Advertisements have existed since the dawn of commerce. Archaeologists have even found signs in the ancient city of Pompeii, suggesting travellers visit a tavern located in a nearby town. In medieval times town criers announced notices to the public, similar to how announcers deliver commercials on the radio and television today. In the Sixteenth century, graphical insignias, or trademarks , became common, such as the striped pole of a barber's shop.

In an effort to increase wide-spread promotion in modern times, businesses increasingly turned to emerging mass-distribution channels of media, such as printed publications like newspapers and magazines, and radio and television broadcasts. Today, advertising is a financial necessity for most publications and telecommunications networks. Newspapers wouldn't be able to sell for pennies a copy without extensive ad space, and without commercials broadcasting a national television network would be impossible. While many consumers find these commercials a nuisance, most understand why they exist.

The highly commercialized United States spends more money than any other nation on advertising: over $120 million annually. Of this revenue, over one quarter is spent on newspaper ads, with television commercials slightly behind. The third largest advertising market is direct advertising, where the product is promoted without an indirect medium such as newspapers. Radio and magazine advertising trail far behind the three primary forms.