In this special edition of #MediaSnack, Tom Denford and David Indo break down the most significant shifts in the global media and marketing industry from 2025. From blockbuster mergers and AI disruption to mass layoffs and murky data breaches, this has been a year of consolidation, chaos, and recalibration. Using the letters of “MediaSnack,” they recap the 10 biggest themes every CMO and media leader should be tracking as we head into 2026. Plus, they name their Media Person of the Year — the industry figure who had the most structural impact on media this year.

This is your essential summary of the year in media, packed with perspective, insight, and guidance for marketers navigating what comes next.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why consolidation was the biggest story of the year — and how the Omnicom-IPG mega-merger is changing everything
• How AI moved from hype to operating system, and why marketers are right to ask: “Where’s the value?”
• The morale and trust crisis triggered by agency layoffs and the Dentsu data breach
• Why CMOs are demanding tighter control and outcome-based transparency from their partners
• The rise of retail media and the hidden cost of chasing "cheap reach" in a slop-filled content landscape

Plus: The MediaSnack Person of the Year — a bold, controversial choice.

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

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