IGNITION ZEITGEIST

Ignition Zeitgeist is a handy resource for staying ahead of the cultural curve, covering the latest trends in entertainment, tech and marketing. Delivered straight to your inbox, Ignition Zeitgeist is designed for everyone who wants to stay informed, but only has time for the headlines. Whether it's the latest industry flash-in-the-pan, intriguing augurs of genuine cultural and societal change or the latest ephemeral viral sensation... Ignition Creative has you covered.

March 05, 2025

Trending 1: The 97th Academy Awards

The what… The biggest awards ceremony in the cinematic calendar took place on Sunday 2nd March in Los Angeles. It was a successful night for Anora which took home multiple awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress In A Leading Role.

All the winners… the full list

No Oscars summary would be complete without… the fashion from the red carpet

Trending 2: Online Dating

The what… In the wake of Valentine’s Day some interesting insights have come to light about the modern day dating scene. A new study of 1,500 singles has found that 76% now prefer early face-to-face meetings rather than protracted online chats, a trend evidenced by a significant decrease in the usage of popular dating apps.

The big question… are dating apps dying?

Could AI come to the rescue?… AI will save dating apps, or finally kill them

Can’t find a soul mate through apps?… find a gaming match instead

Trending 3: YouTube’s 20th Birthday

The what… On the subject of dating platforms, it would be remiss not to mention YouTube and its 20th birthday celebrations. The online video juggernaut, which started life as a dating site, has had a seismic impact on the content landscape.

It’s now doing alright for itself… YouTube statistics 2025

The content behind the numbers.. a computer that ‘drunk dials’ YouTube

Trending 4: Duolingo’s mascot meets its maker

The what… On 11th February the world was shocked to hear of the passing of Duolingo’s owl mascot. His feathery soul took flight after an unfortunate RTA, leaving millions of foreign language learners wondering what they’ll do without Duo’s daily guilt trips.

Like a Strigiform from the flames… Duolingo resurrects it mascot

Hoo was behind the strategy?… meet Duolingo’s TikTok mastermind

Ah nuts, Duolingo weren’t the first… the death of Mr. Peanut

Trending 5: Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special

The what… Saturday Night Live has reached its 50th year. The show celebrated with a star studded 3 hour primetime special featuring cast members both past and present. SNL’s alumni is staggering and regardless of whether its humour resonates with you, it’s undeniably a proving ground for iconic comedic talent.

Big laughs and big numbers… show hits 14.8m, 200% above average

Smile though your heart is aching… 50th special brings laughs and emotion

Monitoring… stories with legs

Monitoring 1: Entertainment / Video Game Crossovers

The what… With 40+ video game based movies currently in development and a string of recent success stories to prove the model, we’re excited to see our two favourite sectors collide and are eagerly watching to see if these crossovers can continue to realise their potential. In this section we also cover video games based on entertainment IP.

Monitoring 2: AI Marketing

The what… Love it or loathe it, AI is already having a tangible influence on the entertainment and creative sectors, with the potential for greater impact yet to come. Ignition Zeitgeist will tease out the latest meaningful developments and noteworthy uses.

Monitoring 3: TikTok

The what… It has been hard to escape the existential drama concerning the future of TikTok in the US. With an array of high profile suitors waiting in the wings and a change of administration, it feels like there are lots of twists and turns to come.

Insight Of The Week

In response to Amazon MGM Studios taking over creative control of the James Bond movie IP, YouGov surveyed British adults to get a sense for current sentiment towards the spy franchise. More than half of GB adults feel primarily positive towards the series, the majority of whom are male.

Ads In The News

A single 6s poster criticising Elon Musk has gone viral after it appeared at a bus shelter in London. OOH has a history of being hijacked for activism potentially due to its accessibility and prominence. - link

WTF Of The Week

Chatbots start talking in ‘GGWaves’ on realising they are both AI… - link

And Finally…

Ignition Creative are producing a series of insight deepdives in the form of genre health checks, landscape updates and thought pieces. The first of these looks at the UK horror audience… and we think it’s spookily good. If you’d like to receive a copy please do contact [email protected] and we will also ensure you receive all future studies.