Auto Advertising Slows While Pharma Faces a Major Shift

This week, Kelly and Sean take a category-focused approach, diving into two major sectors shaping the advertising market: automotive and pharmaceutical advertising.The episode begins with a conversation around Sean’s recent car purchase, which quickly opens into a broader discussion about the state of the auto industry. They examine how automotive advertising—historically one of the largest categories in media—is now facing slower growth, changing consumer priorities, rising vehicle costs, and uncertainty around electric vehicle adoption.The discussion highlights:Why automotive ad spend is dropping below historic benchmarksThe evolving role of EV advertisingWhy affordability may matter more than technology upgradesHow companies like Slate Auto and BYD could reshape consumer demandWhy legacy automakers are reducing spendKelly and Sean then shift into pharmaceutical advertising, a category that remains heavily concentrated in the United States. They discuss the unique nature of direct-to-consumer pharma ads, the rise of GLP-1 marketing, and the major patent expirations expected to reshape spending patterns across the category.Additional topics include:Why TV pharma spending is decliningThe growth of digital pharma campaignsThe impact of blockbuster GLP-1 drugsWhat “patent cliffs” mean for advertising budgetsEmerging wellness and alternative health advertising trendsThe episode closes with reflections on consumer behavior, category evolution, and what these shifts could mean for advertisers moving into 2027.Key Topics CoveredAutomotive advertising trends in 2026Why auto ad spend is declining globallyElectric vehicle adoption and marketing challengesBYD and Slate Auto disruption potentialPharma advertising trends in the USGLP-1 advertising growthPatent expirations and pharma spend pressureDigital vs traditional pharma advertisingEmerging wellness advertising trendsIf you’d like access to the benchmark report or want to suggest a topic for the next part of the programmatic series, reach out to [email protected] you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations on advertising, media strategy, and cultural marketing moments.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, a quick rating or review helps more people discover the show.