ADWEEK Daily news digest

View in Browser Good morning, A few weeks ago, on a Friday morning, threats started pouring into ex-Converse CMO Rodney Rambo’s phone. He had left the company in January and had nothing to do with the widely condemned ad that featured K-pop star Karina in a white skirt, holding a pair of new Chuck 70 X sneakers, and lit in a way that recalled Ku Klux Klan imagery for some social media users. But he had seen it the night before, the day it went viral on social media. Today, he speaks with our Chris Cicchiello about the chilling and disturbing messages that poured into his email and social inboxes, which he said contained accusations that went "against everything I am and everything I’ve worked to accomplish." It’s a look behind the scenes at what happens when a brand controversy spills far beyond the campaign itself, and the very real human cost for the people caught in its fallout. Elsewhere today, we look at Delta's move into retail media, the (Taylor) Swift uptick in VMAs viewership, and Spotify's tour with Coach. Before you dive in, register for ADWEEK's webinar on October 1 at 1 PM ET, Turn Shared Data Into a Growth Engine, to learn how Lenovo is tackling rising acquisition costs. Leaders from Lenovo and SheerID will show how to use the data customers share directly to identify high-value audiences, personalize offers, and build loyalty. Let's go. Rebecca Stewart, brand editor Must Reads 1. Former CMO Rodney Rambo Had Nothing To Do With Converse’s Controversial Ad. He Still Got Death Threats. Rodney Rambo had nothing to do with the Converse ad that ran a few weeks ago and sparked accusations of racist imagery. However, after users mistakenly identified him as the brand’s current CMO, he became the target of a wave of online abuse, including threats against him and his family. Today, Rambo speaks to Christopher about being caught in the crossfire. Read more 2. Delta Air Lines Follows United in Building an Ads Business Delta Air Lines is planning to launch an advertising business, just a couple of years after one of its closest rivals did the same. The Atlanta-based carrier has hired Keri Paison to lead its media network, continuing the trend of non-retail brands turning to retail media as a low-cost way to expand their margins. Mitchell Parton has the full story. Read more 3. 2026 VMAs Was Taylor-Made for Big Viewership Boost, 51% Increase The VMAs had a Swift rise in viewership on Sunday, reports Bill Bradley. Taylor Swift, Madonna, and host Snoop Dogg helped the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on CBS hit a high note for viewers. Sunday’s show reached an 11-year high, drawing 8.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen. Read more 4. Spotify's Tour With Coach Is a Big Grab For Untapped Brand Budgets Spotify and Coach are taking their partnership on the road with "The Tabby Tour," a Gen Z-centered experience spanning 17-plus stops across the U.S., U.K., Japan, and South Korea. The shows will feature artists like Tinashe, Rachel Chinouriri, Nxdia, Fousheé, and Alessi Rose, extending Coach's new “Live Your Story” campaign. Brittaney Kiefer delves into what marks Spotify's latest bet to turn its cultural influence into a bigger ad business. Read more 5. Holiday Ecommerce Shopping to Hit $275 Billion Despite Consumer Strain, According to Adobe Sorry, but I'm going to remind you once again how many Mondays there are until Christmas: it's 13. And Adobe Analytics has an early gift for brands. Its data shows that even with consumer sentiment tumbling, holiday shopping is expected to be business as usual. It's predicting U.S. online retail sales will hit a record $275.1 billion this holiday season, a 6.7% year-over-year increase. Read more The Round Up The NHL teams up with Adobe, (ADWEEK). OpenAI scraps release of GPT-6.1 Astra over safety concerns, (Guardian). Meta seeks payoff from AI spending with new push for business customers, (WSJ). The hidden risk of AI-powered media buying (Brandshare from U