on Status and Channels will open up new purchasable media spaces: companies will be able to combine traditional advertising campaigns with automated conversational flows, transforming advertising impressions into immediate dialog on WhatsApp. SendApp - Whatsapp Marketing Software
• [New] The U.K. has threatened to ban X and Grok, Elon Musk's social media platform and AI model, for allowing users to create explicit deepfake images of people, including children. Harvard Gazette
• [New] The media success of libraries like Columbus Metropolitan Library and Los Angeles Public Library is going to drive more libraries to invest in creative storytelling. Super Library Marketing: Practical Tips and Ideas for L
• [New] In 2026, social media fatigue is expected to continue. Adtraction
• The global AI in media and entertainment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.22% during the forecast period. Polaris

Last updated: 09 February 2026