As the "happy new years" ring out, what resolutions are those in adland setting for 2026?

Last year unleashed a relentless wave of change across the advertising and media industry, from agency mergers and closing shops to restructures, the growing prominence of social and tech platforms, and some great creative work. 

Now, in 2026, Campaign begins the year with a look at what adland’s new year resolutions should be, what the industry should give up and what is coming up in 2026. Over the next few weeks, Campaign is releasing essays on the year ahead and the top agencies to watch.

Editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis join the episode, hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.

Further reading:

The Year Ahead 2026: Media agencies

The Year Ahead 2026: Strategy

The Lists 2025: Top 20 film ads

The Lists 2024: Top 10 campaigns

Has 2025 been the year for independent agencies?

Traitor or faithful – what will adland remember about 2025?

Will the new Omnicom work?

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WPP, Publicis Groupe, Omnicom, Interpublic, Havas and Dentsu have hitherto been known to adland as the "big six". However, the past year has brought the announcement of a proposed merger between Omnicom and IPG, while Havas and Dentsu have become comparatively smaller.

So, the "big six" become the "big three", but is there another challenger? Accenture Song's latest results reported revenues of $20bn (£15bn) in the 12 months to August, putting it on par with Omnicom’s $16bn, Publicis’ €16bn ($19bn) and WPP’s £15bn ($20bn). The business has picked up the $42m media account for Optus in Australia and remains in the running for Jaguar Land Rover’s global integrated marketing account.

With significant changes among the biggest holding companies continuing to shift the advertising landscape, some have questioned whether it is the end of the "big six", heralding the start of a new "big four". In this week's episode of The Campaign Podcast, Campaign's editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, UK editor Maisie McCabe and media editor Beau Jackson, examine the potential outcomes. The episode is hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.

Further reading:

Accenture is at a crossroads for its global agency ambitions

What's next for Accenture Song? CEO Ndidi Oteh at Campaign Live

‘Song is changing Accenture’: CEO Ndidi Oteh on media, M&A and ‘Big Four’ agency rivalry

Omnicom now ‘confident’ IPG deal will close in November as EU approval nears

Yannick Bolloré on Havas’ Q3 ‘acceleration’, Dentsu’s assets and being ‘open’ to M&A

Havas ‘could be interested’ to buy or partner with some of Dentsu’s international assets

Arthur Sadoun on why Publicis is ‘winning’ and how ‘struggling’ rivals have dragged down agency valuations

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Campaign's premium content editor Nicola Merrifield is joined by the four companies that won in their category for company size in the annual Best Places to Work scheme.

On this episode of the podcast we hear from Bath-based digital agency Bind Media, which ranked first among boutique workplaces, plus adtech companies Mobsta and Blis – which came top in the small and large categories – and ad agency RPM, winning in the medium group.

The guests cover everything from staff feedback to moving office, plus their approach to managing employees' workload. 

Further reading:

Meet the winners of Campaign's Best Places to Work 2024 

Top five boutique companies

Top five small companies 

Top five medium companies

Top five large companies 

Best Places to Work: how mentally healthy workforces win

Best Places to Work: Employees pinpoint where their bosses succeed

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Campaign's editorial team takes you behind the week's biggest headlines, with the views from our news desks. Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, media editor Beau Jackson and reporter Charlotte Rawlings discuss all things media and creativity.

We delve into the breaking news of Natalie Cummins leaving Zenith UK and the speculation surrounding the rival agency she'll go to next. Plus, Jackson explains the leadership shuffle that Cummins has left in her wake as Sannah Rogers and Jon Stevens, managing directors of Zenith UK, have stepped up to lead the agency following her departure.

In other breaking news, a very popular story closed the month with L'Oréal UK and Ireland switching its £220m media account to a new agency.

Covering creativity, Rawlings talks through Leo Burnett's first work for Vodafone UK after the hotly contested pitch last year.

Plus, we talk through the beginning of Pride Month with a black and white campaign from Pride in London and Jackson goes head-to-head with AI in light of adland's response to Mark Read's deepfake debacle.

Further reading:

Total Media acquired by Serviceplan Group’s Mediaplus

MediaSense to acquire PwC UK team

Ad industry bodies criticise Edinburgh OOH ban

BBH opens applications for next Barn cohort

Supercell signs up Chris Hemsworth and Christina Ricci for star-studded ads

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Ahead of this year’s Cannes Lions festival of creativity, media editor Beau Jackson and senior media reporter Shauna Lewis are joined by Michelle Sarpong of the7stars and Charlene Williams from Pearl & Dean.

Speaking of attending the festival in 2022 and 2023, Sarpong and Williams discuss personal experiences of prejudice, exploring the challenge of inclusivity at the festival and in advertising as a whole. 

Themes of tokenism, siloing and the importance of growing diverse spaces and allyship are covered with their hopes for how the festival continues to evolve, improving its access and opportunity.

Further reading:

Did Cannes live up to your hope of a more inclusive festival?

#CannesForAll returns to take two cohorts of diverse talent to Cannes Lions

Let's design Cannes for inclusion

Cannes is upping its accessibility accommodations — but there’s more to be done

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For Campaigns 21st Media 360 event, adland descended on Brighton's waterfront at The Grand Hotel for two days to learn how to take risks and reap the rewards in media and advertising.

Fresh Air, the production partner on stage at Media 360, has asked speakers and members of the audience for their hot takes and top tips from event.

This episode is hosted by Michaela Hallam and produced by Clara Kavanagh and Neil Cowling of Fresh Air. 

Guests featured include:

Maisie McCabe and Gideon Spanier from Campaign UK

Jeremy Kanter from Fever Tree,

Zoe Harris from On the Beach,

Samuel Hunt from Lloyds,

Clare Chapman from EssenceMediacomX,

Dan Daly from Halfords,

Gabriella Neudecker from Easyjet,

Neil Harrison from VirginMediaO2,

Arjoon Bose of General Mills,

Dan Geneen from The British Heart Foundation,

Alice Tendler from OVO,

Elliott Millard from Wavemaker,

Helen Saul from Shelter,

Susanne Nowak from Mondelez and

Sam McAllister, one of our key-note speakers. 

We also catch up with our two hosts of the conference, Natalie Bell from MG OMD and Enyi Nwosu from UM London. 

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In this special episode, recorded live at Campaign’s Media360 event in Brighton, the Media Week gang discuss all the highlights from this year’s show, as well as Netflix’s adtech play, Samsung’s creativity clap-back, devious deepfake scams, ROI research and social addiction. 

Hosted by Bukky from Wavemaker, Charlie from ShowHeroes and Jack from Craft Media.

Figures quoted in the MediaWeek podcast were accurate at the time of recording.

Rather than submitting a regular Media Anon (although you can still do that if you want to), we'd like to hear some of your Media Lunch stories. Submit them anonymously here: https://forms.gle/vdne4whY4zeUz1rM9

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Yesterday (22 May), Rishi Sunak announced that the UK general election will take place in six weeks, on 4 July.

Marking the upcoming elections on both sides of the Atlantic, Campaign's annual Media 360 event hosted a political debate on 21 May featuring Allison Phillips, former editor-in-chief of The Mirror, who moderated Camilla Tominey, associate editor, politics and royals at The Daily Telegraph, and Pippa Crerar, political editor at The Guardian.

The theme of this year's event was risk, and in this session the trio discussed the issues they believe will define the General Election, and consider what our political landscape is likely to look like in its aftermath. They questioned whether Trump really can win in the US again and debate the mounting threats to global security.  

Gideon Spanier, Campaign's UK editor-in-chief, introduced the panel with some poignant words on advertisers' dual responsibility: journalism is a great place to advertise because its trusted, but advertisers should also support journalism because it is a civic good.

Thank you to Newsworks for helping make this session happen.

Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley and senior media reporter Shauna Lewis begin the episode with the top takeaway from the event.

Further reading:

UK is trailing behind US in podcast advertising, says Goalhanger founder

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Campaign's editorial team take you through some of the biggest stories of the week with the views from their news desks.

The team discusses Asda's brand refresh and the use of humour in the supermarket category, how Shell and Havas were targeted by Brandalism in an out-of-home protest and adland's answers to Campaign's question of the week where we asked how big of a problem is brands pitching for free ideas.

Taking you through the headlines and top stories, this episode is hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, joined by reporter Charlotte Rawlings and deputy news editor Marianne Calnan.

Further reading:

Halfords appoints media planning and buying agency to £20m account

Assembly poaches managing partner from Group M

Group M broadens remit of Wavemaker global chief Toby Jenner

Craig Inglis re-emerges as Merlin Entertainment’s first CMO

Mother hires creative directors from Adam & Eve/DDB and Droga5

Monzo unveils debut work by Uncommon Creative Studio

East midlands appoints five agencies to roster

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Presented by Campaign UK’s editor-in-chief, Gideon Spanier, this sponsored podcast episode, produced in partnership with Pinterest, delves into:

• How to avoid appearing tokenistic

• How brands can get more involved in inclusivity

• How AI can be leveraged for good

• Examples of inclusivity in action

• Actionable strategies for brands and agencies

Featuring: Andréa Mallard, global chief marketing & communications officer, Pinterest; Michael Brown, head of insight & research, UM; Chloë Davies, founder, It Takes a Village Collective

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E45 and T&Pm have today (17 May) released their winning campaign for Channel 4's Diversity in Advertising Award. “This is me, this is my space” is a playful but meaningful film created by T&Pm that depicts the intimate and private story of trans women and the struggles with skin from transitioning.

The team won the award last year and as a prize, have been awarded £1m advertising airtime across Channel 4's network.

To delve deeper and talk through the making and inspiration behind this bold campaign, Sally Perry, global skin health category director on E45 at Karo Healthcare, and Mika Alcock associate creative director at T&Pm, are welcomed into the podcast studio.

Hosted by Campaign's tech editor, Lucy Shelley, Perry and Alcock discuss how they collaborated with the trans community, how E45 will protect its talent from potential backlash and what the brand and T&Pm hope this will achieve for the trans community.

The ad will go live tonight at 9pm tonight (17 May) on Channel 4, during Gogglebox.

Content warning: this episode contains the use of hate speech.

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It's been all about creativity the last week, with some ads that crushed it and some ads that got crashed...

In this news episode, Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley and reporter Charlotte Rawlings talk through some of the top stories of the last week with the view from our news desks. We discussed Apple's "Crush" ad and the controversy that surrounded it and PG Tips brand refresh with its first new work in eight years from new agency Calling. Plus, Rawlings takes us through what makes a Campaign Pick of the Week with Tui's first-class safety film by Leo Burnett UK.

Further reading:

The creative backlash against Apple 'Crush' missed the point

OMD UK head of strategy departs for sustainability startup

Havas Media Network sets up digital centre of excellence and appoints Paul Bland as leader

WPP chief exec Mark Read targeted by deepfake scammers

Peroni Nastro Azzurro launches global creative review

William Hill to place bets on T&Pm as creative agency

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This episode of The Campaign Podcast explores whether marketers are using AI to do work traditionally done by their agencies and examines what clients are – and aren’t – doing with AI.

It comes as Campaign launches the Power 100, the list of the most powerful marketers in the UK. This year they were asked questions designed to tease out where they are on their AI journeys.

Presented by deputy editor Gemma Charles, guests on the podcast were premium content editor Nicola Merrifield, acting commissioning editor Louise Ridley and Will Hanschell, the co-founder and chief executive of generative AI platform Pencil that was acquired by The Brandtech Group in 2023.

Further reading:

• Power 100 2025: AI – giving marketers 'superpowers'
• Power 100 2025: the full list
• Campaign Power 100 2025 Hall of Fame revealed
• An inside job: when and how Power 100 marketers are going in-house

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In this special Campaign and Media Week podcast, sponsored by Pinterest, we talk about:

• How shopping behaviour changes at Christmas

• Why brands can avoid falling for fads

• What tools are available to predict the coming crazes

Featuring: Matt Whitehead, global media partnerships, Pinterest; Jazz Mondae, head of demand generation, Performics at Starcom; Deolu King, social practice partner, Kinesso

This podcast episode is sponsored by Pinterest.

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Campaign UK editor Maisie McCabe is joined by Franki Goodwin, chief creative officer at Saatchi & Saatchi London, Ant Nelson, executive creative director at Adam & Eve/DDB, and Jem Lloyd-Williams, chief executive of Mindshare UK, to talk all things Cannes Lions.

Topics include what to expect from the judging process, the perennial 'role of purpose' discussion point, campaigns to watch and how UK work might stack up against global competition.

Plus, the good and the bad of the festival itself and tips for first-time attendees.

Further reading:

Seven UK adland figures on Cannes Lions Shortlisting Jury

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There’s no new episode this week, as the Media Week Podcast gang are hard at work preparing for Campaign’s Media360 conference later this month - but don’t despair, as we’ve picked a few of our favourite discussions from previous episodes all around the theme of creativity in media and advertising. You can hear even more about these topics at Media360, from 21-22 May. 

Tickets on sale here: https://media360.campaignlive.co.uk/booking

Hosted by Bukky from Wavemaker, Harriet from Publicis, Charlie from ShowHeroes and Jack from Craft Media.

Figures quoted in the MediaWeek podcast were accurate at the time of recording.

Got a media confession you need to get off your chest? Need some life advice from the gang? Submit your questions for Media Anon here: https://forms.gle/HiBoYKYb7BaykuPG6

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In this news episode, the Campaign editorial team take you through some of the biggest stories making headlines in the last week.

Tech editor Lucy Shelley and media editor Beau Jackson discuss Levi’s picking UM for their global media account, research revealing adland's hybrid working disconnect and the release of Campaign's market report, The Big Divide, which delves deeper into the "big six" holding companies.

Also in this episode, hear about the ads that have caught their eye this week. They discuss Santander's "Bank of Antandec" ad by House 337 and Mitre Studios, promoting the Edge current account and the use of celebrity. Plus, they reveal their thoughts on Moneysupermarket's next ad starring Dame Judi Dench in command as the "MoneySuperSeven" go undercover at the opera.

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Campaign and Media Week have partnered with Pinterest to glean expert insights from industry leaders, as we explore how brands and media buyers can find shoppers where they want to be found. In this special podcast, we chat about: 

• How shopping behaviour has changed since the pandemic
• Where and when consumers are in a shopping mindset
• Purchasing behaviours among different demographics 
• The importance of every touchpoint 
• The future of shopping

Featuring: Matt Siberry, head of home, Pinterest; Rachel Morman, head of social, PHD Global; Eb Adeyeri, VP of paid social, Jellyfish

This is podcast episode is sponsored by Pinterest.

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Campaign's deputy editor Gemma Charles chats to editor Maisie McCabe and premium content editor Nicola Merrifield to find out what's new in this year's School Reports.

They discuss the agencies that received the highest scores, why Campaign is highlighting the shops that are Living Wage Foundation accredited and those that are All In Champions, plus why some agencies only received a provisional mark.

We also hear from agency bosses at Spark Foundry, Mother, Wieden & Kennedy, Goodstuff Communications and Dentsu Creative on two issues explored in new Campaign features: how to deal with the loss of a major client, and the ways agencies can grow their workforce sustainably.

Further reading:

School Reports 2024: A-Z

School Reports 2024: Economic headwinds slow agency billings growth

School Reports 2024: One step forward, two steps back for diversity

Now takes ‘heart-breaking’ decision to close after 13 years

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Covering the news this week, the Campaign editorial team discusses adland's biggest issues across media, creativity and tech.

The team, hosted by media editor Beau Jackson, discusses the Sky media shortlist and why agency pitches are moving to a holding group solution their biggest clients. Tech editor Lucy Shelley delves deeper into Brave Bison's full-year results and how the agency made the Social Chain acquisition pay off. Deputy news editor Marianne Calnan gives her verdict from being on the ground at the Rise conference last week.

Plus, the team reveal the campaigns that have caught their eye in the last week, including Waitrose's fallen billboard by Saatchi & Saatchi London, Ovo Energy's "Power nap" Alexa campaign by Goodstuff and Saatchis, and Tails.com's abundance (or not?) of labradors by TheOr.

Further reading:

Now takes ‘heart-breaking’ decision to close after 13 years

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Mail Metro Media, PHD and Zenith were among the big winners at this year’s sellout Campaign Media Awards.

Joining Campaign media editor Beau Jackson, they each discuss their competition; give behind-the-scenes insight into their award winning work; talk about where media makes a difference to a strong creative campaign and give a sneak-peak of what’s coming up this year.

She is joined by:

• Lauren Dick, executive director of media and data at Mail Metro Media, winner of Commercial Team of the Year

• Richard Clay, chief strategy officer at Zenith, whose seven wins included Banks & Financial Services, Best Use of Insight and Creative Idea - budget over £250K

• Tilly Macpherson-Bruty, associate planning director at PHD UK who worked on the Grand Prix winning "Pink sky thinking" campaign for Warner Bros' Barbie movie

Further reading:

Campaign Media Awards 2024: winners revealed

In Pictures: Campaign Media Awards 2024

Campaign Media Awards 2024: shortlist revealed

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‘Lunch and learn’ sessions are a historic part of the relationship between agencies and media owners - but how should they work, and are they still necessary? In this week’s episode, the Media Week Podcast team cook up their recipes for the ideal lunch and learn, as well as discussing the etiquette of CTV ads, AI news recommendations, and Disney’s efforts to lead the way in programmatic streaming ads.

Hosted by Bukky from Wavemaker, Harriet from Publicis, Charlie from ShowHeroes and Jack from Craft Media.

Figures quoted in the MediaWeek podcast were accurate at the time of recording.

Got a media confession you need to get off your chest? Need some life advice from the gang? Submit your questions for Media Anon here: https://forms.gle/CXPYw4SDRSqXzZTt8

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Campaign UK's editorial team discusses the news of the week, including WPP's rise internal in internal whistleblower reports and Publicis shaking up its board.

Creativity and media reporters, Charlotte Rawlings and Shauna Lewis, discuss some of the biggest news of the week with tech editor Lucy Shelley, from Campaign's research into agencies' gender pay gaps to the UK figures in the Cannes Lions Jury and we ask if agencies are losing their individuality as they increasingly move to a holding company solution for their biggest clients.

Also discussed in this episode:

Pablo hires creative directors from Adam & Eve/DDB and Special

Dan Cullen Shute exits Creature in agency restructure

Coming up this week: Campaign's School Reports 2024 and an interview episode with the winners of the Campaign Media Awards 2024.

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Campaign published its Faces to Watch list for 2025 last month and also canvassed the cohort on a range of topics both on and off-the-record. From hybrid-working and salary through to the rise of AI and diversity, the Faces – all of whom have worked in adland for eight years or less – gave their views freely.

This episode not only dissects their thoughts but also offers the perspectives of adland leaders on the lot of their junior staff. Hosted by Campaign’s deputy editor Gemma Charles, this episode features deputy media editor Shauna Lewis, acting commissioning editor Louise Ridley and reporter Ezster Gurbicz.

Among other issues, they discuss why juniors may have missed out by not starting their careers in the office due to Covid, the younger generation’s embrace of AI and the demise of hierarchical structures from yesteryear.

• Faces to Watch 2025: the full list
• Faces to Watch 2025: the AI adopters with a focus on diversity
• Faces to Watch 2025: Proportion 'very worried' about financial situation doubles
• Faces to Watch 2025: proportion in-office at least three days a week rises to over 80%
• Faces to Watch 2025: Drop in people experiencing bullying or harassment at work
• Faces to Watch 2025: Almost half think increasing use of AI in adland is positive
• What would be your advice for this year’s Faces to Watch?

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In a special episode about the forthcoming British Podcast Awards 2024, Gideon Spanier, the UK editor-in-chief of Campaign, looks at the latest trends in podcasting and advertising and discusses how to win at the most important awards in the UK podcast industry.

We speak to two BPA judges, Michaela Hallam, the director of content for Fresh Air, a podcast production company, and Chris Impey, co-editor of The Intelligence, The Economist’s daily news podcast, to get their expert views and awards tips.

Plus Adam Shepherd, the editor of the British Podcast Awards and head of podcasts for Haymarket Business Media’s marcoms portfolio, has details about the entry process for the BPAs — ahead of the early-bird deadline on 23 April and standard deadline on 9 May. More information is at britishpodcastawards.com

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Content creator and Gen Z marketing specialist Shola West spoke to Campaign work and inspiration editor Imogen Watson about the unspoken realities of influencer marketing at Campaign and PR Week's Influencer 360 on Wednesday (10 April).

Listen to audio from the session as West details how discrimination, pay disparities, and the marginalisation of certain voices run rife within the influencer industry.

West also discussed the difference between being an 'influencer' and a content creator and why she prefers the latter term, and shared her personal journey working in influencer marketing and as a content creator.

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On this week’s Campaign news podcast, tech editor Lucy Shelley and media editor Beau Jackson discuss the top stories of the past week including:

• Accenture Song’s Unlimited acquisition
• M&C Saatchi’s new strategy
• Monzo signing AnalogFolk
• Havas Media Network's new centralised planning team
• Interview with EssenceMediacom’s Kate Rowlinson

Also coming up for the week ahead: the Mail Metro Media football tournament, Campaign Experience Awards (17 April) and Campaign Media Awards (18 April)

Note: When discussing Havas Media Network’s Connected Planning Hub it is stated that the team will run across “All the different Havas businesses.” To clarify, this refers to all businesses which fall under Havas Media Network in the UK which is Havas Media, Havas Entertainment, Havas Market and Havas Play.

Further reading:

M&C Saatchi nabs McCann’s Rob Doubal and Laurence Thomson

M&C Saatchi to consider US acquisitions to bulk up creative network

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Creative and social impact strategist Chloë Davies joins Imogen Watson, Campaign's work and inspiration editor, to give the backstory behind It Takes A Village, a global hub with a mission to celebrate and champion black women in advertising, media, marketing and communications.

Described as the culmination of her life's work, Davies officially launched the collective at the end of March, announcing plans to spotlight black women’s underused and unrecognised power. 

In this episode, she explains how it will collect data to produce detailed insight and global reports over the next three years. 

Davies has worked with the Diversity Standards Collective on We Can't All Be Lying, a survey which will delve into the experiences of black women across the industry through the intersectional lens of the gender and ethnicity pay gaps. The survey is due to go live next week.

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This week, the gang dissect whether April Fools is still a relevant cultural moment for brands to tap into (and pick out their favourite fake ads from this year’s crop) as well as looking at banned ads, Meta and Netflix’s data-sharing deal, and the idea of an ad-funded BBC. Hosted by Bukky from Wavemaker, Harriet from Publicis, Charlie from ShowHeroes and Jack from Craft Media.

Figures quoted in the MediaWeek podcast were accurate at the time of recording.

Got a media confession you need to get off your chest? Need some life advice from the gang? Submit your questions here: https://forms.gle/CXPYw4SDRSqXzZTt8

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The Advertising Standards Authority has had a busy week of complaints, including bans for Nationwide and JML, its second in seven days.

Campaign's editorial team discusses the banned ads alongside others that have garnered ASA complaints and extreme responses, including ads from the Alzheimer's Society and Andrex, which was Campaign's Pick of the Week.

We also give you the headlines from media and creativity, including Amazon's media pitch shortlist and the Asos creative review.

This episode was hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley and featured media editor Beau Jackson and reporter Charlotte Rawlings.

Further reading:

Nationwide campaign banned over ‘misleading’ branch closure claims

Alzheimer’s Society TV ad prompts 128 complaints to the ASA

ASA bans second JML ad within a week

Pick of the Week: Andrex breaks the toilet ta-poo with style

CALM educating the nation on suicide shows strength of strategy and creative

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The past few weeks in adland have been a busy period for mergers, but luckily in this episode of the Campaign podcast the editorial team has the lowdown to keep you up to speed.

Media editor Beau Jackson, tech editor Lucy Shelley and reporter Charlotte Rawlings cover the latest goings-on at The & Partnership and MSix & Partners; AKQA and Grey and Forsman & Bodenfors London and CPB London.

The team also dig into Campaign’s deep-dive on the state of parental leave in adland, and take a look at what the industry thought of the UK slipping down the ranks in the Warc Creative 100.

Further reading:

Will AI power a reboot of full-service agencies?

Brandtech Group raises $115m in AI funding

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Caroline Pay, chief creative officer at Dentsu Creative, and Trevor Robinson, founder and executive creative director at Quiet Storm, join Campaign's reporter, Charlotte Rawlings, and work and inspiration editor, Imogen Watson, to review some of the latest ads.

Pay and Robinson dive into the V&A “If you’re into it, it’s in the V&A” by Adam & Eve/DDB, BBC “Things we love” by BBC Creative, British Airways "Everywhere we go" by Uncommon Creative Studio, Amazon “The grit” by Adam & Eve/DDB, Peta “This cartoon will change how you see bacon forever" by Grey London, and Just Eat “The joy of everyday” by McCann London.

Further reading:

Golf, knitting and Taylor Swift: the V&A taps into unique passions in targeted campaign

BBC and Aardman release stop-motion ads with real family voiceovers

British Airways launches ad campaign by Uncommon Creative Studio

Amazon products assist players in Uefa Women’s Football film

Peta takes inspiration from Ren & Stimpy to discourage pork consumption

Just Eat ads introduce Wes Anderson-inspired furry creatures

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The pitching arena has gone wild in the last seven days, with multiple big advertising accounts going up for review, putting pressure on incumbents and hopefuls alike.

In this episode, the Campaign editorial team go behind the headlines and discuss Molson Coors and Co-op appointing new creative agencies, Sainsbury's reviewing its media account and Pringles reviewing its global creative account.

WPP's Mark Read announced in the company's 2023 full year results that the new business pipeline is "significantly higher" than last year. This prompted Beau Jackson, Campaign's media editor, to ask adland if 2024 was experiencing a "pitch palooza" as seen after the pandemic. The team discuss the responses seen in the article from both media and creative agencies in advertising.

In non-pitch related news, Imogen Watson, Campaign's work and inspiration editor, discusses Sheffield City Council's decision to ban fossil fuel ads on its billboards as well as advertising for unhealthy foods, gambling and alcoholic drinks.

This episode was hosted by Campaign's tech editor, Lucy Shelley.

Further reading:

Molson Coors picks creative agency

Sainsbury’s reviews media account

Co-op appoints creative agency for 2024 project

Pringles reviews global creative account

Is the amount of new business in the pipeline ‘significantly higher than 2023’?

Sheffield City Council bans fossil fuel ads

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Campaign's Agency of the Year Awards took place last week in Royal Lancaster London hotel.

Leo Burnett, MG OMD and Rapp were among the top winners with eight trophies among them this year, including repeat wins for Leo Burnett and Rapp.

In this episode, Maisie McCabe, Campaign's UK editor, speaks to the award-winning chief executives at the agencies to discuss if H1's optimism will carry on for the year ahead, what place creative awards have in the media industry and why agencies must transform internally in order to transform their clients.

She is joined by:

Natalie Bell, CEO of MG OMD and winner of Head of Agency for Media,

Gabrielle Ludzker, CEO of Rapp and winner of Head of Agency for Customer Engagement,

and Carly Avener, CEO of Leo Burnett, who led the agency to bring home three awards.

Further reading:

Leo Burnett and Rapp’s double-AOY wins should inspire, not frustrate

Campaign UK Agency of the Year Awards 2023: winners revealed

Vodafone calls on Leo Burnett for creative duties

What to make of the Vodafone UK ad pitch?

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Neurodiversity exists in between 15 and 20% of UK adults, but recent All In data counts over half of adland’s UK workforce as neurodiverse, at 55%.

This week is dyslexia awareness week, and to mark the occasion this episode looks into neurodiversity in adland, and how the industry supports people with different ways of thinking, both internally and in the ads it produces. 

Hosted by Campaign's tech and multimedia editor, this episode welcomes guest Wayne Deakin, former global executive creative director at Wolff Olins, as well as media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis from the Campaign.

They discuss why advertising attracts people with different ways of thinking, how it impacts the work and the barriers and taboos that still exist making agency life challenging for those with neurodiversity.

Further reading:

‘More than just clothes’: Vanish builds on autism awareness work

How leaders can build a neurodiversity-friendly workplace

How I got diagnosed with ADHD at age 38

Great minds don’t think alike: How to tap the neurodivergent talent pool

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The quizzing quartet put their gaming (and dating) knowledge to the test, discussing how to plan effectively in the space and what to do when you swipe left! Hosted by Bukky from Wavemaker, Harriet from Publicis, Charlie from ShowHeroes and Jack from Craft Media.

A Map of the Disney Entertainment Empire: https://www.openculture.com/2020/01/a-map-of-the-disney-entertainment-empire.html

Supplier of the Quiz: https://www.anzu.io/blog/gaming-marketing-mix

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Campaign's work and inspiration editor Imogen Watson is joined by features editor Matt Barker and reporter Charlotte Rawlings to discuss a trio of features delving into creative partnerships.

The first of the three features examined issues surrounding creative partnerships, the second focused on the relationships between creative and strategy departments, and the third focused on lone creatives.

Further reading:

'A lot of love and heartache': why a creative partnership can sometimes feel more intense than a marriage

Hearts and minds: how creativity and strategy became the perfect couple

Collective creative thinking and the death of Don Draper 

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More people play video games today than the entire global population when the first video game was released. This just shows the impact and advertising potential this colossal industry has.

The Campaign Gaming Summit 2024 took place yesterday (13 March) and in this episode Lucy Shelley, Campaign's new tech editor, brings you a recap of the most unmissable moments from the day.

Plus, you can hear the full panel debate from Sam Wahab, global head of gaming and XR at Charlotte Tilbury; Kieran Holmes-Darby, ex-gaming director at Formula E and Leah Mates, director of marketing, fundraising and engagement at the British Heart Foundation. They discuss how brands can build communities within gaming via co-creation and how important being a gamer is to understanding the gaming audience.

Further reading:

Knorr super-charges digital vegetables with video game mods

British Heart Foundation and PHD to flatline live Twitch streams in CPR campaign

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Campaign's creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun is joined by premium content editor Nicola Merrifield and feature's editor Matt Barker to talk about some recent articles.

They cover: the Advertising Standards Authority's decision to overturn part of its ruling on the Calvin Klein FKA twigs ad; Campaign's interview with McCann London's Polly McMorrow; and Uncommon Creative Studio's start-up accelerator programme, Unrest.

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Features editor Matt Barker is joined by UK editor Maisie McCabe and premium content editor Nicola Merrifield to talk about the return of the A List, back after a four-year absence.

After touching on the selection process and logistical challenges of getting all the content together, talk quickly turns to some of the best responses from the A List questionnaire, not least the eternal debate around "cats or dogs?"

The trio then hand over to UK editor in chief Gideon Spanier, who interviewed Paramount’s chief content officer UK Ben Frow at last week's Campaign TV Advertising Summit.

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/alist/2024

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The fabulous four are back, this week discussing Instagram's stalkery partner vibes, fake news on X, and how to spell banker. Hosted by Bukky from Wavemaker, Harriet from Publicis, Charlie from ShowHeroes and Jack from Craft Media.

Figures quoted in the MediaWeek podcast were accurate at the time of recording.

Got a media confession you need to get off your chest? Need some life advice from the gang? Submit your questions here: https://forms.gle/CXPYw4SDRSqXzZTt8

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Campaign's creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun is joined by editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier and roving reporter Charlotte Rawlings to discuss some of the latest news.

They cover: Karen Blackett, WPP UK president, departing the business; Sky's media planning and buying review; the Campaign Media Awards shortlist and Rawlings' interview with Cannes Lions' global director of awards Marian Brannelly.

Further reading:

Adam & Eve/DDB: secret to Cannes success, comedy's return and consoling creatives

Cannes Lions 2023: see all the Grand Prix winners

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The Emmy and Bafta award-winning director and producer James Strong spoke to Campaign UK editor Maisie McCabe about directing ITV’s hit drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office in a session at Campaign’s TV Advertising Summit on Tuesday (27 February).

Listen to audio from the session as Strong and McCabe discuss how the television drama about the British Post Office scandal transcended entertainment and became a catalyst for social change.

They also discuss the implications for the future of TV drama, the portrayal of real-life issues, and how this will influence the strategies of broadcasters seeking to attract advertisers.

More:

ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office debut watched by record 9.2 million viewers

Mr Bates vs The Post Office is a powerful reminder that TV can deliver cultural change

Could Mr Bates vs the Post Office have been such a hit without linear TV?

RSA signs Mr Bates vs The Post Office director

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Campaign media editor Beau Jackson is joined by senior media reporter Shauna Lewis to discuss some of the latest news.

Items on the agenda include former Publicis Media UK chief executive Sue Frogley's new job, M&C Saatchi's appointment of Zaid Al-Qassab as group chief executive, and the latest departures at Channel 4.

The discussion also turns to commercial broadcasters' reaction to BBC Radio launching four new stations.

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Campaign features editor Matt Barker is joined by Jenny Mitton, managing partner and women's sports lead at M&C Saatchi, Melissa Robertson, chief executive officer at Dark Horses and Will Mould, senior vice-president of experiential in Europe at 160over90, to discuss 2024's big sporting events, focusing on the Olympics and European Football Championships.

Chat centres around the idea that sports fans are becoming more niche and how brands can look to engage with this more fractured market, before turning to sponsorship and messaging. 

Finally, everyone looks forward to some intriguging sporting action throughout the remainder of the year, both in and out of the stadium.

Further reading:

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/why-londons-olympic-branding-changed-game/1796670 

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/olympics-golden-opportunity-brands-despite-reputation-risks/1856863

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/natwest-tv-spot-team-gb-encourages-people-reach-goals/1862015

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Ndidi Oteh, the new global chief executive of Accenture Song, was interview on stage by Campaign's editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier at Campaign Live in her first UK interview.

24 days into the new job, Oteh discussed navigating change and scale, plans to expand in media buying, and how the agency arm of consulting giant Accenture compares to the big holding companies. This episode features the full session from the event, with an introduction from Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley.

Oteh divulged Song's acquisition strategy, focusing on talent and partnerships, and how the creative shop is actually changing the consultancy giant.

Further reading:

Four agency groups in race to win Jaguar Land Rover global marketing account

Dentsu appoints bankers to seek buyers for international business

Accenture and WPP have discussed potential M&A deal

WPP hires AKQA global CEO from Accenture

Accenture Song dropped from TfL creative review for 'not meeting DEI criteria'

Accenture Song appoints Ndidi Oteh as North America lead

David Droga to step down as CEO of Accenture Song

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Our intrepid media explorers investigate wrestling, goggles and stainless steel thermoses. Hosted by Bukky from Wavemaker, Harriet from Publicis and Jack from Craft Media.

Got a media confession you need to get off your chest? Need some life advice from the gang? Submit your questions here: https://forms.gle/CXPYw4SDRSqXzZTt8

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Campaign media editor Beau Jackson, premium content editor Nicola Merrifield and UK editor Maisie McCabe delve into some of the latest news and features.

They discuss M&C Saatchi's hiring of Jo Bacon – global client lead for Ogilvy and WPP across Unilever – as its chief executive, the departure of R/GA London's executive strategy director Fern Miller, and how far digital advertising can save the linear TV downturn.

There is also the launch of Campaign Canada and the upcoming Campaign TV Advertising Summit. 

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Campaign's journalists Gurjit Degun, Imogen Watson and Charlotte Rawlings discuss some of the latest news.

They cover the Advertising Standards Authority investigating Nationwide's ads; the latest pitching activity from brands including National Express, Molson Coors and USwitch; and the shops shortlisted for the Agency of the Year Awards.

The trio also talk about brands' activity around Valentine's Day.

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