The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

A healthier digital ecosystem will not be created through regulation alone

The social media under-16 ban is a moment for accountability – but regulation alone won’t fix the problem, says Bauer’s Simon Kilby.

‘Right diagnosis, wrong prescription’? Adland torn as Starmer announces under-16s social media ban

Debate for and against a social media ban has been hotly contested for months even among adland’s most vociferous online safety advocates. Downstream effects on platforms, broadcasters and advertisers abound.

Cannes 2026: How agentic AI levels the playing field for indie agencies

You won’t find true agentic AI being sold on a superyacht because it threatens the very companies that pay to play captain for a day. Indies should ignore the allure, writes Converge’s CEO.

WPP Media upgrades growth forecast despite macro headwinds

WPP Media has upgraded its global growth forecast to +8.9% to $1.3tn in 2026, up from +7.1% growth previously forecast in December.

What to wear? The Cannes costume conundrum

A last-minute dash to Arket for linen trousers, a panic-purchase pair of Axels, and a more-than-you-should-have splurge at Folk. Sound familiar? The Guardian’s fashionista, Imogen Fox, solves your Cannes wardrobe dilemmas.

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Opinion

Ben Brown

A lack of optionality in verification has been a recurring theme in ISBA Media Leaders discussions, particularly in out-of-home, writes Allwyn’s media director.

Omar Oakes

Please go to the Palais and look at the actual work. You will, I guarantee, feel something you couldn’t name. Some of it will remind you why you got into this industry, writes Omar Oakes.

Tom Salmon

The UK is world-class at agencies. So why have we known so little about them? Tom Salmon shares the findings from the Atlas 2026 report.

Data Snapshot

Data-led charts from across the UK media landscape

Find out more about the UK's most comprehensive aggregator of media data.

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The Future of Media Manchester 2026 is the region's premier event bringing together media planners, strategists, and buyers to explore the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping the commercial media landscape. Hosted by The Media Leader, the event features expert speakers, thought-provoking debates and research-led sessions designed to spark honest conversations about where the industry is heading. Taking place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on 17 September, the event will bring together 600+ industry professionals and 40+ speakers for a full day of insight, discussion and networking. Attendees can expect sharp debates, fresh perspectives and valuable connections with senior leaders across the media ecosystem — making it a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead of the industry’s next chapter.
17 September 2026

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

A healthier digital ecosystem will not be created through regulation alone

The social media under-16 ban is a moment for accountability – but regulation alone won’t fix the problem, says Bauer’s Simon Kilby.

‘Right diagnosis, wrong prescription’? Adland torn as Starmer announces under-16s social media ban

Debate for and against a social media ban has been hotly contested for months even among adland’s most vociferous online safety advocates. Downstream effects on platforms, broadcasters and advertisers abound.

Cannes 2026: How agentic AI levels the playing field for indie agencies

You won’t find true agentic AI being sold on a superyacht because it threatens the very companies that pay to play captain for a day. Indies should ignore the allure, writes Converge’s CEO.

WPP Media upgrades growth forecast despite macro headwinds

WPP Media has upgraded its global growth forecast to +8.9% to $1.3tn in 2026, up from +7.1% growth previously forecast in December.

What to wear? The Cannes costume conundrum

A last-minute dash to Arket for linen trousers, a panic-purchase pair of Axels, and a more-than-you-should-have splurge at Folk. Sound familiar? The Guardian’s fashionista, Imogen Fox, solves your Cannes wardrobe dilemmas.

The Media Leader

Opinion

Meeting expectations in OOH

It’s ok that Cannes Lions is a festival. But it has become a festival of exceptions

Mapping the UK agency landscape

Industry News

Advertising Association launches brand campaign ahead of Cannes Lions trade mission

News UK’s Octave extends audio reach with new third party inventory

The Brief – Monday 15th June: Fox buys Roku, ITV’s highest peak audience of the year, Spotify defines a podcast ‘play’

‘This is not good enough’: The business case for online safety

Why brands need less channel planning and more ecosystem design — with Arena Media’s Hamid Habib

The Brief – Friday 12 June: ITV’s ‘six-week Super Bowl’, MiQ expands Sigma, Spotify removes thousands of phony podcasts

Global launches self-service platform to book audio and OOH media

Strait of Hormuz disruption threatens $94bn of global ad investment over next 18 months

Data Analysis

Mapping the UK agency landscape

The industry is calling it cross-media. It’s not

Campaign ROI is maximised when audio gets 25% of spend, finds Radiocentre report

Tech firms must enforce tougher age checks for social media platforms, regulator says

Data Snapshot

World Cup Wonders

Digital listening maintains its pull

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