After dominating news headlines throughout December, and likely well into 2025, it is all still possible for the Omnicom-IPG merger to fall through, repeating history from 2013 when Omnicom failed to merge with Publicis Groupe.

Campaign's editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier sat down in a global exclusive interview with John Wren, CEO of Omnicom, and Philippe Krakowsky, CEO of IPG, after they announced the all-stock deal on 9 December to create the world's biggest agency group. Since then, the share price of Omnicom declined 15%.

In this episode, Spanier is joined by editor Maisie McCabe and media editor Beau Jackson to ask the $31bn question: will the merger really happen?

Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, the team discuss the regulatory obstacles the holdcos need to hurdle, a shrink in share prices, and the potential for divergent performance of Omnicom and IPG in 2025. Is the merger an attempt to "fight scale with scale", says Spanier, to compete with the power of tech companies. The team asks where it leaves R/GA and Huge after being held for sale last year and any signs that adland might see a repeat of the attempted Publicis merger.

Further reading:

The $31bn Omnicom-IPG deal has industrial logic but also many caveats

Omnicom-IPG merger: how the holdcos stack up in the UK

Interpublic sells digital experiences agency Huge

'The industry doesn’t need another behemoth’: Stagwell CEO on Omnicom-IPG

Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun says Omnicom-IPG deal is 'real opportunity'

Omnicom and IPG 'huddling together as cold winds blow': Martin Sorrell

Everything we know so far about the Omnicom-IPG mega merger

Coming up in the Campaign calendar:

Media Week Live, 29 January

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How is adland going to change this year?

To get listeners ready for the year ahead, Campaign's editorial team give a taste of adland's predictions for the next 12 months, including which resolutions to give up and which take on in 2025.

Tech editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode alongside editor Maisie McCabe, culture and creativity editor Alessandra Scotto di Santolo and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.

After revealing their personal resolutions for the year, the team asks adland to give up cheesy collaborations for 2025 as well as the dream of certainty. McCabe hopes that brands might reconsider where they put their media spend and questions if "be bolder" is a good enough resolution.

Campaign will be releasing more Year Ahead content and agencies to watch over the coming weeks.

Further reading:

The Year Ahead 2025: Media owners

Eight media agencies to watch in 2025

Snog, marry, avoid: what kind of year was 2024?

Was 2024 the year of AI?

Will media buyers be the first victims of AI?

Barclaycard series was a credit to advertising

Coming up in the Campaign calendar:

Year Ahead Breakfast Briefing, 14 January

Media Week Live, 29 January

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"A lukewarm snog" might be how one Campaign journalist describes 2024, but how would you?

In the final episode of the year for The Campaign Podcast, the editorial team gathers one last time to recap the year and answer a very important, hard-hitting question: would you snog, marry or avoid 2024?

From the Post Office scandal and dartsman Luke Littler, to the Jaguar rebrand and a year of elections, a lot has happened in the past 12 months both inside and outside adland's walls.

Features editor Matt Barker tells us of his appreciation for (non-Saltburn) Barry Keoghan in Adidas' "You can't beat original" by Homeground. Premium content editor Nicola Merrifield recounts the year's most controversial moments including the banning of a Calvin Klein ad featuring FKA Twigs. Deputy editor Gemma Charles gets ready to sell her soul to Cadbury's and AI while editor Maisie McCabe remembers the brilliance of Channel 4's "Considering what?" campaign for the Paris Paralympics.

This episode was hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley.

Further reading:

• The Lists 2024: Top 20 film ads
• The Lists 2024: Top five advertisers
• The Lists 2024: Top 10 campaigns
• The Lists 2024: Top five people moves
• The Lists 2024: Top 10 brands
• The Lists 2024: Top 10 commercial chiefs
• The Lists 2024: Top 10 mishaps
• The Lists 2024: Top 20 creative leaders
• The Lists 2024: Top four digital innovations

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Maisie McCabe, editor of Campaign UK and David Droga, founder of Droga5 and chief executive of Accenture Song, sat together on stage at Ciclope last month to discuss creativity, the evolving landscape of advertising and how to build meaningful connections between brands and audiences in the digital age.

"Creative to the bone," said Droga describing himself and how he feels holding a CEO role. He explained how the job of an advertising creative is to "do more" with the briefs they are given, creating transformative work.

In the 50-minute chat they discuss why Droga took the "stupid job" as chief executive being a creative, how adland should let AI be a part of what we do and who inspires him today.

Further reading:

• 'Creative people make the world worth living in': David Droga on advertising's future
• Expanding in-house production won't rescue ad agencies' drowning business models
• Droga5 appoints Mark Green as global CEO and adds The Monkeys to network
• David Droga on moving from being a creative in business to building a business on creativity

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2024 had big expectations when it came to artificial intelligence, but did the year live up to the hype... was it a year of "AI in action" as the IAB predicted or AI inaction?

Campaign's editorial team gathers in the studio in an episode hosted by Maisie McCabe, UK editor, while tech editor Lucy Shelley (and usual host) swaps over to be in the hot seat.

Also joined by features editor Matt Barker and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis, the four discuss the highs and lows of AI this year, including Coca-Cola's Christmas ad made by AI, which was Campaign's Turkey of the Week. They compare it to Vodafone's AI Christmas ad and recount other controversial AI moments from the year including Publicis' AI BS Bot and Under Armour's AI ad with Anthony Joshua.

The team discuss how AI has shaped the adland this year – Lewis reveals insights from her interview with Johnny Hornby, founder and chief executive at T&Pm, after it was fully acquired by WPP last month. He cited AI as a main driver for the sale.

Further reading:

Will the Coca-Cola ad deter brands from using AI in film?

Will media buyers be the first victims of AI?

Media buying among 'first areas to go' with rise of AI, says MediaMonks co-founder

Is 2024 a vintage year for Christmas ads?

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During the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Channel 4 set themselves the target of subtitling all the ads during the channel's coverage, beginning at a current level of 25%. After a huge effort, the broadcaster managed to achieve 60%.

In this episode, Channel 4's customer and commercial leader Amy Jenkins discusses how brands can do more to make ads accessible, the positive business impact this has and what, or who, is getting in the way.

Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode with media editor Beau Jackson and editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier.

Jackson brings insight from her contacts in the industry on the resistance within adland and if technology like AI can provide a solution. She discusses judging Channel 4's Diversity in Advertising Award and credits the organisations that are attempting to make positive change for accessible ads.

Further reading:

It’s time for adland to make alt text a first thought, not an afterthought

Apple tugs at ‘heartstrings’ through latest spot promoting AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids

RNIB 'hijacks' LadBible platforms to highlight experiences of blind people

Why agencies face tougher challenges to retain their All In Champion crowns

Is inclusive marketing a key driver for effectiveness? The results are in…

Beyond the screen: why real-world accessibility for disabled people still falls short

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In this bonus episode, Charlotte Rawlings, senior creativity reporter at Campaign, is joined by Maisie McCabe, Campaign’s UK editor, to discuss this year’s Christmas ads with some of the industry’s top creatives.

This Private View includes Chaka Sobhani, president and chief creative officer international at DDB Worldwide, and David Kolbusz, chief creative officer at Orchard. They chat all things festive alongside Richard Brim, outgoing chief creative officer at Adam & Eve/DDB. Brim recorded the podcast before announcing his departure from Adam & Eve/DDB.

The gang discuss Christmas spots for the likes of The Entertainer, McDonald’s, Tesco and Etsy. The guests even discuss Agent Provacteur's shameless time travel to the era of “lad mag” culture (not suitable for work) and Kolbusz compares the Disney short to a salmon sandwich. 

Further reading:

• Disney Christmas ad by Adam & Eve/DDB shows friendship between boy and octopus
• The Entertainer Christmas ad showcases fickle nature of kids with toys
• Gingerbread-fuelled Tesco ad touches on grief during the festive period
• McDonald’s lights up festive season with ‘satisfying’ Christmas campaign
• Find Waldo in Etsy’s holiday campaign
• Waitrose & Partners campaign conjures up star-studded festive mystery
• Christmas 2024 round-up: Watch all the festive ads

Coming up in Campaign's calendar:

• Media Week Live
• Campaign 40 Over 40

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DING, DING, DING! Adland's agencies have entered the ring.

In this episode, Campaign's editors of creativity, media and tech battle it out to determine which discipline should be the lead agency for clients.

The team discuss how client relationships have changed over the years, how different budgets might change which discipline would lead and whether there should be a lead agency at all.

Taking up the fight for creative agencies is Alessandra Scotto di Santolo, creativity and culture editor. For media, its media editor Beau Jackson and for social and digital agencies, it's the podcast's host and Campaign tech editor Lucy Shelley. Maisie McCabe, UK editor at Campaign also joins the argument for a perspective on the differing client relationships between creative and media agencies.

Further reading:

Energy Networks Association consolidates creative and media accounts into WPP

What are the benefits to appointing media and creative agencies at the same time?

Santander reviews global creative and media accounts

Asda launches review of creative and media accounts

Pitch Update: Sky, Asda, Pets At Home, Interflora, Motorway, RM Williams and more

Coming up in Campaign's calendar:

Media Week Live

Campaign 40 Over 40

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Campaign’s editorial team take to the studio clad in Christmas jumpers and novelty antlers to chat about this year’s crop of festive ads. 

A wave of ads have dropped over the last few weeks, including the likes of John Lewis, Waitrose, McDonald’s, M&S, Coca-Cola, Amazon, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

In this episode, the team discusses some standout work as well as other spots that didn’t quite hit the mark. Guests also debate whether John Lewis still holds the yard stick when it comes to quality Christmas ads, argue the value of revisiting old strategies and praise the power of music.

Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley is joined by Maisie McCabe, UK editor, Alessandra Scotto di Santolo, creativity and culture editor, and Charlotte Rawlings, senior creativity reporter.

Further reading:

• ‘Wonderful nostalgia’, ‘little annoyances’, ‘brilliantly chosen track’: creatives react to John Lewis Christmas ad
• John Lewis Christmas ad depicts 'magical journey of memories' between sisters
• Waitrose & Partners campaign conjures up star-studded festive mystery
• McDonald’s lights up festive season with ‘satisfying’ Christmas campaign
• Sainsbury’s and the BFG serve up a 'phizz-whizzing' Christmas feast
• Gingerbread-fuelled Tesco ad touches on grief during the festive period
• Coca-Cola unveils ‘Holidays are coming’ ad made by AI
• Amazon's Christmas campaign puts theatre caretaker's talent centre stage
• M&S Food's Sharry Cramond hails consistency as Dawn French's festive fairy returns
• M&S Clothing & Home ad imagines Christmas inside a snow globe
• Find Waldo in Etsy’s holiday campaign

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The jury is out and the 2024 awards season is drawing to a close – with adland celebrating the best work of the year at the Campaigns Big Awards 2024 last week.

In this episode, tech editor Lucy Shelley catches up with co-chairs of judges Charlene Chandrasekaran, executive creative director at TheOr, and Nicholas Hulley, chief creative officer at Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO. Alongside Campaign's UK editor Maisie McCabe, they dissect what happened on the judging days and what makes award-winning work in 2024.

Chandrasekaran explains her sausage analogy mentioned in her speech on the night while the duo reveal what they'd like to see in next year's awards circuit including how brands and agencies need to "stick their necks out" and have a bit more "teeth".

Later on the episode, Shelley chats with the big winner of the night Mother, which picked up the grand prix Agency of the Year award as well as five more gongs for its work with Uber One, KFC and Ikea. Katie Mackay-Sinclair, partner at the creative shop, discusses Mother's winning ingredients, why long-term partnerships make the difference and finding the space to take risks.

Other big winners on the night included McCann, Saatchi & Saatchi, Adam & Eve/DDB and PepsiCo's Sips & Bites.

Further reading:

Campaign Big Awards 2024: winners revealed

Uber's and Mother’s partnership demonstrates the value of being annoying

Uber taps Robert De Niro and Asa Butterfield for Uber One spot

KFC and Mother tap into modern anxieties for first phase of brand relaunch

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