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Welcome to The Brief by Kuro House, your daily dose of what matters in marketing, media, and the creator economy. I’m glad you’re here—today’s stories dive into the power of live events, the future of newsletter platforms, and the people and platforms shaping how we connect and consume. Let’s get right into the details.
First, let’s talk about Beehiiv’s big move, reported by Adweek. Beehiiv, the newsletter platform founded by Morning Brew alumni, has just named Darren Chait as its first-ever chief marketing officer. Chait comes straight from Calendly, where he served as VP of Growth and led the company’s marketing and growth organization. Before that, he co-founded Hugo, a meeting-notes startup that Calendly acquired in 2022. Beehiiv’s CEO, Tyler Denk, says the company has “outgrown the newsletter platform” label, now reaching over 400 million readers a month and sending nearly three billion emails monthly. Their user base includes big names like TIME, The Boston Globe, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and The Ringer. In 2025, Beehiiv pulled in $23 million in annual recurring revenue, with total revenue at $34 million thanks to their expanding newsletter ad network. They’re projecting $50 to $55 million for 2026. Until now, Beehiiv’s growth has been almost entirely product-driven, but the platform’s ambitions have evolved. Last November, Beehiiv launched a suite of ten new tools, including an AI website builder, podcast pages, digital product sales, and analytics, aiming to become an “operating system for the content economy.” Chait’s founder-first mindset and product-led growth experience are seen as key to this next phase. As Denk puts it, “Having everything integrated gives creators a big advantage.” Beehiiv is betting on that integrated approach to win the next chapter of the creator economy.
Switching gears to the world of major sporting events and advertising, Adweek’s “The X’s and O’s of Advertising During the Big Game” offers a fascinating look at what’s working—and what’s changing—when it comes to Super Bowl ads. The consensus among industry leaders is that while the Big Game remains a massive cultural touchpoint, real marketing results are measured long after the final whistle. Denise Campbell of Novartis explained how her team uses the Super Bowl to spark conversations about prostate cancer, with the TV spot serving as the kickoff for a broader campaign—think educational hubs and NFL-backed screenings. J.P. Bittencourt from PepsiCo echoed that, saying the Super Bowl ad is “just the beginning” of a campaign, not the end. The role of celebrities is evolving too; Olympia Portale at Mondelez shared how Ritz’s 2026 spot featured Bowen Yang, Jon Hamm, and Scarlett Johansson, not just for star power but to modernize the brand and connect with new audiences. Garrett Smith from UTA emphasized that celebrities now want authentic partnerships—they’re involved in the creative process and want the campaigns to succeed. Margaret Johnson from Goodby, Silverstein & Partners highlighted how authenticity is especially crucial for younger audiences, pointing to a successful Cheetos campaign with Megan Thee Stallion, who’s a genuine fan. Live sports, with their emotional highs, offer brands a unique chance to build lasting relationships, as Lauren Griewski of JPMorgan Chase noted. And as gaming and sports culture converge, marketers like Indy Khabra of Livewire are leveraging this overlap, producing content like the NFL’s “Race to the End Zone” docuseries on YouTube. The takeaway? The Super Bowl is still huge, but the real winners are brands that use it as a launchpad for ongoing, authentic engagement.
Now, let’s dive into the cable news landscape, where real-world events continue to drive audience surges. According to Adweek’s TVNewser, the week of February 23rd saw a massive ratings spike across all major cable news networks, triggered by the U.S. and Israeli military attacks on Iran. Fox News led the pack, averaging 3.93 million primetime viewers and 482,000 in the key 25-54 demo—up 58% and 105% respectively from the previous week. It marked Fox’s highest-rated Saturday since April 2003. MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, pulled in 1.43 million viewers in primetime, up 32%, with a 49% jump in the demo. CNN also saw significant gains, with 1.09 million primetime viewers (up 45%) and a 70% boost in the demo. Year-over-year, CNN’s primetime audience is up a staggering 83%. Fox News dominated the top 15 cable news programs, with “The Five” drawing over 4.1 million viewers and “Jesse Watters Primetime” leading the 25-54 demo. The Rachel Maddow Show and Anderson Cooper 360 were the only non-Fox shows to crack the top 15. The data underscores how breaking news and global conflict can still rally huge audiences to traditional cable, reminding marketers that live, appointment-based TV isn’t going away anytime soon.
On a more human note, Adweek also reports on Savannah Guthrie’s off-air visit to her Today Show colleagues amid the ongoing search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for over a month. Guthrie’s visit to 30 Rock was a chance to thank her coworkers for their support, and NBC News confirmed she’ll return to the show when she’s ready. Her co-hosts described her as strong and grateful, emphasizing that Today is her “home.” The Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery, and the FBI has identified a masked person of interest seen on a doorbell camera the night of the abduction. The suspect is described as a male, 5’9” to 5’10”, average build, carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. The story is a sobering reminder of the real-life challenges faced by public figures—and the importance of community and support in tough times.
Finally, let’s zoom out to the retail media landscape, where Adweek highlights how Amazon and Walmart are cementing their dominance. Coming off a strong holiday season, both retailers are leveraging their scale—and their investments in AI—to pull further ahead. While macroeconomic uncertainty remains, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump-era tariffs and with global tensions impacting prices, Amazon and Walmart are making AI a key differentiator. Retailers are weighing whether to build their own AI-powered chatbots or integrate with third-party engines. The big narrative: Amazon and Walmart are getting bigger, controlling more ad budgets, while other retailers scramble for what’s left. For marketers, the implication is clear—if you’re not working with these giants, you’re fighting for scraps. The retail media landscape is consolidating, and AI is the new battleground.
That’s it for today’s Brief. From the evolving playbook for Super Bowl ads to the power struggles in retail media, and from the human stories behind the headlines to the platforms rewriting the rules of content and commerce, there’s never a dull moment in our industry. Thanks for tuning in, and remember—staying sharp means staying curious. We’ll catch you tomorrow.
