The Business of Shoppertainment

Shopping today is no longer just about price, speed, or convenience. It's about experience. As entertainment, commerce, and culture converge, platforms like TikTok Shop are reshaping how consumers discover, trust, and buy from brands. We speak with Abby Ling, Managing Director of Southeast Asia …

Can You Feel That Ad? The Rise of Vibe Marketing

In a world where every click, swipe, and scroll is tracked, marketers know exactly who they’re talking to, but not always how to make them feel. In this episode, Sandeep Joseph, CEO and Co-Founder of Ampersand Advisory, explores the rise of vibe marketing: campaigns built not just on data and ta…

Root Beer, Retro Vibes & Revival

A&W is one of Malaysia’s most recognisable heritage brands — from the frosty mug root beer to the iconic drive-ins that shaped generations of memories. What happens when a brand from your parents’ dating days suddenly becomes cool again on TikTok? Staying relevant isn’t guaranteed. As consumer t…

Post Pandemic Brands: Why Consumers Expect Activism, Not Advertising

One of the biggest shifts since the pandemic has been in what people expect from brands. It is no longer enough to run clever campaigns. Today’s consumers want companies to stand for something, contribute to something, or challenge something. They want activism, not advertising. We’ve seen it globa…

Entertainment vs. Advertising: Can They Truly Coexist?

As the lines between entertainment and advertising blur, how can brands and artists collaborate authentically? We're joined by a man who has lived in both worlds: Sasidharan Chandran, also known as Malaysian music pioneer Sasi The Don. Now the founder of his own brand storytelling company, Sasi …

Storytelling vs AI: Who Wins the Battle for Attention?

AI has made content creation instant, but it can’t make audiences care. Dulya Wijeratne, Key Accounts Lead at Cult Creative, explains why smart storytelling, not smart prompts, is the key to cutting through the noise in today’s attention economy. She shares how brands can combine AI’s efficie…

Beyond the Bib: The Business of Sports Marketing

There was a time when marathons were for the serious enthusiasts, and fun runs were community events — a way to get people moving, raise funds, or build brand goodwill. Today, you can find several runs happening on the same Sunday morning, sometimes at the same location with different starting p…

Credibility Costs. Hype Is Cheap.

We speak with Brandon Lee, Co-Founder of Pandan Social, about why trust has become the most valuable, and most volatile, asset in modern marketing. In a time where a high-profile institution was called into question for fast-tracking its way to glory, we explore what happens when audiences demand…

A Marketer's Guide to New Finfluencer Rules

The End of the Wild West for Finfluencers. With over half of adults in some markets now getting financial advice from social media, regulators across ASEAN are tightening their grip. A key change in Malaysia now classifies anyone discussing financial products as an "advertiser," putting both bra…

Is ChatGPT Killing Google Search?

For decades, Google Search was the undisputed gateway to the internet, but a new door is opening thanks to ChatGPT and friends. With AI-driven website referrals surging 357% year-on-year in June, is the threat of ‘Google Zero’ a material concern for today’s brands and marketers? René Menezes, Le…