For the past few years, everyone’s been talking about generative AI – tools that create. They write, design, code, compose, and imagine. But the next evolution, agentic AI, isn’t about creating more stuff. It’s about getting stuff done.

Marketers once believed constant posting was the key to success, but endless content led to burnout and disengaged audiences. Now, algorithms and audiences value authenticity and purpose over volume. The winning strategy isn’t posting more—it’s posting with meaning.

The inbox is chaos. Social feeds are throttled by algorithms. Ads are more expensive and less effective. So where are smart brands turning? To the one place customers still open almost everything: their texts. But before we declare SMS the next big moneymaker, it’s worth asking—is it really the new revenue channel or just another tool we’ll wear out?

The world of brand, marketing, and PR never sits still. What worked yesterday feels stale tomorrow, and the smartest brands are already looking for ways to stay ahead. Here are five key trends shaping the landscape right now along with real-world examples and questions to help you decide if they fit your strategy.

Social platforms have become the new entertainment studios – places where audiences binge, discover, and emotionally invest in stories. The twist? Brands aren’t just buying airtime anymore. They’re creating the shows.

The real differentiator isn’t how many people see you—it’s how many feel like they belong with you. That’s the shift: from audience to community.

In a world where everything feels like it lives on a screen—our schedules, our reminders, even our shopping lists—there’s something refreshing about a physical object that earns its place in your daily life.

At Merrick Creative, we believe the most powerful brands don’t just speak—they spark conversations that shape culture. This week, we’re proud to announce the launch of Merrick Studios, a new podcast network we’ve built in partnership with Grammy-nominated rapper and entrepreneur Bun B and music industry veteran Jeffrey Sledge.