Shez Mehra

My interview with Ricky Sutton on the effects of The Online News Act in Canada, and where I see the future of media headed. While not sure how he came up with this title... 😅 (I wish we made all that revenue just from Meta) The interview was a good one with someone who gets it. My hope is that my story sends a proper warning signal to countries who ignore cold hard facts on how young people consume news content, and to implore them to stop taking legacy media's charades at face value. Legacy is in a protectionist mindset to keep what they used to have, while digital upstarts, like us, innovate to embrace the future. When scrutinizing big tech, we cannot forget that important context. https://lnkd.in/eWWC7gmi

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After almost 1 year of Meta blocking news in Canada, News content is still being OPENLY shared on Instagram and Facebook… We now have over 2,300 examples of News posts / screenshots live on their platforms, being shared, engaged with and viewed by millions of Canadians. Except these aren’t shared from actual news organizations… No, they are shared by various accounts or brands that somehow bypass Meta’s filters or don’t meet their arbitrary definition of a News business. To be fair, this is not only Meta’s fault. The wording and clauses of inclusion in the Online News Act are flawed ❌ According to the law, Platforms (Meta and Google) are only forced to compensate news publishers if they are caught carrying news content from actual News Organizations, not carrying news content from non-News organizations. Do you see how f*cked this is? So, accounts from organizations or individuals that are not defined as news organizations can take content from Canadian news organizations, repost it on Instagram and Facebook, and use that content to grow their followings and brands without being blocked. This is all happening and being profited from on the backs of legitimate news publishers and journalists, who bear all the production costs but have no access to the distribution benefits. We can’t even f*cking opt-out. Our Government can either: A. Reword the legislation to include an official approved list of News Organizations (and these companies should have the option to opt-in or out of Bill C-18) B. Reword the legislation to include ALL news content, not just news content coming from news organizations C. Kill the bill, apologize and leave our distribution alone I prefer C. Let’s do C.

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As we approach 2025, let's delve into some industry predictions for the upcoming year: 📈 The AD industry in the USA is poised for growth, while uncertainties loom over Canada due to its election year. 🤖 AI continues to dominate discussions, transitioning from a buzzword to a fundamental work tool across various sectors. 🎤 Innovation will revolve around AI advancements, addressing the industry's concerns regarding Social Platforms like TikTok and navigating the ethical dilemmas associated with platforms like X 📊 Data will reclaim the spotlight, particularly focusing on the ownership dynamics of 1st party and zero party data, sparking discussions around privacy and control. Exciting times ahead as industries evolve and adapt to the dynamic landscape of technology and innovation. #IndustryPredictions #AI #DataOwnership

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Data for the past few years at Canada's National Observer shows an 80% retention rate for paying subscribers. 👏 This exceptional figure stands out in the publishing industry for several reasons: 1. The average retention rate for digital news subscriptions typically ranges from 60-70%, putting our 80% rate above the norm. 2. This high retention rate indicates that our subscribers find consistent value in our content, returning year after year. 3. Such a high retention rate serves as a testament to the quality and relevance of our journalism, and its resonance with our audience. 4. Loyal subscribers engage with our content and each other, fostering a vibrant community around our platforms. Moving forward, we remain focused on delivering high-quality journalism about Canada's changing climate that our readers will value year after year. #DigitalMedia #SubscriptionBusiness #JournalismSuccess

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POV: You stopped dropping content on YouTube first and started giving fans early access... We just saw Kane Brown do this w/ Single: the direct-to-fan app for Shopify Instead of posting the official BTS cut from his new video straight to YouTube, he gave fans first look—right on his own site. Fans just needed an email to get in. The best part? While they were there watching, his merch was right next to the video. Views became sales, just like that. It's makes sense when you think about it: Your superfans are already waiting for whatever you drop next. They'll go anywhere to see it first—so why not your own site? That's what Kane did. Took things D2F. Sold some merch. Captured some fan emails. Then put it on YouTube later anyway. - - P.S. Want more music marketing strategies like this? Get the full breakdown (and more tips) in The Single Scoop—delivered to your inbox every Friday. Next one lands tomorrow! Grab it here → https://sn.gl/newsletter

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Great teams build great products. At DanAds we work with the biggest names in publishing and media: McClatchy, Rogers Sports & Media, Outside, and more. That’s why we employ world-class talent to build our platforms, serve our clients, and grow our business. So what do we look for? Curiosity, creativity, and accountability. Curious: we’re building the future of self-serve advertising. Our team is curious about new ways to give publishers and advertisers the best possible expertise and ROI. We stay open to new ideas and tools. Creative: we look at challenges as opportunities and get creative about solving them. We work with our talented partners to create new features that keep our solutions ahead of the curve. Accountable: we earn the trust of our clients and each other. We communicate directly and respectfully, and we get the job done - with no bullshit. Does this sound like you? Check out open positions or recommend someone you know.https://careers.danads.com/jobs

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🚀 Introducing AdQuick’s New Billboard Creative AI Generator! 🚀 Last week, we unveiled our game-changing Billboard Creative AI Generator LIVE at the COMMB/DailyDOOH Ad AI Conference in Toronto—and the response was incredible! 🎉 At AdQuick, we're all about pushing the boundaries of what's possible in out-of-home (OOH) advertising. With this new tool, advertisers can now instantly generate billboard creatives that are optimized for maximum impact—no design team or weeks of back-and-forth required. Here’s why it’s a game-changer: ⚡ Speed: Generate professional, eye-catching billboard designs in seconds. 🤖 AI-Powered: Uses advanced algorithms to match your brand's tone and message to create high-converting visuals. 🎯 Optimized for OOH: Tailor-made for outdoor formats to ensure your campaign stands out in the real world. Seeing Arsalan Nasir put it in action at the Ad AI Conference was amazing. We demoed live, and the audience couldn’t believe how fast and intuitive the process is. If you missed it, no worries—it's on our website as Creative Library under Resources. Special thank you to Lara Menzies, Farrokh Mansouri, and Adrian Cotterill for having us! We look forward to the next one! #OOH #AdTech #CreativeAI #BillboardAdvertising #AdvertisingInnovation #AIMarketing #OutOfHome #OOHadvertising #OOHmedia

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Just want to give a shoutout to OpenVC. It's been a great resource, I've used it off and on for a few months, and today decided to get the yearly pass. It allows you to search VCs and submit your deck, with tracking and analytics. So you can see every slide a VC looks at on your deck, and when they back out. Helps for deck fine-tuning. It also allows VC's to tell you why they passed if they did. I've also gotten some followup meetings on ZOOM. It's just a great resource that doesn't cost thousands of dollars a month like most others. Also, had some tech support issues as well (my fault) and they were handled within half an hour. Thanks Stephane Nasser for such a great tool for entrepreneuers.

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🤖 Meet AdQuick's AI Media Strategy Copilot for Out-of-Home Advertising!🤖 Last week at the COMMB/DailyDOOH Ad AI Conference in Toronto, we gave the advertising world a peek at something truly transformative: AdQuick's AI Media Strategy Copilot—and it blew everyone away! 🎉 This powerful AI-driven tool takes the complexity out of OOH advertising planning, helping brands and agencies craft smarter, more strategic campaigns faster than ever before. Whether you're looking to reach niche audiences or go big with national exposure, our AI Copilot has you covered. Here’s what makes it a game-changer: 🔍 Smarter Planning: Instant recommendations for optimal locations, formats, and timing based on your goals. ⚡ Real-Time Insights: Leverage market data and real media strategy to make informed decisions on the fly. 💡 AI-Powered Strategy: Say goodbye to guesswork—get customized, high-impact OOH ideas in minutes! At the live demo, the room was buzzing with excitement as Arsalan Nasir showcased how easy and intuitive it is to design an entire campaign plan with AI as your co-pilot. If you couldn't join us, don't worry— we dropped the video below. It's also available for free on the AdQuick website. Just click the chatbot in the lower righthand corner and ask it to design a specific media plan for (product/service type) in (city name). 🎥 Special thanks to Jason Kunkel-de Cesero and Chris Cowlbeck for getting the recordings of the presentation! #AdTech #OOH #MediaPlanning #AI #AdQuick #AdvertisingInnovation #OutOfHome #CampaignStrategy #AdAIGenerator #OOHadvertising #oohmedia #adai2024 #adaiconference #outofhomeadvertising

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This post from Alexis Grant is clear, concise and to those who have this on their radar, includes valuable nuggets. Bottom line: once you’re on your journey, moving at highway speed, pay attention as traffic, accidents, potholes and better routes etc can appear and approach rapidly, requiring decisions to be made. Huh? Ok, forget all that. Just read her post.

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This is massive news for our industry. “No other single ad tech provider has Google’s scale or reach across the ad tech stack, with over 200 billion Canadian web ad transactions flowing through Google’s ad tech tools in 2022," the bureau said. https://lnkd.in/gUNhYPZa

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Below are 3 deal insights on Node App's $13M sale to DULCEDO Management. This is critical info for any creator x media biz owner. 📈 GROWING INFLUENCER M&A There's been many influencer marketing M&A deals in last couple years, ranging from Publicis Groupe buying Influential to Stagwell buying Movers+Shakers. Through these deals, we've observed a premium for platforms that can bring together thousands of brands and thousands of creators, and do campaigns at scale. 🤝 DULCEDO'S 5TH ACQUISITION This is Dulcedo's 5th acquisition over past 6 to 7 years. They've acquired different talent representation, PR, and digital agencies like Sundae Creative Agency and Influence + All Management. There's been no press about Dulcedo having PE-backing, so they're likely doing these deals off their balance sheet and getting creative in deal structuring. 📊 ESTIMATED 31X EBITDA MULTIPLE I estimate run-rate revenue around $1.2M, and EBITDA around $420k. At $13M purchase price, that's a 31X EBITDA multiple. Assuming my math is directionally right, this is significantly higher than other deals like Influential, which I estimated was sold to Publicis for around 11x forward EBITDA. You can read more about the deal on my blog: https://lnkd.in/gsCaH6eM — I’m the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open.

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There are more m&a and fundraise deals than I have time to write about. That’s a good thing cause it signals… …increasing market activity! Below are 5️⃣ recent capital markets highlights that stand out to me across media, agency, and creator economy… 💸 Alignment Growth invested in Wheelhouse — expect more Wheelhouse-led M&A with this new capital, likely in unscripted content and prod businesses 💸 Milk & Honey Music + Sports + Ventures acquired VMG Sports Representation — another datapoint in consolidation of talent rep co’s 💸 Electrify Video Partners invested in Simple History — bolstering it YouTube-native media brand investment portfolio, and putting its $85M fundraiser from 2023 to work 💸 VidCon is up for sale — I think buyerverse is limited, and the new vidcon is going to (ahem, must) look VERY different 💸 Range Media Partners raised funding from Liberty Global, Wildcat Capital Management — see my LinkedIn post on Monday to learn more — I’m the founder of RockWater Industries. We do m&a and strategy advisory for media, agencies, creator economy. My dm’s are open. …and that’s me below! #media #agency #creatoreconomy

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What are YOU doing to be a first mover in today's digital age? ⭐ We are HG Media Group - the first Snapchat focused marketing agency -- being a first mover into an unsaturated space. ⭐ We are HG Media Group - a nimble team of decision makers - that prioritize the brands, their development and creators on the platforms. ⭐ We are HG Media Group - bringing creators opportunities they have NEVER seen before. ⭐ We are HG Media Group - helping creators of ALL sizes & niches have a home in the Snapchat space - and NOT taking advantage of them. ⭐ We are HG Media Group - being ONE of very few educating the world on WHY Snapchat and WHY now. ⭐ We are HG Media Group - making a HUGE difference in the digital world. Navigating the blue ocean instead of staying in the red. Come explore.

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The secret to more deals isn’t new clients, it’s getting your departments to collaborate. Agencies are losing easy deals because their departments aren’t talking to each other. Here’s why I think cross-department data is the most underutilized resource in the talent management game: 1. You’re leaving warm leads on the table. Picture this: the Sports department has worked with a brand multiple times over the last 5 months, but when the Creator division wants to pitch them, they reach out cold, completely unaware of the pre-existing relationship. It’s wasted effort, and worse, wasted opportunity. 2. Cold outreach is becoming more difficult, and it's costing you. Why are agencies still pitching brands with zero context when another department has already laid the groundwork? It’s not just inefficient, it’s throwing deals down the drain. Warm leads are always better, but most teams are still going in cold. 3. Cross-department collaboration makes you money. When departments share data, they uncover deals that were sitting right under their noses. The creator division could see that basketball already secured multiple deals with AG1. Now, instead of pitching cold, they can lean on the pre-existing connection and increase their chance of success. 4. The problem isn’t lack of talent, it’s lack of communication. The issue isn’t the size of your roster or the strength of your talent, it’s that you don’t always know what other teams within your agency are working on. This lack of visibility is costing you deals every single day. 5. Internal silos are costing you more than you think. Your agency is bigger than your department, yet you’re treating each division like it’s on its own island. By not using cross-department data, you’re missing out on warm leads and letting other agencies steal your deals. TLDR: It’s 2024. The fastest way to win more deals is by using what’s already at your fingertips: data from your own agency. When your departments work together and share insights, you stop leaving money on the table and start closing deals faster. At Pickle we’re helping agencies unlock these opportunities by: 1. Pooling their cross-department data to find warm leads 2. Eliminating cold outreach by revealing pre-existing brand connections 3. Automating re-engagement opportunities so nothing falls through the cracks It’s not magic, it’s just better use of the data you already have.

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“We continue to see strong momentum in our podcast business” - Bob Pittman during the iHeartMedia earnings call this morning. Podcast revenue was $105m for Q2, up 8%, and overall revenue was $929m, up 1%, beating estimates. Unsurprisingly, radio revenue continues to decline while podcasting continues to be the highest growth opportunity for iHeart and other more traditional audio companies. Over the last two years, radio revenue has declined 4.3%, while podcasting revenue has grown 8.5%… and it’s not slowing down. The story here is pretty straightforward. Podcasting is the future of audio. Let’s start investing in it. I’ll summarize what we learned in Q2 in my letter to investors in the next week or so. Feel free to sign up: https://lnkd.in/e63PbEh7 https://lnkd.in/er6VKGQc #podcasting #audio #iheartmedia #investing

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Here’s how we at M3TA Media became a leader in web3 marketing and influencer strategy in under three years After building an 8-figure NFT marketing agency that was later acquired, I launched M3TA Media to redefine how web3 projects connect with their audiences. At M3TA Media we’ve worked with a range of high-profile clients, including NodeAi, Brett, HashAi, McLaren Automotive, and MetaWin, helping them scale and thrive in the ever-evolving web3 space. Recently, we acquired Cxnnect Labs, a leading Discord agency, to bring all community management operations fully under one roof at M3TA Media. Cxnnect Labs has collaborated with top-tier clients like Atlantic Records, Epic Records, Quando Rondo, Austin Ekeler, McLaren, Logic, and more. Our recent partnership with Brett on Base, one of the largest meme tokens in the market, resulted in a boost in community engagement and increased visibility across the global ecosystem. What sets us apart? We collaborate with tier 1 influencers and creators on platforms like Telegram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. This ensures both massive reach and authentic community connections that drive real results. In just three years, we’ve scaled to an 8-figure business, consistently delivering measurable results for our clients across web3 and beyond. As the web3 space evolves, M3TA Media remains committed to helping brands build trust, stand out, and connect with their communities in meaningful ways. 🔗 Learn more about us at: m3tamedia.io Who do you think we should work with next?👇 https://lnkd.in/g7VYRcir

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Organizations on the left invested more in creator partnerships this year than ever before in 2024 AND a lot of those investments in creator partnerships were super late. Both things are true. Just some of the metrics: ⏰ 70% of our investments in creator partnerships materialized in the last 3 months. ⬆️ 63% of the organizations we worked with increased their spending in October. 1️⃣ 81% of our resources were allocated towards one off posts instead of long-term recurring partnerships with creators. We've spent the last three years emphasizing the need for organizations to build direct relationships with creators and we're going to continue in 2025 by building tools to facilitate this as well as making our data and learnings accessible. Thanks Makena Kelly for highlighting some of our learnings at Social Currant from this year and how we think the space must evolve in the coming years to support creators year round.

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