From 2024 to 2026, FMN ad spend will grow at a breakneck compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 106.3%, per our forecast. While that will account for only 0.4% of total 2026 US digital ad spending, the growth rate reflects FIs鈥� eagerness to secure their share of ad dollars by monetizing their first-party data. Ad revenues are looking increasingly attractive for FIs:.
The news: Podcasts are becoming a popular way for brands to reach engaged audiences, with viewership mounting and new platforms throwing their hats in the ring. Podcast viewership is thriving, reaching over 140 million US listeners in 2025, according to our forecast. Listeners will surpass 150 million by 2027. Our take: Podcasts are shaping up to become a strong contender in media consumption, with nearly 70% of US adults ages 18 to 24 listening at least one per month, per our forecast. As platforms battle to be the leading home for podcasts, advertisers need to pay attention and tailor strategies.
TikTok shifts away from free traffic for US merchants: The change will require businesses to pay for ads for visibility, but TikTok remains a critical touchpoint.
The news: Advertisers are prioritizing interactive video ads to capture users and boost engagement as social media and YouTube consume ad spend. 52% of advertisers expect to use interactive features in at least 26% of their ads this year, per Digiday and PadSquad鈥檚 2025 State of the Industry survey. Only 7% neither use and nor plan to use interactive video features in their ads.
Our take: In a saturated media market, getting and keeping consumers鈥� attention is a difficult endeavor. Integrating gamified features and personalized media elements can help ensure that marketing campaigns are seen and not just scrolled past.
The 2024 US presidential election ushered in a new normal in brand safety, with prominent social media companies such as X and Meta shifting the burden of content moderation from internal teams and contractors to users.
YouTube also leads all other digital platforms for US time spent. US adults will spend an average 37 minutes per day on the platform in 2025, ahead of Netflix (36 minutes), Facebook (20 minutes), Instagram, and TikTok (17 minutes each). Ad spending on YouTube will be up over 750% in 2025 versus 2015.
Click here to view our full forecast for US search ad spending. And click here for the accompanying crosstabs. Tariffs won鈥檛 change genAI search development, but they will weigh on ad spending growth. As a lower-funnel channel with clear purchase intent signals, search tends to be resilient to economic headwinds. But it鈥檚 not immune to tariff-related supply chain disruptions.