Business Of Social

It’s official: TikTok is getting a U.S.-based spinoff. Trump signed an executive order valuing the U.S. portion at $14 billion, shifting control of the algorithm, data, and oversight into U.S. hands—likely via Oracle. But here’s what’s still unclear: Will you still be able to search for global content? Will your For You Page feel like a walled garden? Will brands and sports teams need regional accounts to stay visible? In this episode, David Brickley breaks down what’s actually changing, what remains unknown, and what it means for creators, marketers, and sports orgs that rely on TikTok for discovery and reach. READ: SBJ Article: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/10/15/tiktoks-us-only-split-could-shake-up-sports-and-entertainment-marketing/

In this episode, David Brickley sits down with Casey Hurbis, Chief Marketing Officer at BetMGM, to talk about brand-building in crowded markets, the evolution of betting, and how smart marketers earn attention. They cover: - Why a great customer experience still beats a great offer - The biggest challenge in regulated markets—and how BetMGM navigates 29 states - The power of loyalty programs in a world of app-switching bettors - How Casey approached rebranding BetMGM (and why Jon Hamm was the right call) - The biggest mistake marketers make when jumping into new spaces Casey also opens up about what he looks for in brand ambassadors, the tools that help him do his job, and what advice he gives to rising marketers trying to make it to the CMO seat. #BetMGM #SportsMarketing #DigitalMarketing #CMO #BusinessOfSocial #BrandStrategy #SportsBetting #MarketingLeadership

Who’s really winning on social media in sports? David Brickley and Jason Samuelsen break down the most comprehensive sports social media report to date—ranking all 124 teams across the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB by engagement per post, total engagements, and year-over-year growth.

Everyone’s talking about AI tools. But no one’s talking about the lawsuits. In this episode, David Brickley breaks down why using AI-generated content—especially images, video, and audio—might be putting your brand at serious legal risk. ⚖️ This episode covers: Why the first AI copyright court case just set a major precedent How Getty, The New York Times, and Sarah Silverman are fighting back What the Sam Altman TED interview reveals about OpenAI’s stance on fair use The risky parallels between AI content and the music copyright lawsuits of the past What marketers and social teams need to consider before hitting “post” on AI-generated assets

Sleeping on YouTube Shorts = leaving serious money on the table. In this episode, David Brickley breaks down why YouTube Shorts is the most underrated (and underused) platform—and why your brand should be taking it way more seriously.

Your content isn’t going viral because… it’s not being shared. In this episode, David Brickley explains why shares and DMs are the most valuable engagement you can get—and why a simple like isn’t nearly enough anymore.

“Gen Z just has no attention span.” Nope. Your content just sucks. In this episode, David Brickley breaks down why short attention spans aren’t a generational issue—they’re a boring content issue. If your video isn’t grabbing attention, it’s not because your audience is too distracted. It’s because your content isn’t good enough.

12 years. 8 figures. Dozens of hires, pivots, wins, and mistakes. In this episode, David Brickley shares the 12 most valuable lessons he’s learned after building STN Digital from a two-person startup to one of the top social-first agencies in sports and entertainment.

Let’s be real: branded content usually doesn’t go viral—especially when it’s obviously an ad. But LeBron James just flipped the script.   In this episode, David Brickley breaks down how Royal Kingdom nailed a rare branded moment that fans actually loved—and why even the NBA’s 90M-follower collab couldn’t compete.  

Let’s be honest: the word “agency” can be a major red flag in the marketing world. Missed deadlines. Cookie-cutter strategies. A “B team” handling your brand after the pitch. We’ve all heard the horror stories. But not all agencies are created equal. In this episode, David Brickley breaks down what separates the pretenders from the contenders and why a great agency partner can be your brand’s secret weapon.

Stephen A. Smith. Joe Rogan. Alex Cooper. These aren't just media personalities—they're elite communicators earning nine-figure deals. But what do those contracts have to do with your career in marketing, social, or leadership? In this episode, David Brickley explores why communication is one of the most valuable professional skills—and how you can develop it to build trust, earn promotions, expand your network, and become a stronger leader.

Going viral is great—but what you do after the moment is what really counts. In this episode, David Brickley and Jason Samuelson break down exactly how to remix viral content to squeeze every last bit of ROI out of it. From behind-the-scenes fan cams to nostalgic anniversary posts, they walk through real examples from brands like WWE, the Indiana Pacers, and the Indiana Fever to show how remixing is the ultimate content cheat code.