Stagwell buys Freestar as ad industry doubles down on AI bets

ExchangeWire’s Sheila Obeng-King reports that Stagwell acquired publisher monetisation platform Freestar for its Owned Media division, while Anthropic’s IPO filing showed ad spend quadrupling to $147 million in 2025, and Meta seeks $95 billion to fund AI expansion.

Signal from exchangewire.com · Sheila Obeng-King · read the original.

All gas. No brake. Free.

What’s happening, why it matters, who reported it, who followed, and how the story develops. Free with a reader account. Unsubscribe any time.

Continue free →

More from Agencies

All →

VCCP overtakes BBH atop Q3 2026 global creative agency rankings

Campaign’s Jamie Rossouw reports that VCCP has displaced BBH at the top of the Q3 2026 global creative rankings, a shift in the industry’s benchmark league table.

Independent Talent to rep Outernet London for commercial strategy

Variety’s K.J. Yossman reports that Independent Talent Group has been named creative commercial agency for Outernet London, pairing its artist and creator roster with the venue’s immersive screens to build programming, branded entertainment and co-created IP.

Svedka crowdsources its 2027 Super Bowl ad after AI backlash

Adweek’s Brittaney Kiefer reports that Svedka is returning to Super Bowl 61 with a public contest handing creative control of its next ad to fans.