Mumbrellacast

27 September 2023 What is going on at Dentsu? Restructuring, redundancies, and a few big appointments - all signs of the pressures on media businesses right now. Also today: Crown Resorts launches a major brand refresh - will it be enough to repair its reputation after two Royal Commissions? Threads and a rebranded Twitter fail to capture Australia’s attention And the launch of Mumbrella’s State of the Industry Survey Join Michael Thompson & Adam Lang for a look at everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella. Also mentioned in today's episode: the best work perks in adland.

20 September 2023 It's the biggest talent deal in Australian media history - can Kyle & Jackie O pull off a $200m contract? And what’s this mean for the broader industry? Also today: After YouTube's upfront and TikTok's For You Summit, we look at what the video giants are doing in the market right now Advertising businesses who work with fossil fuel companies are being called out, as pressure mounts on businesses and employees to align their client base with their ethics The Australian Women's Weekly is going online. After 90 years, the grand old dame of Aussie publishing is getting a digital presence. Join Michael Thompson & Adam Lang for a look at everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella.

13 September 2023 Advertising industry salaries have been revealed, showing benchmark wages right across adland. What's this tell us about the industry - and how can you use it to get a pay rise? Also today: The second coming of cinema advertising: surprising new research suggests Australian advertising preferences are experiencing a 90s throwback. And have you ever seen a brand do more collaborations than Vegemite? We look at the marketing value on both sides of the deal. Join Michael Thompson & Adam Lang for a look at everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella.

6 September 2023 Qantas has been engulfed by a PR nightmare. We look at what the new CEO has to do to restore public trust in the airline. Also today: It’s Upfront season - and in a tough advertising market, these events take on even greater significance And does the advertising industry have a problem with feedback? Join Michael Thompson & Adam Lang for a look at everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella.

30 August 2023 The latest radio ratings are in: we look at the big winners, and why some of the results have got broadcasters questioning the numbers. Also today: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the date for the Voice referendum - so now the campaigns to convince Australians will begin in earnest Free-to-air TV has united behind the VOZ Streaming platform. What will it mean for BVOD in Australia? Join Michael Thompson & Adam Lang for a look at everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella.

23 August 2023 Krispy Kreme dumped an offensive commercial this week after being alerted to the gaffe by Mumbrella. But how did it get through in the first place, and will it do lasting brand damage? Also today: Outdoor advertising is on the up - we look at why The best work perks in adland - what would draw you to your next workplace? And a spike in magazine readership suggests the end is not yet nigh for offline media Join Michael Thompson, Adam Lang & Sean Aylmer for a look at everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella.

16 August 2023 Australia's gone wild for the Matildas. Is this the turning point for women's sport in this country? Has it changed the way brands think about sport, and should the companies who backed them from the beginning be getting more praise? Also today: Podcast and BVOD ad spends are rising, as the rest of the market sinks. Seven West Media reported results today. We look at what it tells us about the market. Mat Baxter, Huge CEO, has returned to Australia. Can he run a global advertising company from down under? Join Michael Thompson, Adam Lang & Damian Francis for a look at everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella.

Join Sefiani boss Robyn Sefiani and Clarity Global Group's Sami McCabe on a journey of how and why the agency was acquired at the start of the year. 

"What the fresh hell is this?" is a question many Twitter users may have uttered in the last 48 hours as they log into their accounts only to be hit in the face by a giant X. The team looks at the latest instalment of billionaire Elon Musk's rebrand execution for Twitter and examines what it means for ads on the platform (2:34). Then, News Corp's Dan Krigstein (10:33) and oOh!media's Cathy O'Connor (33:18) join the chat. 

As the first game of FIFA Women's World Cup approaches, drama has emerged elsewhere in the sports world as the 2026 Commonwealth Games is now without a host – following Vic Gov's decision to pull out of its hosting duties. The team looks back on what turned out to be a big week of sports news (2:13). Then, a chat with Fear & Greed's co-founders, Michael Thompson and Sean Aylmer, on the business of business podcast (15:10). 

As global results of media agency billings were released by insight company COMvergance, serious questions about its Australian figures remain unresolved (1:24). The team assesses the situation before reflecting on the first week of Meta's Threads, and if we should care about it (9:51). Then, a chat with Nova's chief growth officer Adam Johnson on its latest ratings (19:41) and Ogilvy PR's head of editorial Brian Corrigan on the agency's new B2B influencer offering (37:13). 

In an extended news chat, the team discusses the recent rumours of Kyle and Jackie O returning to their old network SCA (1:52), before doing a mid-year check on the TV ratings of old guards and new formats so far (9:13). Then, a glimpse into the new Twitter rival, Threads, developed by Meta, about what we know so far and what’s to come (18:57).

The Australian advertising industry is on the verge of another drastic change, as a parliamentary inquiry into the state of online gambling ads has led to 31 sweeping recommendations, which, if adopted, could amount to a blanket ban for the category. The team discusses the news (2:00) before an audio campaign review with Connecting Plots' Tim Collier and CHEP's Amy Weston (12:09). 

The team examines a new push for a junk food advertising ban from independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps and the resulting industry response (3:30), before looking at EssenceMediacom exec Pat Crowley's new in-house gig with long-time client, Commonwealth Bank (14:11). Plus, a chat with Rich Curtis on FutureBrand Australia's new B Corp Certificate and its meaning beyond sustainability (20:06). 

Following Four Corners' investigation into the commercial deals between sports codes and betting brands, the team dissects the impacts of these arrangements on advertising (2:17), before a deep dive into GroupM's latest forecast figures on the global ad industry (10:27). Then, a chat with industry veterans James Greet and Steve Pollack on launching their new gig, The Payback Project, in Australia (17:29). 

The team unpacks Victorian Government's message behind its decision to stop spending on print advertising (2:17), before discussing the launch of a new indie agency, Reunion, by ex-CHEP CEO Justin Hind (8:04). Then, a chat with CRA's Deb Hishon and ARN Media's chief executive, Ciaran Davis, on the revamped Total Radio measurement system, Radio 360 (12:12), and a sit-down with music festival promoter Casey Katz, of Untitled Group (26:12).

The team chats through David 'Kochie' Koch's departure from Seven's Sunrise and who's likely to replace him (2:28), and if next-day TV ratings are too old fashioned, as Seven's Mel Hopkins argued in an op-ed this week (6:23). Plus, a discussion about last week's media grad salaries exclusive (12:19). Then, a catch up with Kochie on his time at Brekky Central (20:57), before Cox Inall Ridgeway's Yatu Widders Hunt checks in to talk about how brands should approach The Voice referendum (28:06). 

The team chats through Stan Grant's emotional ABC exit and the movements since (2:46), before touching on the Walkley Foundation's anti-climate reporting recognition stance (8:00). Then, a chat with Adam Ferrier on his new side-gig at Disrupt Radio (10:35), before Lion's head of core beer marketing, Chris Allan, checks in to talk Toohey's revival of the 'I feel like a Toohey's' jingle (16:23).

The team chats Coles' new era as its new CEO appoints American marketer, Amanda McVay as its chief customer officer (3:21), before a chat about the work from home debate, which has taken over adland this week (12:09). There is also a double header of interviews this week, with GroupM's new chief investment officer, Melissa Hey checking in (20:53), before a conversation with Tracey Spicer on her new book exploring the built in biases of AI technology (31:52).

This week, the team examines the 2023 federal budget handed down on Tuesday and what it means for the media sector (2:20), before looking at the new "media disruptor" businesses that have been grabbing headlines (6:00). All these before a featured interview with Weber Shandwick’s global CCO, Tom Beckman, on the Swedish culture and how agencies can tap into the cultural zeitgeist (15:21).