The Media Leader

News analysis, opinion and insight for media and advertising professionals

Revelations and under reporting of RAJAR at The Times

Ray Snoddy heralds another journalistic investigation but finds The Times wanting in its reporting of the listener figures for its own radio station.

July box office climbs 35% as The Odyssey becomes biggest film of the year

Year-to-date box office has surpassed £783m, running 18% ahead of 2025 and 34% ahead of 2024 in what is shaping up to be by far the biggest year for cinema since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The fight marketers can’t afford to lose

Jonathan Knowles is right that capitalising marketing isn’t a silver bullet. But that doesn’t mean marketers should stop making the argument, writes Rob Beevers.

HFSS promo ban doubles down interest on omnichannel advertising

Regulations on HFSS in-store promotions have prompted brands to develop media strategies that align messaging with each channel’s rules. The numbers show it’s working, writes James Dunaj.

AMRAs add six categories including Denise Turner award

The additional categories address the underrepresentation of regional and independent agencies, recognises adtech’s growing role in media research, and honours the late AMRAs judge Denise Turner.

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Opinion

Simon Carr and Laura Smith-Collins

CEPs give brand and performance teams the same commercial target, measurement framework, and moment to act. They are the first credible bridge between the two disciplines.

Sofie Sue Rutgeerts

As media consumption becomes increasingly fragmented, the role of transparent, independent and industry-agreed measurement becomes more important than ever.

Nicola Kemp

When women in their forties are being advised to ‘botox their CV ’, we must urgently address gendered ageism, writes Nicola Kemp.

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

Revelations and under reporting of RAJAR at The Times

Ray Snoddy heralds another journalistic investigation but finds The Times wanting in its reporting of the listener figures for its own radio station.

July box office climbs 35% as The Odyssey becomes biggest film of the year

Year-to-date box office has surpassed £783m, running 18% ahead of 2025 and 34% ahead of 2024 in what is shaping up to be by far the biggest year for cinema since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The fight marketers can’t afford to lose

Jonathan Knowles is right that capitalising marketing isn’t a silver bullet. But that doesn’t mean marketers should stop making the argument, writes Rob Beevers.

HFSS promo ban doubles down interest on omnichannel advertising

Regulations on HFSS in-store promotions have prompted brands to develop media strategies that align messaging with each channel’s rules. The numbers show it’s working, writes James Dunaj.

AMRAs add six categories including Denise Turner award

The additional categories address the underrepresentation of regional and independent agencies, recognises adtech’s growing role in media research, and honours the late AMRAs judge Denise Turner.

The Media Leader

Opinion

We finally found a strategy to connect brand and performance

When every number becomes the headline, we stop understanding media value

Media’s midlife women crisis

Industry News

What makes a great audio ad? Authenticity, the 95% rule, and knowing when to leave the AI alone – AudioTrack at 10

ITV reports ‘solid’ H1 in first results since Sky deal announcement

Government urged to block BBC podcast advertising plans

Rajar Q2 2026: A record 51m people listen to UK radio each week

Rajar Q2 2026: Heart Breakfast growth stalls but remains most popular commercial breakfast show

Rajar Q2 2026: Top Takeaways

Rajar Q2 2026: Online accounts for more than a third of commercial radio listening hours

Channel 4 and Lloyds award four Black-owned businesses with £200,000 each in advertising airtime

Data Analysis

Has Origin failed?

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

Data Snapshot

Podcast Ad Promo Position Plays A Part In Perception

The ad-vantages of streaming

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