The Campaign Podcast

Campaign

Welcome to Campaign magazine's award-winning podcast, our weekly look at the biggest stories, campaigns and important issues in UK advertising and media. Presented by Campaign's editorial team. Read more at http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/resources/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Traitor or faithful – what will adland remember about 2025?

    16 DEC

    Traitor or faithful – what will adland remember about 2025?

    Does January feel like a week ago or five years? The past 12 months have brought with them a lot – a mega-deal, cyber attacks, agencies renamed, new chief executives, trends fading in and out, redundancies and, of course, AI. In the final podcast episode of the year, Campaign takes a look back over 2025 at some of the most memorable moments of the year, revisiting the top stories, reviewing who was the most talked about and picking out those moments that would be better forgotten. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode and is joined by Campaign UK media editor Beau Jackson, reporter Eszter Gurbicz and editor Maisie McCabe. Further reading: Lucky Generals: ‘A creative company for people on a mission: that is still our north star’ White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood will no longer appear in M&S Christmas ad Santander appoints Publicis to global creative and media business WPP recruits Microsoft exec Cindy Rose to replace Mark Read as CEO Campaign's top 10 most read stories: Group M tells staff about redundancies as restructure hits UK WPP mandates four days per week in office Omnicom reveals huge agency shake-up, unveils new leadership, cuts 4000 jobs Agency pay revealed: a squeezed middle and a boost for bosses School Reports 2025: A to Z WPP employees push back on return-to-office policy with petition Revealed: Latest hybrid working policies across 'big six' agency groups WPP Media unveils new UK leadership structure under Brian Lesser overhaul Group M axes global agency CEO roles in major centralisation push WPP set to drop Group M brand in media shake-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  2. Will the new Omnicom work?

    10 DEC

    Will the new Omnicom work?

    Omnicom completed its acquisition of IPG on Wednesday 26 November after clearing EU regulation. On the Monday that followed (1 December) the new holding company revealed a huge restructure including 4000 job cuts to happen by the end of the year, agencies merging, new leadership announced and some networks ceasing to exist. In this episode of The Campaign Podcast, Campaign's editorial team discuss the shape of the new holding company, which agencies are left and what chief executive John Wren is hoping will make it succeed against its competitors.  Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, the episode features editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, editor Maisie McCabe and news editor Will Green. Further reading: John Wren’s ‘defining moment’: can the last King of Madison Avenue make the new Omnicom work? John Wren on how Omnicom ‘will succeed’: more collaboration, new bonuses, big job cuts Omnicom consolidates global advertising agencies into TBWA, McCann and BBDO Omnicom keeps six media networks but switches global CEOs to brand presidents Adam & Eve/DDB to merge with TBWA\London and FCB to fold into AMV BBDO Omnicom Media promotes Natalie Bell and Katrina Bozicevich following IPG deal FCB's Tyler Turnbull set to be appointed CEO of McCann Worldgroup Chaka Sobhani set for new role after Omnicom acquires IPG Omnicom-IPG: How merger will reshape the competition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  3. Has 2025 been the year for independent agencies?

    2 DEC

    Has 2025 been the year for independent agencies?

    At the start of the year, 2025 was predicted by some adland commentators to be the year for independent agencies. Omnicom was beginning to acquire IPG to make the largest holding company, redundancies occurred across some of the networks and WPP had a more-than-difficult year on top of a new chief executive. 2025 has seen the launch of many independent agencies including Ace of Hearts, Studio.One and Baby Teeth, while Ark Agency and Uncharted came into their second year. Plus, IPG sold R/GA and Huge separately to private equity, also becoming independent.  So now the year is almost up, Campaign's editorial team discuss whether independent media and creative agencies have benefited from distraction caused by the holding companies. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode and is joined by creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun, media editor Beau Jackson and editor Maisie McCabe. Further reading: Omnicom reveals huge agency shake-up, unveils new leadership, cuts 4000 jobs Ace of Hearts: dealing adland a new hand Troy Ruhanen: 'I wouldn't have taken OAG job if it was all about efficiency and smashing things' Group M tells staff about redundancies as restructure hits UK Omnicom cut 3000 roles during 2024 ahead of IPG takeover move Mega merger adds to existing questions for Interpublic Global agency groups 2024 report card: Performances and staff numbers decline as restructures continue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  4. Is TV still the main channel for Christmas ads?

    25 NOV

    Is TV still the main channel for Christmas ads?

    Christmas ads keep snowing down across TV, social, live experiences and digital channels. With the multiplicity of formats and audiences fragmenting, does TV still reign as the top channel for festive films? In this episode of The Campaign Podcast, Campaign's editorial team gather to discuss the next round of Christmas ads, including Waitrose's "The perfect gift" by Wonderhood Studios, Tesco's "That's what makes it Christmas" by BBH and Disney's holiday short by Adam&Eve/DDB. Tesco and M&S Fashion, Home and Beauty replaced their longer TV ad with a series of shorter videos, while Waitrose produced a four minute rom-com style short film. Campaign's creativity team, creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, join editor Maisie McCabe to discuss why brands have altered the ‘typical’ Christmas ad format and it's role in the wider channel mix alongside social. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosted the episode. Further reading: Waitrose’s festive film the most watched 8pm slot on TV on 12 November Why Waitrose's 'The perfect gift' went rom-com for Christmas cut-through Waitrose & Partners turns BFI Imax into 'Piemax' Give the people what they want: the strategy behind Waitrose & Partners' Christmas campaign M&S celebrates beauty of hosting in next phase of festive campaign White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood will no longer appear in M&S Christmas ad How are the LHF restrictions affecting Christmas ads and beyond? What trends are shaping this year's Christmas ads season? Christmas 2025 round-up: watch all the festive ads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  5. What trends are shaping this year's Christmas ads season?

    11 NOV

    What trends are shaping this year's Christmas ads season?

    Christmas has hit adland like a snowball in the face, with the festive ads coming in thick and fast, so what can be gleaned from the first phase of holiday advertising? In this episode of The Campaign Podcast, the editorial team break down the themes that emerged in the first batch of Christmas ads and the industry’s reaction to the campaigns so far. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley is joined in the studio by creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun, deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings and editor Maisie McCabe. This episode was recorded last week, and discusses the following ads: John Lewis & Partners “Where love lives” by Saatchi & Saatchi Sainsbury’s “The unexpected guest” by New Commercial Arts Marks & Spencer Food “Traffic jamming” (in-house) M&S Fashion, Home and Beauty "Give the gift" by Mother TK Maxx "Festive Farm" by Wieden & Kennedy London (2023) Amazon "Joy ride" (in-house) (2023) Asda “A very merry Grinchmas” by Lucky Generals Boots “Gift happily ever after” by VML/The Pharm Further reading: Christmas 2025 round-up: watch all the festive ads John Lewis Christmas ad reaction: 'Soft nostalgia', 'middle of the pack', 'copy magic' ‘We made the music the gift’: Saatchis and John Lewis on nostalgia, emotion and 1990s bangers 'Brilliant brand fit' BFG stars in Sainsbury’s Christmas ad What do you think of the first wave of Christmas ads? What are your hopes for this year’s crop of Christmas ads? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

About

Welcome to Campaign magazine's award-winning podcast, our weekly look at the biggest stories, campaigns and important issues in UK advertising and media. Presented by Campaign's editorial team. Read more at http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/resources/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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