Blog

Amazon’s Live-Action ‘Masters of the Universe’ Trailer Reveals Jared Leto as Skeletor

Is He-Man Mattel’s next Barbie?

Perhaps not, but Masters of the Universe could still be a franchise starter for the toy company’s latest live-action cinematic effort.

Below is the first trailer for the Amazon MGM and Mattel Studios film, which brings the iconic ’80s toy line and animated series to life.

The official description: “After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.”

Masters of the Universe is from director Travis Knight and also stars Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Charlotte Riley, and features Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto.

The project had a long road to the big screen, with development reportedly going back to 2007 and John Woo attached to direct. The title has undergone several rewrites over the years, with various writers trying to crack the script. Finally, the film was greenlit with a story by Aaron and Adam Nee, Alex Litvak and Michael Finch, and a screenplay by Chris Butler, Aaron and Adam Nee, and Dave Callaham.

Masters of the Universe releases in theaters June 5.

March 31, 2026
Senators Reveal ‘Mined in America’ Bill to Boost Bitcoin Mining, Support Trump’s Reserve
In brief

U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced legislation on Monday to support Bitcoin miners.

The U.S. Commerce Department would be able to certify that entities are “Mined in America,” giving them access to government support.

The initiative is aimed at bolstering demand from manufacturing jobs, while stemming the industry’s exposure to companies linked to foreign adversaries.
U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced legislation on Monday to support Bitcoin miners, arguing that the industry needs government help to prevent foreign adversaries from gaining outsized influence over the digital asset’s network.

The Mined in America Act is aimed at empowering the government to support Bitcoin miners through federal programs, while also enshrining U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into law, according to a press release.

“The Mined in America Act brings this industry home through forward-thinking initiatives to secure our financial future,” Lummis said in a statement. “President Trump pledged to make the United States the digital asset capital of the world—and we’re not backing down.”

The legislation would create a voluntary certification program where mining entities facilities can become certified as “Mined in America” under the Commerce Department. As part of that certification, those entities commit to phasing out “mining equipment manufactured by companies tied to foreign adversaries” like Russia and China.

Projects certified as “Mined in America” gain the ability to tap existing federal energy and rural programs amid the shift, the press release states. What’s more, the government would be committed to helping U.S. manufacturers develop crypto mining equipment onshore.

The Mined in America Act was crafted with support of the Satoshi Action Fund, and in a statement, CEO and co-founder Dennis Porter described the industry’s reliance on hardware from China as a “liability.” Those machines total 97% of Bitcoin’s so-called hash rate, he said.

Digital asset mining is a big part of our economy. We should be doing it here in America.

Proud to introduce the Mined in America Act with @SenLummis, which secures supply chains, backs U.S. manufacturing, and supports this key industry.https://t.co/qZdv6SEe3g

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) March 30, 2026

In some ways, the legislation mirrors the Chips and Science Act. Enacted in 2022, the legislation set aside federal funding for domestic chip-manufacturing. At the time, supply chains snarled by the global pandemic raised questions about the country’s exposure to regions like Taiwan, where the world’s most advanced chips are fabricated.

The bill lands as Bitcoin miners increasingly pivot toward artificial intelligence, with profitability pressured by the digital asset’s latest fall from all-time highs. Cassidy signaled that Bitcoin mining has the potential to buoy blue-collar job creation, at a time when data center buildouts are accelerating as a result of the AI boom.

“Digital asset mining is a big part of our economy. We should be doing it here in America,” he said. “This bill will secure supply chains, back U.S. manufacturing, and support this industry.”

Trump’s promise to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve was among his biggest overtures to digital asset investors on the campaign trail. However, the U.S. government has yet to unveil an allocation that’s only allowed to stem from budget-neutral strategies.

In October, Lummis advocated for $14.4 billion in Bitcoin seized from the alleged head of a global crypto scam network to be diverted to the reserve. At the time, the seizure represented the DOJ’s largest haul in the cryptosphere.

Not long before, Eric and Donald Trump Jr. unveiled a Bitcoin mining venture dubbed American Bitcoin. Earlier this month, the company indicated in an SEC filing that its fleet “primarily comprises Bitmain S21 series and MicroBt M5X and M6X series machines.”

Those machines are primarily manufactured in China.

Daily Debrief Newsletter

Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
March 31, 2026
Microsoft Made GPT and Claude Work Together—And the Result Beats Every AI Research Tool Out There
In brief

Microsoft released two different modes that pair GPT and Claude to increase the quality of AI research.

Critique makes the models collaborate, whereas Council makes them work in parallel while a third judge finds the discrepancies.

This two-model workflow fixes hallucinations, weak citations, and other problems associated with mono-model AI research.
Deep research AI has been one of the hottest arms races in tech this year. Google announced its research agent for Gemini in December 2024, OpenAI released its own research agent in February 2025, xAI followed suit, Perplexity doubled down, and Anthropic’s Claude built a loyal following among professionals who need detailed, cited answers, introducing its agent in April of last year.

Every company has been trying to convince you that their single AI model is the smartest researcher in the room. Microsoft just said: Why pick one?

The company announced two new features on Monday for Copilot’s Researcher tool—called Critique and Council—that put OpenAI’s GPT and Anthropic’s Claude to work on the same research task in sequence. The result, according to Microsoft’s testing against an industry benchmark, scores higher than every system included in that test, including models from the top AI companies.

Introducing Critique, a new multi-model deep research system in M365 Copilot.

You can use multiple models together to generate optimal responses and reports. pic.twitter.com/m4RlQmCKzs

— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) March 30, 2026

“Critique is a new multi model deep research system designed for complex research tasks. It separates generation from evaluation and utilizes a combination of models from Frontier labs, including Anthropic and OpenAI,” Microsoft explains. “One model leads the generation phase, planning the task, iterating through retrieval, and producing an initial draft, while a second model focuses on review and refinement, acting as an expert reviewer before the final report is produced.”

Here’s the basic problem Critique is designed to fix: Every AI research tool today works the same way. You ask a question, one model plans a search, scours sources, writes a report, and hands it back to you. That single model is doing everything with no one checking its work.

This can end up with some hallucinations slipping in, some errors in citations, fake or inaccurate claims, etc.

Critique breaks that workflow in two. GPT handles the first phase—it plans the research, pulls sources, and writes an initial draft. Then Claude steps in as a strict editor, reviewing the report for factual accuracy, citation quality, and whether the answer actually addressed what was asked. Only after that review does the final report reach the user. Microsoft says the roles can eventually run in the opposite direction too, with Claude drafting and GPT critiquing, though for now GPT goes first.

On the DRACO benchmark—a standardized test covering 100 complex research tasks across 10 domains including medicine, law, and technology—Copilot with Critique scored 57.4. points with Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.6 by itself hitting 42.7. Microsoft’s combined system beats the next best result by nearly 14%.

Image: Microsoft

The biggest gains showed up in breadth of analysis and presentation quality, with factual accuracy also posting a significant improvement.

The second feature, Council, takes a different approach to the same problem. Instead of having one model review the other’s work, Council runs GPT and Claude simultaneously and puts their full reports side by side. A third “judge” model then reads both and writes a summary explaining where the two AIs agreed, where they diverged, and what unique angles each one caught that the other missed. Comparing AI research tools manually has been something users have had to do themselves until now.

In Critique, the models essentially collaborate with each other while in Council the models compete against each other.

Critique is the default experience in Researcher whereas Council requires you to select “Model Council” from the picker to activate the side-by-side mode. Both features are currently available to users enrolled in Microsoft’s Frontier program, the early-access channel for Copilot’s newest capabilities. A Microsoft 365 Copilot license ($30/user/month) is required, but users also need to be enrolled in Frontier to access them.

Image: Microsoft

OpenAI and Microsoft have a multibillion-dollar partnership, but Microsoft’s bet is that no single model stays on top for long, and that the real value is in the orchestration layer that routes tasks to whichever combination works best.

Daily Debrief Newsletter

Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
March 31, 2026
Variety Lands Two 2026 Webby Awards Nominations
The nominees for the 30th Annual Webby Awards have been announced — and Variety has received two nominations from the awards program honoring the best of the internet.

Winners of the 2026 Webby Awards will be announced Tuesday, April 21, at a ceremony hosted by stand-up comedian and “The Daily Show” correspondent Josh Johnson on Monday, May 11, in New York City. Fans can watch special moments and the trademark 5-Word Speeches from the ceremony on the Webby Awards’ Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X (Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

All nominees are eligible to win the year’s two top awards: The Webby Award, selected by the Academy, and the fan-voted Webby People’s Voice Award. You can find a complete list of nominees and vote for the People’s Voice Awards (open through April 16 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time) at vote.webbyawards.com.

Variety was nominated for “Does Jennie Know Her Lyrics From Her Biggest Songs?”, featuring the singer of K-pop group Blackpink, in the Music, General Video & Film; and “‘Hacks’ Cast Explain Viral Boofing Scene & The Inspiration For Dance Mom” in the Comedy, General Video & Film category.

This year, the Webby Awards received more than 13,000 entries from over 70 countries, with fewer than 17% of submissions named nominees. The organizations with the most nods are Google (46), PBS (29), Apple (23), Disney (23), NBCUniversal (22) and Netflix (22).

Celebs and public figures picking up 2026 Webby Awards nominations include: Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, LeBron James, MrBeast, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Kylie Kelce, Katseye, Jimmy Kimmel, Timothée Chalamet, Rosalía, Amy Poehler, Dwayne Johnson, Keith Lee, Reese Witherspoon, Justin Bieber, Stephen Colbert, Sydney Sweeney, Lisa, Carmelo Anthony, Trixie Mattel, Pedro Pascal, Colin & Samir, Jason and Travis Kelce, and Cardi B.

The Webbys span eight major media types: Websites & Mobile Sites; Video & Film; Advertising, Media & PR; Podcasts; Social & Games; Apps, Software & Immersive; Creators; and AI (new in 2026). OpenAI’s Sora 2 is nominated in the Creative Tools, AI Experiences & Applications category; OpenAI just announced last week that it is shutting down the Sora app.

This year, the Webby Awards expanded its Creator honors to include a suite of honors for Creator Business, which “recognizes creators who are building brands, businesses and communities that shape today’s digital landscape.”

“The Webby Awards’ 30-year legacy reflects how the Internet continues to expand how we create, connect and express ourselves,” said Jesse Feister, Webby Media Group executive director. “Each wave of technology reshapes our lives and the standards of what great work looks like online. From the birth of eBay to the rise of TikTok, the Webbys have defined excellence in those moments. This year, by recognizing new frontiers in AI and creators, we’re continuing to champion the kinds of creativity that challenge our conventions.”

The Webby Awards nominees are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS). Members include: Joanne Jang (GM, OpenAI Labs), Tekedra Mawakana (co-CEO, Waymo), Walton Goggins (actor and filmmaker), Kim Larson (global managing director & head of creators, YouTube), Bob Carrigan (CEO, Audible), Kinney Edwards (global head of creative lab, TikTok), Manuel “Manolo” Arroyo (EVP & global chief marketing officer, the Coca-Cola Co.), Alex Schultz (VP, analytics & chief marketing officer, Meta), Tiffany Rolfe (chair & global chief creative officer, R/GA), Todd Kaplan (chief marketing officer, Kraft Heinz), Paris Hilton, Garry Tan (president & CEO, Y Combinator), Tyler Bahl (chief marketing officer, Activision), and Paula Kerger (president & CEO, PBS).

KPMG provides vote tabulation consulting for the Webbys.

30th Annual Webby Awards Nominee Highlights

Music, General Video & Film (Video & Film)
ABC News Studios – Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery – The Untold Story

Chance the Rapper – Ride | The Booth

Park Sessions – Outside Inc.

Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – I Said I Love You First… (Short Film) – Vevo

Does JENNIE Know Her Lyrics From Her Biggest Songs? – Variety
Comedy, General Video & Film (Video & Film)
The Rabbit Hole with Jimmy Kimmel

The Lying Game – Channel 4

Ali Siddiq: Rugged – ICM

D.E. Eye Exam – The New Yorker: Shouts & Murmurs

Hacks’ Cast Explain Viral Boofing Scene & The Inspiration For Dance Mom – Variety
Entertainment, General Social (Social)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Bravo TV Social Media – Deep Focus Agency

The Muppets 70th Anniversary Celebration – Disney

Heated Rivalry Social – Bell Media

Sony Instagram account
Best Use of Earned Media, Media Campaigns (Advertising, Media & PR)
The Death of Duo – Duolingo

Panera Croissant Clutch – 72andSunny

Steph Curry Shoots the Moon – Known

Bet on Kendall – OBB Media & Fanatics Studios

e.l.f. x Sailing with Phoenix – e.l.f. Beauty
Politics & Advocacy, Branded Content (Advertising, Media & PR)
Zohran for NYC (New York City Mayoral Primary) – Melted Solids

The Final Exam – BBDO Chicago

NYC Votes x Mad Realities – Hollywood IQ

Gavin Newsom: @GavinNewsom – LaMont Digital

Poder Latinx North Carolina – Desconsiderados – Mundial Media
Brand Strategy, Advertising Campaigns (Advertising, Media & PR)
YouTube Rickrolls the Internet for 20th Birthday Celebration – We Are Social North America

Mammut – Give mountainwear the life it deserves – DEPT

Adolescent Content x Ipsy: I Play Beauty

The Swedish Prescription – Weber Shandwick

Food Deserves Pepsi – BBDO New York
Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign, Advertising Campaigns (Advertising, Media & PR)
LinkedIn – The Mom B.A. – R/GA

Nat Geo x Costa Sunglasses – Disney CreativeWorks

The Mind Set – Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab

Sorry – Droga5 London

How Ya Travellin’? – Keep Left
Best Partnership or Collaboration, Advertising Campaigns (Advertising, Media & PR)
Kyle F*cking Connor – Courage

What’s Next? with LeBron James – Amazon

Bet on Kendall – OBB Media & Fanatics Studios

Stranger Things Season 5 Campaign – Game Seven

Absolut Tabasco – Wieden+Kennedy London
Video Ad Longform, Individual (Advertising, Media & PR)
The Unanswered Children – Accenture Song Brand Denmark A/S

Facebook “Secret Santa” – Droga5, part of Accenture Song

Human Grade (Taxider My Family) – Good Behavior

Imagine That, Frankenstein – Park Pictures

A Spicy But Not Too Spicy Plumber, Björn Rühmann – Smuggler
Game or Application, Individual (Advertising, Media & PR)
The Final Exam – BBDO Chicago

The Roblox Unbox – Serviceplan Germany

One Battle After Another: The Revolution – Sawhorse Productions

KFC 11 Secrets – m ss ng p eces

The World’s Hardest Captcha – Loop
Belonging & Inclusion, Branded Content (Advertising, Media & PR)
Defy the Storm – Vladimir Jones

Re:framing Mentorship – SixDegrees.org

HBO Max Pride 2025: Trixie Mattel Gay HBO Max Song

Face the Difference – BDG

How to Raise Adults – SHE Media
Creative Tools, AI Experiences & Applications (AI)
Flow – Google

Sora 2 – OpenAI

Stitch by Google – Google

Suno – The Untold

ElevenLabs Creative Platform – ElevenLabs
Best AI Agent, AI Features & Innovation (AI)
Opal – Google

G42.ai – R/GA

Google’s Agentic Checkout – “Buy for me” with Price tracking

Deductive AI – Method Communications

You.com’s ARI: the most intelligent, accurate deep research agent – Six Eastern
Best Product or Service, AI Features & Innovation (AI)
Claude Code – Anthropic

Particle – Particle

Flow by Google – Google

Google NotebookLM – Google

AI Arbitrator – American Arbitration Association
Best Use of AI Voice & Conversational Interface, AI Features & Innovation (AI)
ElevenLabs Agents Platform – ElevenLabs

Krisp.ai

VoiceAI by EliseAI

T-Mobile’s AI Assistant

Project Jade – a Peridot embodied AI experience – Niantic Spatial
Best Creator-to-Creator Collaboration, Creator Excellence (Creators)
Try Guys Try Ghost Hunting – The Try Guys

Ask It Anyway – Uncommon

Dancing Weatherman X Cortis collab – Social Simpatico

Quest for the Impossible – Portal A

Veritasium, featuring Tom Brady: The biggest misconception in football – Electrify Video Partners
Best Prank, Stunt or Activation, Creator Excellence (Creators)
Cardi B – “Am I the Drama?’ Album Content – 300/AMG

J.C. Carter – Kensington Grey

Delivery Man Falls for Grandma’s Prank – Getti Show

Back to the Future Garden Railroad – Bungalow Heaven Railroad

Nick Pro – Viral Nation
Creator/Influencer Partnership or Collaboration – Brand, Creator Business (Creators)
Toast x Keith Lee “It’s the Little Things” – neuemotion

Planet Fitness – New Year’s Eve – Movers+Shakers

Booking.com – This Guy Books – We Are Social Amsterdam

Full Bush Summer – The Martin Agency

W Presents: The Retreat – Marriott
Multi-Creator Campaign, Creator Business (Creators)
InStyle’s “The Intern” Series – People Inc.

The Community Wears Gap – Buttermilk

Where Are You Going? – Uncommon

Alexis Williams and Aidan Kohn-Murphy — @Creators4Zohran

LIV Golf’s The Duels – Oust
Best Community Engagement, Creator Excellence (Creators)
The @MeetCutesNYC Universe – Palette Media

Justin Bieber Livestream on Twitch – StagePilot

Shop Cats – Hollywood IQ

Astronaut Mom Takes on the TSA – and Wins – TheSpaceGal Company

The Nursery Nurse: Ofsted Storyline – We Create Popular
Sports, General Creator (Creators)
Rabid Fans

Katie Feeney – Snapchat

The Trauma Behind the KO. Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua – Dynamo Health

Coach RAC

Boardroom
Best Longform Video, Creator Excellence (Creators)
What does Palantir actually do? – Morning Brew

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Surprises Apalachee High School Football Team, Attends First Home Game – Seven Bucks Marketing

Flying the U-2 Spy Plane 70,000 Feet to the Edge of Space – SE Media

Can I Turn MrBeast Into A MasterChef? – Nick DiGiovanni

Veritasium – Electrify Video Partners
Fitness, Health & Wellness, General Creator (Creators)
Joel Bervell – The ‘Medical Mythbuster’ – Kensington Grey

Chloe Ting

I Shaved My Vag For This – Katie Thompson & Soul People Productions

Rena Malik, MD – Rena Malik, MD

growwithjo
Podcast, General Creator (Creators)
Steven Bartlett

One Nightstand – Bustle

Silver Linings with The Old Gays – iHeartMedia

Jay Shetty – On Purpose

Jake Shane – Pass That Puss
Art, Culture & Music, General Creator (Creators)
Alex Warren – Odd Projects

Arianna Cabrera – Whalar Group

CG5 Music

Thoughts Become Things – SJD World

Audrey Chou.Studio
Most Viral, Creator Excellence (Creators)
Cardi B – “Am I the Drama?’ Album Content – 300/AMG

Vanessa Van Edwards | Science of People Viral Teachings – Science of People

Motherhood, From the Very First Steps – Fluffy Feather Farm

Cheryl Porter – Cheryl Porter Vocal Method

Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition – Pufferfish Studio
Best Duo or Group, Creator Excellence (Creators)
Colin & Samir

Smosh

The Siu Siblings (RJ, Jalin & Kina): Dynamic Comedy & Sibling Content Creators – Whalar Group

Trixie & Katya – Producer Entertainment Group

Rhett & Link – Mythical
Best Series: Longform, Creator Excellence (Creators)
AntsCanada

Track Star

Exploring All 350 NYC Neighborhoods as a Native New Yorker

Hank Green – Ask Hank Anything – Complexly

Soirée School – To Be Hosted
Best Community Experience, Games Excellence (Games)
Pokémon GO

Overwatch 2: Spotlight Community Management & War Room – Mutiny

Phasmophobia – Swipe Right

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Warframe – Digital Extremes
Kids & Family, Games General (Games)
Lego Party!

Planet Pigeon – PBS Nature / The WNET Group

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Mission US: Spirit of a Nation – The WNET Group

Lego Voyagers
Best Music/Sound Design, Games Excellence (Games)
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

The Outer Worlds 2 – Obsidian Entertainment

Battlefield 6

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe

Split Fiction
Scripted (Fiction), Shows (Podcasts)
DC High Volume: Batman – Realm

Red For Revolution

The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin Mystery – Audible

Calm Sleep Stories

Buzz: The Man & The Moon – iHeartMedia
Best Partnership or Collaboration, Features (Podcasts)
The Rest Is History: The Complete History of The Beatles with Tom Holland and Conan O’Brien – Goalhanger

Bowen Yang/Matt Rogers X Sesame Street X NBC Olympics Crossover Event – iHeartPodcasts

Not Gonna Lie, with Kylie Kelce “My Disney Spectacular” from Walt Disney World, Episode 43 – Disney Experiences

The Story of Woman in Kenya, with Orchid Project – The Story of Woman

Downton Abbey: The Official Podcast – Treefort Media
Best Host, Features (Podcasts)
Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Next Question with Katie Couric – Katie Couric Media

The Mel Robbins Podcast – SiriusXM

Baby, This is Keke Palmer – Wondery

Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky – Wondery
Lifestyle, Shows (Podcasts)
We Can Do Hard Things – Silver Tribe Media

Coffee Convos Podcast – Killr Network

Food Network Obsessed

Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club – iHeartMedia

Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike – Future PLC
Sports, Shows (Podcasts)
Pablo Torre Finds Out – Meadowlark Media

All The Smoke – All The Smoke Productions

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce – Wondery

Bussin’ With The Boys – Hirsch Leatherwood

7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony
Interview or Talk Show – News, Business & Society, Shows (Podcasts)
On with Kara Swisher – Vox Media

The Assignment with Audie Cornish – CNN

My First Million – HubSpot

The Diary of a CEO With Steven Bartlett

Not Another CEO Podcast – Ringmaster B2B Podcasting
Interview or Talk Show – Entertainment & Culture, Shows (Podcasts)
Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim

All There Is with Anderson Cooper – CNN

Office Ladies – Audacy

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard – Wondery

Baby, This is Keke Palmer – Wondery
Best Co-Hosts, Features (Podcasts)
SmartLess – SiriusXM

Sibling Rivalry – Studio71

The Pivot Podcast

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce – Wondery

The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast – Rabbit Grin Productions
Best Video Podcast Host, Features (Podcasts)
The Don Lemon Show – Lemon Media Network

Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley – We Are Social North America

This Is Gavin Newsom

In the Test Kitchen – America’s Test Kitchen

Take Your Shoes Off – TYSO Productions
Best Live Podcast Recording, Features (Podcasts)
On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Eva Guzman: You Are Enough | Women, Ambition, & Reinvention in Law – MMO Media

Surface Level Live

Crime Junkie Live on Tour – Audiochuck

The Magic of Mushrooms with Kacey Musgraves and Paul Stamets – Sing For Science
Featured Guest, Individual Episode (Podcasts)
Michelle Obama Reveals All: Life-Changing Lessons on Fear, Faith & Hope – The Jamie Kern Lima Show – The Jamie Kern Lima Show

Aspire with Emma Grede – Audacy

Skip Intro – Netflix

One Song – Hartbeat

Mark Ruffalo Says ‘Boycott, Divest, Sanction, and Prosecute’ Israel – Zeteo
Events & Live Streams, Social Video Short Form (Social)
Justin Bieber Livestream on Twitch – StagePilot

NFL on YouTube: The São Paulo Game – We Are Social North America

Opposites Attack – Wieden+Kennedy

Shot on iPhone – Dua Lipa – TBWA Media Arts Lab

Northeastern University Commencement 2025 Event Coverage
Celebrity/Fan, General Social (Social)
Jennifer Garner (& Pretend Cooking Show series)

Backstreet Boys – Millennium 2.0 Residency Sphere + Germany Residency Marketing – Crowd Surf

Ron Funches – Block Party

Jimmy Kimmel social

This Month On Social – The Kelly Clarkson Show
Food & Drink, General Social (Social)
Mythical Kitchen – Mythical

Can 8 Cultures Make One Sandwich? | Sandwich Club Jackson Heights – TheFull-Half

Chili’s | Triple Dipper Virality

Food Network social

Get Cookin’ – People Inc.
Television & Film, General Social (Social)
Jimmy Kimmel Live social

South Park social – Comedy Central

Heated Rivalry social – Bell Media

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert social

A Minecraft Movie theatrical social campaign – Warner Bros.
Television & Film, Social Campaigns (Social)
Stranger Things: One Last Rewatch – Netflix

The Righteous Gemstones – Season 4 Social Campaign – BOND Creative

Toy Story’s 30th Anniversary – The Walt Disney Company

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Social Campaign – Part 4

Weapons theatrical social campaign – Warner Bros.
Arts, Culture & Lifestyle, Social Campaigns (Social)
Yahoo – The Touch Grass Keyboard – Conscious Minds

Google x Wicked For Good: The Magic of Choice

The Beatles Anthology 2025 – Versus Creative

Loctite’s Museum of Second Chances – Kill Boring Dead

Taylor Swift’s Fate of Ophelia on YouTube – We Are Social North America
Best Partnership or Collaboration, Social Features (Social)
Tracking Bad Bunny – DDB Latina Puerto Rico

Disney x F1 at Las Vegas Grand Prix – Disney

The Masked Singer | Where Partnerships Take Center Stage – Fox Entertainment

Sesame Street Comes to Netflix – Netflix

Superman + Spotify Collaboration (Superman Official Playlist) – Warner Bros.
Best Community or Fan Engagement – Media/Entertainment, Social Features (Social)
Tracking Bad Bunny – DDB Latina Puerto Rico

Heated Rivalry: Hudson Williams vs. Connor Storrie – Razorfish

When Fandom Leads: Law & Order: SVU on TikTok – NBC Entertainment

Kellyoke Request – The Kelly Clarkson Show

Sinners Juke Joint – Warner Bros.
Events & Livestreams, Social Campaigns (Social)
Lady Gaga Monster Press Conference – Spotify

Butter Baby and LV8’s Strategic Content Rollout for LA Pop-Up – LV8

7-ELEVEn × Hot Wheels, The First Official 7-ELEVEn Car Meet – Dentsu Creative US

Edition Hotels x Met Gala – Marriott

It’s Britney, Twitch – Legacy Recordings
Music & Performance, Social Video Short Form (Social)
Step to the Mike – Fallen Media

Someday – TBWA Media Arts Lab

Nat Geo x Fred Again – National Geographic

Benson Boone – Coachella Performance with Brian May – Warner Records

GiaNina’s Dance that started the JLo ‘on the floor’ trend
Business, General Video & Film (Video & Film)
I’m Building an Algorithm That Doesn’t Rot Your Brain – Patreon

CNN goes inside the shipping industry to follow the journey of made-in-China goods – CNN

Explainomics | I tried to live a tariff-free life. Here’s how it went. – Dow Jones

A bold idea to rebuild the working class – TED Conferences

You Need to Be Bored. Here’s Why. – Harvard Business Review
Music, Branded Entertainment (Video & Film)
Adidas | Oasis – Johannes Leonardo

Severance S2 – Music to Refine to – Apple TV

Find Your Friends – Apple

All Nighter Amazon Music 2025 Holiday Brand Campaign – Amazon Music

Spotify Jorja Smith – Hoff Studios
Entertainment & Music, Series & Channels (Video & Film)
NPR Music Tiny Desk Concerts – NPR

LADbible Entertainment

Mixtape – Digging the Greats

Stagebound – Great Performances

Coal Drops Sessions – Mercury Studios
Long Form, Branded Entertainment (Video & Film)
The Appraisal with Pauline Chalamet – Fujifilm North America

Stranger Things in Search – Google

MrBeast Lab – Moose Toys

FruitHead – General Mills

The Terry Crews School of Acting for Athletes – Mother
Short Form, Branded Entertainment (Video & Film)
Timothée Chalamet for Cash App

Five Star Theater Starring Benedict Cumberbatch – Amazon

A Critter Carol – TBWA Media Arts Lab

W Presents: The Retreat – Marriott

Mercedes Benz FYI Radio – Clash of The Artistic Minds
Music Video, General Video & Film (Video & Film)
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther – Fela

Sabrina Carpenter – Tears – Modern Post

Rosalia – Berghain – Canada

Young – Little Simz – Freenjoy

Claude – C’est La Vie – 10-Oct
Entertainment, General Desktop & Mobile Sites (Websites & Mobile Sites)
Dropbox.com/McLarenF1 Partnership Website – Dropbox

The Hollywood Reporter

Ludeo – Kue Studio

Foundation Theatres – Chook

Emmys – Television Academy
Best Mobile Visual Design – Aesthetic, Mobile Features & Design (Websites & Mobile Sites)
Dunes & Stars – Brand Experience – Ryze Agency UK

Up – Woolly Mammoth

2025 Metro Rewind – White64

Lady Gaga – A Digital Home for a Pop Icon – Morningview

eero – Idol
March 31, 2026
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Season 2 Sets Release Date

Netflix has released a behind-the-scenes featurette for “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Season 2, adapted from the popular Nickelodeon cartoon. It will drop on June 25.

After the show premiered in 2024, Netflix renewed the live-action series for two more seasons. It will conclude with Season 3, just like the original show did. Seasons 2 and 3 were made back-to-back, with Season 2 finishing production in May 2025 and the final season beginning production shortly after.

The cast includes Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh, Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula and Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai. Season 2 will introduce the blind earthbender Toph, played by Maya Cech. The show follows the airbender Aang, who can control air, water, earth and fire, as the Avatar. After mastering waterbending in Season 1, Aang will turn to earthbending in Season 2, while evading the evil Fire Nation and Prince Zuko.

Albert Kim, who developed the series and served as showrunner on Season 1, stepped down in April, with Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani set to lead the show as executive producers going forward. Kim remains an executive producer. Along with Kim, Boylan, Raisani, Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore executive produce on behalf of Rideback, with Michael Goi also executive producing. Goi directed the first two episodes of the series, while Raisiani directed episodes three and four. Roseanne Liang directed episodes five and six, with Jet Wilkinson directing the final two episodes of Season 1.

Check out a behind-the-scenes look at “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Season 2 below.

March 31, 2026
The latest Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are more customizable and expensive

The latest iteration of Meta’s smart glasses has arrived and, as rumored, they are more customizable, particularly for people who need prescription lenses. Meta and Ray-Ban parent company EssilorLuxottica revealed two new styles of frames: the Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics and Scriber Optics, which will start at $499 a pair.

The latest glasses are still considered to be part of the “Gen 2” Ray-Ban Meta glasses, but they do come with a few upgrades that make it easier to get a personalized fit. According to EssilorLuxottica, both styles have somewhat slimmer frames, swappable nosepads and adjustable temple tips so wearers can get a better fit. And, as the “optics” branding implies, the new frame styles are also compatible with a wider variety of prescription lenses, including progressive lenses and transition lenses.

The Blayzer style frames are more square, similar to the existing Wayfarer glasses, while the Scriber version is a little more rounded, like the “Headliner” style frames. Both come in a variety of colors including some translucent styles and are available now for pre-order on Meta’s website and will be on sale April 14. The “optics” lineup will also be sold at more physical retail stores, including LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Salmoiraghi & Viganò, Apollo, Grand Vision Optical, Vision Express and other locations that are part of EssilorLuxottica’s distribution network.

The round, “Scriber” frames. (EssilorLuxottica)

The new lineup of glasses is also more expensive, with a starting price of $499, compared with Meta’s standard Wayfarer Gen 2 model, which starts at $379. That price doesn’t include prescription lenses either, which can easily run $200-$300 or more, depending on your setup.

One benefit of that investment, though, is that Meta has consistently added new features to its smart glasses. And with the latest frames, the company is bringing some additional capabilities to all users. These include new translation support for Japanese, Mandarin and Arabic; as well as Meta AI-enabled food and nutrition tracking. Meta AI can also summarize longer message threads rather than simply reciting a long string of messages in a given chat.

March 31, 2026
NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.5 Multi Frame Generation tech is now available to boost your Hz

After releasing DLSS 4.5’s Super Resolution feature earlier this year, NVIDIA has released an update with DLSS 4.5 features designed to boost frame rates on RTX 50 series cards. Those include DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation and DLSS 4.5 Multi Frame Generation 6X. With those, NVIDIA is promising the “smoothest path-traced gaming yet” to unlock the potential for high-refresh 4K 240Hz OLED gaming displays, or 1080p and 1440p monitors at 360Hz and beyond.

The first feature, DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, is like an “automatic transmission” for your RTX 50 series card, NVIDIA said. Rather than multiplying the frame rate by a fixed amount, the AI-powered feature changes it dynamically to strike a balance between refresh rate, image quality and responsiveness. To optimize computing power, it ensures that a game’s frame rate doesn’t exceed your monitor’s native refresh rate, so you won’t play at 240 fps on a 120Hz monitor.

The other key feature, Multi Frame Generation 6X, is designed to deliver even higher levels of performance. Based on NVIDIA’s second-gen transformer model, along with frame pacing and image quality improvements, the feature boosts the maximum multiplier to 6X, generating up to five extra frames for every natively rendered frame on GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs. That will boost 4K frame rates up to 35 percent “with minimal impact to responsiveness,” NVIDIA wrote.

As with Super Resolution, the native frame rate of a game is not accelerated by these features. Rather, the DLSS 4.5 feature uses AI to create interpolated intermediate frames the machine “thinks” should be there. Normally this works fine, but the scheme can create odd artifacts in certain types of scenes, particularly with fine details like rain, hair and phone wires.

Still, the tech allows for smoother gaming with a minimal increase on your GPU’s burden. It’s now available for NVIDIA RTX 50 series cards, and as NVIDIA announced earlier, there are a number of games supporting the MFG features. Those include 007 First Light (May 27th), CONTROL Resonant, Directive 8020 (May 12th) and Tides of Annihilation.

March 31, 2026
Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, Timothée Chalamet, The Hollywood Reporter Among Webby Awards Nominees

Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, Timothée Chalamet and The Hollywood Reporter are among the nominees for the 30th annual Webby Awards.

Other nominees this year include Jason and Travis Kelce, Kylie Kelce, Heated Rivalry, OpenAI, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Sinners, Waymo, Patreon, Amy Poehler, Netflix, PBS, MrBeast, Google Gemini, KATSEYE, Steven Bartlett, Justin Bieber, ACLU, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Dwayne Johnson, Pedro Pascal, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, LeBron James, Rosalía, Keith Lee, Reese Witherspoon, Sydney Sweeney, LISA, Carmelo Anthony, Trixie Mattel, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert.

The Hollywood Reporter has been nominated in the category of entertainment, general desktop and mobile sites.

The awards, which are run by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, honor “excellence on the Internet and celebrat[e] the creators, companies, platforms, and personalities shaping today’s cultural and technological landscape.”

This year, the Webbys expanded several of its categories, adding additional awards in the areas of AI, creators, podcasts and social media. The AI categories were broadened to encompass the “tools, applications and innovations setting new benchmarks,” while a group of new awards spotlighting “creator business” aim to recognize “creators who are building brands, businesses and communities that shape today’s digital landscape.” The podcast categories include new awards such as best new podcast, best video podcast and best video podcast host, while the social media group added new categories such as best social video series – longform for social honors and best community experience for games honors.

“The Webby Awards’ 30-year legacy reflects how the Internet continues to expand how we create, connect and express ourselves,” said Jesse Feister, executive director of the Webby Media Group. “Each wave of technology reshapes our lives and the standards of what great work looks like online. From the birth of eBay to the rise of TikTok, the Webbys have defined excellence in those moments. This year, by recognizing new frontiers in AI and creators, we’re continuing to champion the kinds of creativity that challenge our conventions.”

Organizers said they received more than 13,000 entries from over 70 countries. Fewer than 17 percent of submissions were named nominees. The organizations with the most noms include Google (46), PBS (29), Apple (23), The Walt Disney Company (23), NBCUniversal (22) and Netflix (22).

The Webbys also hand out awards for podcast company of the year, media company of the year and brand of the years for the groups that garner the most recognition across relevant categories. Organizations in contention for the podcast honor include iHeartMedia (16 noms), Audible (10), SiriusXM (six), Wondery (six), and Audacy (five). Media company of the year finalists include PBS (29), The Walt Disney Company (23), NBCUniversal (22), Netflix (22), National Geographic (20), and Warner Bros. Discovery (19). Brands in the running include Google (46), Apple (23), Amazon (13), Sony (16), Microsoft (10), Nike (eight) and Marriott International (six).

All nominees are eligible to win two awards: the Webby Award, selected by the Academy, and the Webby People’s Voice Award, voted on by the online community. Voting for the People’s Voice Awards is open through April 16 at vote.webbyawards.com.

Winners will be announced April 21 and recognized May 11 at a special 30th-anniversary awards ceremony hosted by Emmy-nominated stand-up comedian and The Daily Show correspondent Josh Johnson in New York City. The ceremony is known for requesting that winners give speeches that are only five words long.

A partial list of nominees follows. See the full list on the Webby Awards website.

Websites & Mobile Sites

Entertainment, General Desktop & Mobile Sites
Dropbox.com/McLarenF1 Partnership Website – Dropbox
The Hollywood Reporter – The Hollywood Reporter
Ludeo® – Kue Studio
Foundation Theatres – Chook
Television Academy/Emmys – Television Academy

Events, General Desktop & Mobile Sites
Kaleida – Fiddle.Digital Design Agency
Sydney Film Festival – ED.
Canva World Tour – Canva
Outside Days Festival and Summit – Outside Inc
Concerts Near You – Spotify

Responsible Innovation, Responsible Technology
Signs – DEPT®
Nasdaq’s Frontiers Of The Future – Nasdaq
Ethical Interface Design – Seton Hall University
National Roundtable on Political Violence – AllSides Technologies, Inc
GoFundMe Giving Funds – GoFundMe

Best Mobile Visual Design – Aesthetic, Mobile Features & Design
Dunes & Stars – Brand Experience – Ryze Agency UK
Up – Woolly Mammoth
2025 Metro Rewind – WHITE64
Lady Gaga – A Digital Home for a Pop Icon – Morningview
eero – Idol

Advertising, Media & PR

Best Use of Earned Media, Media Campaigns
The Death of Duo – Duolingo
Panera Croissant Clutch – 72andSunny
Steph Curry Shoots the Moon – Known
Bet on Kendall – OBB Media & Fanatics Studios
e.l.f. x Sailing with Phoenix – e.l.f. Beauty

Politics & Advocacy, Branded Content
Zohran for NYC (New York City Mayoral Primary) – Melted Solids
The Final Exam – BBDO Chicago
NYC Votes x Mad Realities – Hollywood IQ
Gavin Newsom: @GavinNewsom – LaMont Digital
Poder Latinx North Carolina – Desconsiderados – Mundial Media

Best B2B Campaign, Advertising Campaigns
Centivo “How Dare We” – territorial
Webflow’s AI Guy – neuemotion
Microsoft – Yours to Build – Code and Theory
Ramp’s Brian Baumgartner Box Stunt – Ramp
Wake Up With Craig – BBDO New York

Health, Wellness & Pharmaceutical, Branded Content
OURA – Give Us The Finger – nice&frank
The Relief Rider – The Martin Agency
Louder Than Cancer – Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab
The Swedish Prescription – Weber Shandwick
Find out what you’re made of. – Autumn Communications

Brand Strategy, Advertising Campaigns
YouTube Rickrolls the Internet for 20th Birthday Celebration – We Are Social North America
Mammut – Give mountainwear the life it deserves – DEPT®
Adolescent Content x Ipsy: I Play Beauty – Adolescent Content
The Swedish Prescription – Weber Shandwick
Food Deserves Pepsi – BBDO New York

B2B, Branded Content
Bye Bye Dongle – Logitech – Logitech
From Invisible to Indispensable: Reframing Maternal Health Through B2B Content     – Hello Helio
Rewind it Back   Think – mojo, Inc.
Vast: The Next Giant Leap – Vast, Inc
The Next Chapter – Casual Films

Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign, Advertising Campaigns
LinkedIn – The Mom B.A. – R/GA
Nat Geo x Costa Sunglasses – Disney CreativeWorks
The Mind Set – Amazon Ads Brand Innovation Lab
Sorry – Droga5 London
How Ya Travellin’? – Keep Left

Best Partnership or Collaboration, Advertising Campaigns
Kyle F*cking Connor – Courage
What’s Next? with LeBron James – Amazon
Bet on Kendall – OBB Media & Fanatics Studios
Stranger Things Season 5 Campaign – Game Seven
Absolut Tabasco – Wieden+Kennedy London

Best Viral PR Campaign, PR Campaigns
The Dr Pepper Jingle – Deutsch
Bet on Kendall – OBB Media & Fanatics Studios
Eau de Croissant – A fragrance by Lidl – Coolr
Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss – Made You Feel
The Death of Duo – Duolingo

Video Ad Longform, Individual
The Unanswered Children – Accenture Song Brand Denmark A/S
Facebook “Secret Santa” – Droga5, part of Accenture Song
Human Grade (Taxider My Family) – Good Behavior
Imagine That, Frankenstein – Park Pictures
A Spicy But Not Too Spicy Plumber, Björn Rühmann – SMUGGLER

Products & Services, Branded Content
A Tale As Old As Websites – Squarespace
Five Star Theater Starring Benedict Cumberbatch – Amazon
Expedition Impossible, Benji Weinstein – SMUGGLER
Someday – TBWA Media Arts Lab
Downy’s Almost Scandalously Soft Stories – Saatchi & Saatchi

Game or Application, Individual
The Final Exam – BBDO Chicago
The Roblox Unbox – SERVICEPLAN GERMANY
One Battle After Another: The Revolution – Sawhorse Productions
KFC 11 Secrets – m ss ng p eces
The World’s Hardest Captcha – Loop

Launch or Drop, Advertising Campaigns
NikeSKIMS Spring ’26 Campaign featuring Blackpink’s LISA – Karla Otto
Ricola Scarf – Tombras
Venmo Taco Bellt – 72andSunny
Filet O Fish Facebook Society – Leo UK
Fractional Window Shopping – Ogilvy Canada

Belonging & Inclusion, Branded Content
Defy the Storm – Vladimir Jones
Re:framing Mentorship – SixDegrees.org
HBO Max Pride 2025: Trixie Mattel Gay HBO Max Song – HBO Max
Face the Difference – BDG
How to Raise Adults – SHE Media

AI

Creative Tools, AI Experiences & Applications
Flow – Google
Sora 2 for Sora 2 by Sora 2 – OpenAI
Stitch by Google – Google
Suno – The Untold
ElevenLabs Creative Platform – ElevenLabs

Consumer Application, AI Experiences & Applications
Google Gemini Marketing Site – Google
Amazon introduces agentic Health AI assistant for simpler, personalized, and more actionable health care – Amazon
Advisor: Warby Parker’s styling expertise paired with the power of AI – Kettle Solutions LLC
McAfee’s Scam Detector – McAfee
BestInterest Coparenting App – BestInterest, Inc

Data Visualization & Reporting, AI Experiences & Applications
Language Explorer – Hook
FRnD Insights: realtime AI marketing consultancy – FRnD
Boomtown Unboxed – Hyper-personalised festival aftermovies for every unique visitor – Monks
ROAM-AI – Wolfpack Digital
Aily Labs – Aily Labs

Energy & Sustainability, AI Experiences & Applications
ClimateGPT 3+ – ClimateGPT Foundation / Erasmus.AI
Beewise’s BeeHome™    – Beewise
Tapestry: using AI to build a more resilient & reliable electric grid – Tapestry
ON.energy AI – ON.energy
Groundbreaking Climate Video Powered by Real-Time Data – Huge

Best AI Agent, AI Features & Innovation
Opal – Google
G42.ai – R/GA
Google’s Agentic Checkout – “Buy for me” with Price tracking – Google
Deductive AI – Method Communications
You.com’s ARI: the most intelligent, accurate deep research agent – Six Eastern

Best Product or Service, AI Features & Innovation
Claude Code – Anthropic
Particle – Particle
Flow by Google – Google
Google NotebookLM – Google
AI Arbitrator – American Arbitration Association

Best Use of AI Voice & Conversational Interface, AI Features & Innovation
ElevenLabs Agents Platform – ElevenLabs
Krisp is the infrastructure that makes conversational AI usable at scale – Krisp.ai
VoiceAI by EliseAI – Aircover PR for EliseAI
T-Mobile’s AI Assistant – T-Mobile
Project Jade – a Peridot embodied AI experience – Niantic Spatial, Inc.

Experimental & Innovation, AI Features & Innovation
Touch: Beyond Vision – AI for Blind – Carveco LTD
Internet Storm Tracker (GUDEA) – GUDEA
Carpe Diem Creative Intelligence Dept. – Carpe Diem Creative Agency
My First Voice – Monks
MiroMind.ai – MiroMind.ai

Travel, Transportation & Hospitality, AI Experiences & Applications
Waymo | Safety Hub – Waymo
Reinventing Travel with HTS Assist – Hopper and HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions)
Qatar Museums AI Tour (QM AI Tour) – Qatar Museums
Réno — Luxembourg Airport’s AI Concierge – Arhs Cube S.A.
Drive Stories – ZeroSixty

Creators

Best Creator-to-Creator Collaboration, Creator Excellence
Try Guys Try Ghost Hunting – The Try Guys (2nd Try LLC)
Ask It Anyway – Uncommon
Dancing Weatherman X CORTIS collab – SOCIAL SIMPATICO LLC
Quest for the Impossible – Portal A
Veritasium, featuring Tom Brady. The biggest misconception in football – Electrify Video Partners

Best Prank, Stunt or Activation, Creator Excellence
Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?’ Album Content – 300/AMG
J.C. Carter – Kensington Grey
Delivery Man Falls for Grandma’s Prank – Getti Show LLC
Back to the Future Garden Railroad – Bungalow Heaven Railroad
Nick Pro – Viral Nation

Creator/Influencer Partnership or Collaboration – Brand, Creator Business
Toast x Keith Lee “It’s the Little Things” – neuemotion
Planet Fitness – New Year’s Eve – Movers+Shakers
Booking.com – This Guy Books – We Are Social Amsterdam
Full Bush Summer – The Martin Agency
W PRESENTS: The Retreat – Marriott

Multi-Creator Campaign, Creator Business
InStyle’s “The Intern” Series – People Inc.
The Community Wears Gap – Buttermilk
Where Are You Going? – Uncommon
Alexis Williams and Aidan Kohn-Murphy — @Creators4Zohran – Gallaher Group Management & Advisory
LIV Golf’s The Duels – Oust

Best Community Engagement, Creator Excellence
The @MeetCutesNYC Universe – Palette Media
Justin Bieber Livestream on Twitch – StagePilot
Shop Cats – Hollywood IQ
Astronaut Mom Takes on the TSA – and Wins – TheSpaceGal Company Inc
The Nursery Nurse: Ofsted Storyline – WE CREATE POPULAR

Newsletter or Written Series, Creator Business
No Mercy / No Malice – Prof G Media
Kirbie Johnson – Outshine Talent
The Publish Press / Colin & Samir – align PR
MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories – Ballen Studios
Chris Colombo – Brighter Path

Sports, General Creator
Rabid Fans – Rabid Fans
Katie Feeney – Snapchat
The Trauma Behind the KO. Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua              Dynamo Health
Coach RAC – Outshine Talent
Boardroom – The Lede Company

Best Longform Video, Creator Excellence
What does Palantir actually do? – Morning Brew Inc
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Surprises Apalachee High School Football Team, Attends First Home Game – Seven Bucks Marketing
Flying the U-2 Spy Plane 70,000 Feet to the Edge of Space – SE Media
Can I Turn MrBeast Into A MasterChef? – Nick DiGiovanni – align PR
Veritasium – Electrify Video Partners

Fitness, Health & Wellness, General Creator
Joel Bervell – The ‘Medical Mythbuster’ – Kensington Grey
Chloe Ting – Chloe Ting
I Shaved My Vag For This – Katie Thompson & Soul People Productions
Rena Malik, MD – Rena Malik, MD
growwithjo – growwithjo

Podcast, General Creator
Steven Bartlett – R. Agency
One Nightstand – Bustle
Silver Linings with The Old Gays – iHeartMedia
Jay Shetty – On Purpose
Jake Shane – PASS THAT PUSS Inc.

Art, Culture & Music, General Creator
Alex Warren – Odd Projects
Arianna Cabrera – Artist – Whalar Group Ltd
CG5 – CG5 Music
Thoughts Become Things – SJD World Ltd
Audrey Chou.Studio – Audrey Chou.Studio

Most Viral, Creator Excellence
Cardi B – “AM I THE DRAMA?’ Album Content – 300/AMG
Vanessa Van Edwards | Science of People Viral Teachings – Science of People
Motherhood, From the Very First Steps – Fluffy Feather Farm
Cheryl Porter – Cheryl Porter Vocal Method
Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition – Pufferfish Studio

Best Duo or Group, Creator Excellence
Colin & Samir – align PR
Smosh – Motiv
The Siu Siblings (RJ, Jalin & Kina): Dynamic Comedy & Sibling Content Creators – Whalar Group Ltd
Trixie & Katya – Producer Entertainment Group
Rhett & Link – Mythical

Best Series: Longform, Creator Excellence
AntsCanada – AntsCanada
Track Star – Track Star
Exploring All 350 NYC Neighborhoods as a Native New Yorker – N/A
Hank Green – Ask Hank Anything – Complexly
Soirée School – To Be Hosted

Games

Best Community Experience, Games Excellence
Pokémon GO – Burson
Overwatch 2: Spotlight Community Management & War Room – Mutiny
Phasmophobia – Swipe Right
Hello Kitty Island Adventure – fortyseven communications
Warframe – Digital Extremes

Kids & Family, Games General
LEGO® Party! – Fictions
Planet Pigeon – PBS Nature / The WNET Group
Hello Kitty Island Adventure – fortyseven communications
Mission US: Spirit of a Nation – The WNET Group
LEGO® VOYAGERS – Tara Bruno PR

Best Music/Sound Design, Games Excellence
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Tinsley PR
The Outer Worlds 2 – Obsidian Entertainment
Battlefield 6 – Tara Bruno PR
DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH – Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe
Split Fiction – fortyseven communications

Podcasts

Scripted (Fiction), Shows
DC High Volume: Batman – Realm
Red For Revolution – Red For Revolution
The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin Mystery – Audible
Calm Sleep Stories – Calm, Inc
Buzz: The Man & The Moon – iHeartMedia

Best Partnership or Collaboration, Features
The Rest Is History: The Complete History of The Beatles with Tom Holland and Conan O Brian – Goalhanger
The Bowen Yang/Matt Rogers X Sesame Street X NBC Olympics Crossover Event – iHeartPodcasts
Not Gonna Lie, with Kylie Kelce “My Disney Spectacular” from Walt Disney World, Episode 43 – Disney Experiences
The Story of Woman in Kenya, with Orchid Project – The Story of Woman
Downton Abbey: The Official Podcast – Treefort Media

Best Host, Features
Good Hang with Amy Poehler – Kovert Creative
Next Question with Katie Couric – Katie Couric Media
The Mel Robbins Podcast – Best Host – SiriusXM
Baby, This is Keke Palmer – Wondery
Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky – Wondery

Lifestyle, Shows
We Can Do Hard Things – Silver Tribe Media
Coffee Convos Podcast – KILLR Network
Food Network Obsessed – Food Network
Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club – iHeartMedia
Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike – Future PLC

Sports, Shows
Pablo Torre Finds Out – Meadowlark Media
All The Smoke – All The Smoke Productions
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce – Wondery
Bussin’ With The Boys – Hirsch Leatherwood
7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony – Metro PR

Best Video Podcast, Features
Good Hang with Amy Poehler – Kovert Creative
The Mel Robbins Podcast – 143 Studios, Inc.
That Was Us – Rabbit Grin Productions
Only Murders in the Building: Official Podcast – Hulu Originals
21 Questions w/ Madison Tevlin – by coastal inc.

Interview or Talk Show – News, Business & Society, Shows
On with Kara Swisher – Vox Media
The Assignment with Audie Cornish – CNN
My First Million – HubSpot
The Diary Of A CEO – R. Agency
Not Another CEO Podcast – Ringmaster B2B Podcasting

Interview or Talk Show – Entertainment & Culture, Shows
Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim – Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim
All There Is with Anderson Cooper – CNN
Office Ladies – Audacy
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard – Wondery
Baby, This is Keke Palmer – Wondery

Best Co-Hosts, Features
SmartLess – SiriusXM
Sibling Rivalry – Studio71
The Pivot Podcast – The Pivot Podcast
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce – Wondery
The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast         – Rabbit Grin Productions

Belonging & Inclusion, Individual Episode
Handsome with Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin – Headgum
UNDISTRACTED with Brittany Packnett Cunningham – The Meteor
The Anti-Trans Hate Machine     – Trans Lash Media
Driving All Night: The Relentless Rise of Brooke Goff – Rankings.io
Rebel Girls Get to Know – Rebel Girls

Comedy, Individual Episode
Paul Rudd 3.0 on TYSO – TYSO Productions
On Par with Maury Povich Podcast/Kathy Griffin Talks About Being The Most Hated Woman In America in 1-On-1 Interview With Maury – A Better Life Media
Wisecrack – Tenderfoot TV
The Nightly – Hatch
When The Cops Say No, We Say Yes – A step too far productions

Best Video Podcast Host, Features
The Don Lemon Show – Lemon Media Network
Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley – We Are Social North America
This Is Gavin Newsom – Independent
In the Test Kitchen – America’s Test Kitchen
Take Your Shoes Off – TYSO Productions

Best Live Podcast Recording, Features
On Purpose with Jay Shetty – On Purpose
Eva Guzman: You Are Enough | Women, Ambition, & Reinvention in Law – MMO Media, LLC
Surface Level Live – Surface Level
Crime Junkie Live on Tour – Audiochuck
The Magic of Mushrooms with Kacey Musgraves and Paul Stamets – Sing For Science

Featured Guest, Individual Episode
Michelle Obama Reveals All: Life-Changing Lessons on Fear, Faith & Hope – The Jamie Kern Lima Show – The Jamie Kern Lima Show
Aspire with Emma Grede – Audacy
Skip Intro – Netflix
One Song – Hartbeat
Mark Ruffalo Says ‘Boycott, Divest, Sanction, and Prosecute’ Israel – Zeteo

Social

Arts, Culture & Lifestyle, Social Content Series
The Museum Rizzler – National Gallery of Art
The Wright Parking Ticket – The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Museum
Vic Mensa: Orange Tree Series – Vic Mensa
Etsy – Organic Social – Etsy
Make It Like Martha – MarthaStewart.com – Better Homes & Gardens

Best AR Filter or Immersive Experience, Social Features
Moon Punch – Goodby Silverstein & Partners
color e.l.f.nalysis – Movement Strategy
Gladiator II / Enter The AR-ena – BOND Creative LLC.
Wicked: Shizify Me Generator – Addison Interactive
A Minecraft Movie Hologram Box + Lenses – Warner Bros.

Events & Live Streams, Social Video Short Form
Justin Bieber Livestream on Twitch – StagePilot
NFL on YouTube: The São Paulo Game – We Are Social North America
Opposites Attack – Wieden+Kennedy
Shot on iPhone – Dua Lipa – TBWA Media Arts Lab
Northeastern University Commencement 2025 Event Coverage – Northeastern University

Celebrity/Fan, General Social
Jennifer Garner (& Pretend Cooking Show series) – Jennifer Garner
Backstreet Boys – Millennium 2.0 Residency Sphere + Germany Residency Marketing – Crowd Surf
Ron Funches – Block Party
Jimmy Kimmel Social – 42West
This Month On Social – The Kelly Clarkson Show

Food & Drink, General Social
Mythical Kitchen – Mythical
Can 8 Cultures Make One Sandwich? | Sandwich Club Jackson Heights – TheFull-Half
Chili’s | Triple Dipper Virality – Chili’s Grill & Bar
Food Network Socials – Food Network
Get Cookin’ – People Inc.

Fashion & Beauty, General Social
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez – Best Social, Fashion & Beauty – Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Tory Burch Social – Tory Burch
Diamond Divas – Shahla Karimi LLC / Diamond Divas LLC
Popsugar Beauty – Popsugar
Who What Wear – Future PLC

Entertainment, General Social
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Bravo TV Social Media – Deep Focus Agency
The Muppets 70th Anniversary Celebration – Disney
Heated Rivalry Social – Bell Media
Sony Instagram Channel – Sony

Education & Science, Social Campaigns
NASA’s Webb Telescope and the Universe: Using social media to connect us all – NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Digital Well-Being on Sesame Street – Sesame Workshop
Walking With Dinosaurs Social Campaign – PBS
Fat Bear Week – Katmai National Park
Immigration TV – Immigration TV

Television & Film, General Social
Jimmy Kimmel Live Social – 42West
South Park Social – Comedy Central
Heated Rivalry Social – Bell Media
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert social media presence – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
A Minecraft Movie Theatrical Social Campaign – Warner Bros.

How-To, Explainer, & DIY, Social Video Short Form
YouTuber VS Real Carpenter – Bully Media Inc
Mini Katana – Mini Katana LLC
Delta Air Lines’ Travel With Confidence Series – Delta Air Lines
The Brain Docs’ 5 Tips to Limit Microplastics – AARP Studios
The Electoral College – Explained – CBS News

Best Social Video Series – Shortform, Social Features
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – Digital Originals – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Unrivaled 101 – Unrivaled Basketball League
How To Capri – Wieden+Kennedy London
Nat Geo’s 30 Seconds of Baby Animals – National Geographic
Sinners Theatrical Social Campaign – Warner Bros.

Television & Film, Social Campaigns
Stranger Things: One Last Rewatch – Netflix
The Righteous Gemstones – Season 4 Social Campaign – BOND Creative LLC.
Toy Story’s 30th Anniversary – The Walt Disney Company
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Social Campaign – Part 4
Weapons Theatrical Social Campaign – Warner Bros.

Arts, Culture & Lifestyle, Social Campaigns
Yahoo – The Touch Grass Keyboard – Conscious Minds
Google x Wicked For Good: The Magic of Choice – Wasserman
The Beatles Anthology 2025 – Versus Creative
Loctite’s Museum of Second Chances – Kill Boring Dead
Launching Taylor Swift’s Fate of Ophelia on YouTube – We Are Social North America

Best Partnership or Collaboration, Social Features
Tracking Bad Bunny – DDB Latina Puerto Rico
Disney x F1 at Las Vegas Grand Prix – Disney
The Masked Singer | Where Partnerships Take Center Stage – FOX Entertainment
Sesame Street Comes To Netflix – Netflix
Superman + Spotify Collaboration (Superman Official Playlist) – Warner Bros.

Best Community or Fan Engagement – Media/Entertainment, Social Features
Tracking Bad Bunny – DDB Latina Puerto Rico
Heated Rivalry: Hudson Williams vs. Connor Storrie – Razorfish
When Fandom Leads: Law & Order: SVU on TikTok – NBC Entertainment
Kellyoke Request – The Kelly Clarkson Show
Sinners Juke Joint – Warner Bros.

Events & Livestreams, Social Campaigns
Lady Gaga Monster Press Conference – Spotify
Butter Baby and LV8’s Strategic Content Rollout for LA Pop-Up – LV8
7-ELEVEn × Hot Wheels, The First Official 7-ELEVEn Car Meet – Dentsu Creative US
EDITION Hotels x Met Gala – Marriott
It’s Britney, Twitch – Legacy Recordings

Music & Performance, Social Video Short Form
Step to the Mike – Fallen Media
Someday – TBWA Media Arts Lab
Nat Geo x Fred Again – National Geographic
Benson Boone – Coachella Performance with Brian May – Warner Records
GiaNina’s Dance that started the JLo ‘on the floor’ Trend and hit over half a Billion views – Anderson Group Public Relations

Video & Film

Food & Drink, General Video & Film
The World’s #1 Sushi Restaurant That’s Impossible To Book – Alvin Zhou Films
First We Feast Presents: Pro Moves (Season 3) – First We Feast
What I learned from cooking my way across a continent – TED Conferences
The Theory of Spice – Passion Point Collective
I Cooked For A Lion – Nick DiGiovanni – align PR

Business, General Video & Film
I’m Building an Algorithm That Doesn’t Rot Your Brain – Patreon
CNN goes inside the shipping industry to follow the journey of made-in-China goods – CNN
Explainomics | I tried to live a tariff-free life. Here’s how it went. – Dow Jones
A bold idea to rebuild the working class – TED Conferences
You Need to Be Bored. Here’s Why. – Harvard Business Review

Music, General Video & Film
ABC News Studios – Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery – The Untold Story – ABC News
CHANCE THE RAPPER – RIDE | THE BOOTH – soundcloud
Park Sessions – Outside Inc.
Selena Gomez, benny blanco – I Said I Love You First… (Short Film) | Vevo Extended Play – Vevo
Does JENNIE Know Her Lyrics From Her Biggest Songs? – Variety

Music, Branded Entertainment
adidas | Oasis – Johannes Leonardo
Severance S2 – Music to Refine to – Apple TV+
Find Your Friends – Apple
All Nighter Amazon Music 2025 Holiday Brand Campaign – Amazon Music
Spotify Jorja Smith – Hoff Studios

B2B, Branded Entertainment
Figma Slides: All hands on deck – Figma
We Trust in Kids – Edelman
Peter Piper’s Path to Perfection – Joint
The Table Read – Air
Vicarius: Cybersecurity Edutainment – Vicarius

Best Art Direction, Performance & Craft
Pinterest Brand Assets – Media.Work
Everyone Has Something To Say About Shoes – Las Meninas Films
Wednesday Now Streaming – Netflix
GIVEON – “TWENTIES” (Live) | Spotify OUTSIDE in The Mojave Desert – Spotify
Badman Generation – Slick Rick Music Corp

Sports, General Video & Film
More Than A Game – ACLU
New York Road Runners – m ss ng p eces
Hugo Calderano – One of One     – JOOLA
Chuskit & Saldon: Frozen Dreams of Ladakh | Winter Playing Fields – Olympic Channel
Sports City USA: Where Greatness Grows Docuseries – VERB Interactive

Public Service & Activism, Series & Channels
Nevertheless: The Women Changing the World – The Elevate Prize Foundation
Portraits of Protest – ACLU – ACLU
Dual: The True Cost of Care – New Disabled South
Lanterman and Friends – Public Pixels Media
Civics Made Easy – Second Peninsula

Entertainment & Music, Series & Channels
NPR Music Tiny Desk Concerts – NPR
LADbible Entertainment – LADbible Group
Mixtape – Digging The Greats
Stagebound – Great Performances
Coal Drops Sessions – Mercury Studios

Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle, Branded Entertainment
GAP “Better in Denim” ft. KATSEYE – Modern Post
Reference 1832. Our Most Brilliant Failure. – Scholz & Friends Berlin GmbH
Real Ones Know – Happy Place
New Jeans – Epoch Films
The PATTERN Lounge – ATTN:

Long Form, Branded Entertainment
The Appraisal with Pauline Chalamet | Official Short Film | Fujifilm X-H2 – Fujifilm North America Corporation
Stranger Things in Search – Google
MrBeast Lab – Moose Toys
FruitHead – General Mills
The Terry Crews School of Acting for Athletes – Mother

Short Form, Branded Entertainment
Timothée Chalamet for Cash App – Cash App
Five Star Theater Starring Benedict Cumberbatch – Amazon
A Critter Carol   – TBWA Media Arts Lab
W PRESENTS: The Retreat – Marriott
Mercedes Benz FYI Radio – Clash of The Artistic Minds

Music Video, General Video & Film
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther – Fela
Sabrina Carpenter – Tears – Modern Post
Rosalia – Berghain – CANADA
Young – Little Simz – Freenjoy
Claude – C’est La Vie – 10-Oct

March 31, 2026
‘The Black Mirror Experience,’ “Immersive” Blend of “Physical Space and VR,” to Premiere in Montreal

Watch out, Montreal! The Black Mirror Experience is coming! Launching in May at location-based virtual reality (VR) Infinity Experiences in the Canadian city, the 60-minute “immersive experience blending physical space and VR” is based on hit drama series Black Mirror and produced by Banijay Live Studio, part of Banijay Live, in partnership with VR studio Univrse.

Additional locations will be unveiled soon. The Black Mirror Experience accommodates groups of up to six participants ages 12-plus.

“The all-new experience is inspired by the award-winning dark, satirical TV anthology, which explores humanity’s uneasy relationship with technology,” explained Banijay Live, part of Banijay, which recently struck a mega-merger deal with All3Media. “Blending sci-fi and social commentary, Black Mirror, a Banijay Entertainment format, which resides on Netflix, has earned 29 major awards (including nine Emmys and four BAFTAs) across seven seasons, captivating over 3.3 million global subscribers and 86 million social views.”

Explained the company about the Black Mirror immersive experience: “With each of Black Mirror’s episodes holding a mirror up to our relationship with technology, showing how our digital choices shape society, this first-of-its-kind experience will force visitors to make these same choices. Groups are invited to the exclusive opening of Phaethon’s showroom – a tech giant about to unveil its most ambitious creation yet: LifeAgent, a robot designed to simplify your life, understand your desires, and help you become your best self. At first, everything feels seamless. Reassuring. Almost perfect. Until it doesn’t…”

Banijay Live CEO François De Brugada

Courtesy of Banijay

The Black Mirror Experience is the first offering from Banijay Live Studio, a Banijay unit tasked with turning Banijay Entertainment’s intellectual property (IP) into location-based entertainment experiences. Said François de Brugada, CEO of Banijay Live: “We’re expanding Banijay Entertainment’s relationship with the screen into real-world experiences. Banijay Live Studio is making its public debut with The Black Mirror Experience, a ‘never-before-seen’ location-based VR experience that encapsulates all the cultural relevance of Black Mirror and brings fans into the story.”

Tristan Desplechin, producer at Banijay Live Studio, said that his team’s focus is on turning IPs into experiences “that you can only live in-person,” adding: “Black Mirror is the perfect starting point – a universe that is as thought-provoking as it is cinematic. Working with Univrse, we have built something that doesn’t just extend the franchise – it redefines what location-based entertainment can be.”

David Bardos, director and founder at Univrse, said the collaboration required technology “that has never been seen before in the location-based entertainment sector,” touting the creation of “a new standard for what this industry can achieve – technically, narratively, and experientially.”

Created by Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror‘s seventh season debuted on Netflix in April 2025, produced by Broke & Bones, with Brooker, Jessica Rhoades and Annabel Jones as executive producers. The show brand is represented by Banijay Rights.

March 31, 2026
Chainlink Labs, Anchorage Digital Back New Crypto Super PAC Ahead of Midterms
In brief

The Blockchain Leadership Fund launched Monday with Anchorage Digital and Chainlink Labs as founding contributors.

BLF is structured as a hybrid PAC, allowing both direct candidate contributions and independent expenditures.

The new PAC enters a field already dominated by Fairshake, which has amassed $116 million for the 2026 midterms.
The Blockchain Leadership Fund, a new political action committee focused on digital asset policy, launched Monday.

The new PAC adds another player to a crypto lobbying landscape already flush with cash heading into the 2026 midterms.

The Blockchain Leadership Fund, a hybrid PAC formed by members of The Digital Chamber, announced its launch in a press release, with Anchorage Digital and Chainlink Labs as founding contributors. Structured as a hybrid PAC, BLF can make both direct candidate contributions and independent expenditures—and says it will engage across federal, state, and local races.

“Crypto policy is being written right now and the companies that show up and engage will help define the rules of the road; the ones that don’t will inherit them,” an Anchorage Digital spokesperson said in the release.

The launch comes as the crypto industry’s political infrastructure has grown dramatically since Fairshake, the sector’s dominant super PAC, registered with the FEC in March 2023.

Backed primarily by Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, and Ripple, Fairshake raised nearly $300 million during the 2024 election cycle and backed winning candidates in at least 90% of the congressional races where it spent $1 million or more.

By January 2025, the PAC had already amassed $116 million for the 2026 midterm election cycle. As of last month, crypto industry political action groups had already spent some $288 million on the midterms, according to independent journalist Molly White.

BLF’s connection to The Digital Chamber is notable. The group has been lobbying for stablecoin rewards, and in 2024 was vocal in urging Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to pick a crypto-friendly running mate.

“The viewpoint is now: ‘Your position on crypto matters not just until November 5. Your position matters long-term,” Cody Carbone, then the lobbying group’s president (now CEO), told Decrypt in November 2024. He added that by signaling its staying power into 2026, he thought Fairshake was trying to dispel the notion that crypto’s political moment had already passed.

It remains to be seen whether the Blockchain Leadership Fund will operate as a complement to Fairshake or carve out its own lane. The BLF didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Decrypt on the matter.

Daily Debrief Newsletter

Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
March 31, 2026