Morning Consult vs Morningstar

Amex Partners with Harry Styles for Fan Experiences

American Express is expanding its music fandom strategy by partnering with Harry Styles on his 'Together, Together' tour and album, offering card members exclusive presale tickets, merchandise, album release events, and a global sweepstakes. The partnership includes album pop-ups across 16 cities and aligns with Styles' 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden. Amex has previously worked with artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish, aiming to deepen emotional connections with card members by leveraging fandom. Research cited shows 92% of music fans want deeper artist connections, and over 70% of engagement comes from Gen Z and millennials. The strategy focuses on authentic collaborations with artists' teams rather than simple logo placements.

• American Express partners with Harry Styles for his 'Together, Together' tour and album, offering card members exclusive presale tickets, merchandise, and pop-up events across 16 cities.
• The partnership includes a global sweepstakes across 26 countries to win tickets and a trip to see Harry Styles on tour.
• Amex's music fandom strategy previously included artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, and Tate McRae.

Charting the Growth in Sports Betting

New article from Morning Consult on sports betting statistics.

How Brands Are Putting Morning Consult’s AI Connector to Work

10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for Morningstar

Morningstar, Inc. reported its financial and operating results for the second quarter and first six months of 2026, highlighted by the strategic acquisition of the Center for Research in Security Prices, LLC (CRSP) from the University of Chicago for $363.0 million in cash. The transaction strengthens Morningstar's positioning among U.S. equity index providers and was financed alongside debt refinancing via its $1.5 billion senior credit facility. The company demonstrated strong operational momentum in Morningstar Credit and key license-based software platforms (PitchBook and Morningstar Direct), while returning significant capital to shareholders via $400.0 million in share repurchases year-to-date and maintaining a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share.

• Completed the acquisition of CRSP on February 2, 2026, for $363.0 million in cash, funded via a $1.5 billion senior credit facility.
• Executed $400.0 million in share repurchases in the first half of 2026 under its 3-year $1.0 billion program and maintained a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share.
• Executive Chairman Joe Mansueto established a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan on June 8, 2026, covering the potential sale of up to 200,000 shares of common stock.