Laurence Bray

Feeling incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved at Publicis. 🕺 We’ve not only consistently outpaced the market, but we’ve done it by truly making the Power of One a reality. I’ve previously posted it’s one of the key reasons I joined five years ago, it drew me in...and to this day it’s living and breathing. The best part? It’s not just the tech, it’s our people. 🤝 Our unique spirit and collaboration are what can’t be copied even if imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Breaking down silos, leveraging the best of creativity, data, and technology—this is where we’ve placed our bets and its paid dividends. It's this mix of innovation and heart that continues to push us forward and set us apart. 🚀 Also great to see PM UK, Starcom and Spark bringing 165m in aggregated new business billings in the latest new business table. #PowerOfOne #Innovation #TeamSpirit #Grow Publicis Groupe Publicis Groupe UK Publicis Media Starcom

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A Sign of the Times: Is this the Death of Daily/All Print Media? I ran a publication printed on recycled paper because I LOVE THE FEEL of turning a page BUT DOES THAT MEAN IT'S RIGHT? I then went on to launch Impact A.M. so I feel informed enough to ask this question Publishing is a small industry - disappointing for readers and the team at Evening Standard whom I have no doubt will have made every effort to keep it going - looking forward to reading a new successful weekly. It's hard not to see the Evening Standard's move as part of a larger trend – are we witnessing the end of daily broadsheets altogether? With City AM's fresh funding and new game plan, I sincerely hope this marks the beginning of a new chapter that positions us as a dominant force in the market. Reflecting on my time with Lawson Muncaster, which was one of the most career-defining periods, I believe City AM remains one of the premier brands across the Square Mile and the City. The Future is Digital – or Is It? There’s no denying the shift towards digital consumption, where morning news updates come straight to our phones with a simple tap. However, this raises a critical question: can print media still be viable in an ESG-conscious world? Can it remain authentic, competitive, and sustainable? Gihan Hyde and Julia Streets would love your thoughts on this along with Nim Haas Tracy W. Dr Jane Thomason and Amy Lewin who has pioneered Sifted into being one of my go-to publications for research and updates, last but by no means least the grafter,mover, shaker and hustler that is my new/old boss David Johnson as we will be shortly announcing a new exciting move with me rejoining the Maddyness UK team with official maddyness.fr email it is all very exciting. Innovative Distribution: A Strategic Advantage City AM’s 00's distribution model, reminiscent of my father’s pioneering days from Greenshield to being a founding team member of Argos, utilises a network of dedicated but skilled distributors. This old-school approach ensures cost-effective and efficient delivery, highlighting how print media can adapt and thrive even in challenging times. Amid rising paper and distribution costs, our industry faces significant hurdles. Balancing Tradition and Innovation As we navigate these changes, it’s crucial to strike the balance between embracing digital transformation and maintaining sustainable print practices. City AM's unique model proves that print media can still play a vital role if managed innovatively and sustainably. #Publishing #ESG #PrintMedia #DigitalTransformation #Sustainability #Innovation

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Word is out! I will be hosting a panel at Advertising Week Europe with senior marketing leaders at BBC ITV and Channel 4. I can’t wait to sit down with Jane Stiller Katie Jackson and Paul Davies and discuss where TV is going and how marketers can navigate these times of change. Will you be there? #aweurope24

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#TheFutureOfTV remains TV, but with innovative delivery and monetization methods. It's not about cheapening the experience or earning less due to poor technology. #FAST and #FASTChannels need a new format to manage losses, but audiences demand quality. The future lies in maintaining traditional TV routes while leveraging PMP #AdTech to boost advertising and revenue, reaching 10x more devices. Let's stop reinventing TV to fix programmatic issues that harm content studios and broadcasters. Instead, let's uphold the #GoldStandard and keep it simple. #futureoftv #contentisking #broadcasting #streamingmedia #streamingtv #ctv

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In my latest episode, I explore the groundbreaking changes in digital media with industry expert Oliver Davies, Head of Product for Samsung TV Plus. This insightful discussion covers how TV Plus is reshaping the content creation landscape, especially for smaller players. Mastering UX: Oliver draws parallels with Apple's success in creating user dependency and familiarity through exceptional UX design, positioning a view of TV Plus through an amazingly compelling lens. Direct Market Access: TV Plus offers an unprecedented direct route to market for smaller production companies, bypassing the need for traditional broadcaster commissions. Empowering Independence: Content creators can now produce and distribute their own programming or leverage existing library content, gaining control over messaging and cross-promotion. Cost-Effective Solutions: Without the need for broadcast licenses or satellite space, this platform offers a highly cost-effective method for reaching consumers. Emerging Alternatives: Oliver predicts a future where alternative content thrives, moving away from traditional broadcasters and large production companies. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable insights on the future of digital media and how it can benefit content creators. To watch this interview simply come back to my profile this friday at 12:30 UK/15:30 Dubai Or register here to get a handy reminder from Linkedin in your diary https://lnkd.in/d7SwVC9v

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The streaming strategic direction of travel for ITV towards advertising is pretty clear from this chart, showing ITVX has lost 500k paying subscribers over the last year but gained 2.1m Monthly Active Users (MAUs) for its ad-supported services. That means it has shed 36% of its subscription base since the UK Britbox premium service was folded into the consolidated ITVX platform (after acquisition of the 50% share it did not own from the BBC). As a consequence, ITVX ad revenue grew 17% to £209m over 1H 2024 whilst subscription revenue fell 10% to £26m. ITV is still targeting total streaming revenue of £750m by 2026 and unsurprisingly says it "will prioritise our ad-funded proposition over our pay proposition to deliver the best return". Nevertheless, it has restated a target of 2.5m subs in FY2026.

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Lets QUALIFY quality media! This is def worth a read. An excellent and timely piece by Omar Oakes Editor in Chief of The Media Leader UK. Omar references Cal Newport's ‘quality pyramid’ in which minimally processed media — which he terms as “linguistic media” (books) — as placed at the bottom, TV and other mass/broadcast media are in the middle, and social media (the most ‘processed’ of all media types) is at the top to signify lowest quality. He uses two main criteria for what is ‘high quality’ versus ‘low quality’: >> The curation of media: How much skill and craft has been deployed to create content? >> The delivery of media: How much work a human has to do to consume media versus how much work is done for them by a machine to serve it to them? #BrandsDeserveBetterMedia #MediaForGrowth https://lnkd.in/g6WMYufW

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📢 It’s Digital PR Podcast Thursday! Episode 5 from our 1st series sees Louise Parker and Stephen Baker hosting Mark Perkins, former Creative Director at Cow, a leading PR agency in London. With nearly 25 years of experience in the industry, Mark has worked on some of the most iconic campaigns, including the award-winning "Missing Type" for NHS Blood and Transplants and "Christmas Tinner" for GAME. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of new business pitching, exploring the nuances that can make or break a pitch. Here are three key takeaways that stood out to us: 🧠 It's Not Just About the Ideas: One of the most enlightening points Mark made is that while creative ideas are crucial, they are not the sole factor in winning a pitch. Clients often prioritise chemistry, experience, and how well they believe the agency understands their brand and audience. Mark emphasises the importance of selling your ideas effectively, painting a vivid picture of how they can impact the client's business. This insight is a game-changer for anyone involved in pitching! 🧠The Power of Insights: Mark highlights the significance of understanding the audience and the market before jumping into creative ideas. He stresses that insights—ie hidden truths about the audience or brand—are the foundation for a successful strategy. By focusing on these insights, agencies can create compelling narratives that resonate with clients and their target demographics. This approach not only strengthens pitches but also fosters a deeper connection with the brand's objectives. 🧠Collaboration is Key: The importance of collaboration throughout the pitching process cannot be overstated. Mark advocates for pre-pitch session, where agencies can stress-test their ideas with clients before the final pitch. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone is on the same page and can lead to more innovative and relevant ideas. It also helps to manage expectations and avoid the frustration of presenting ideas that may not align with the client's vision. Join us as we unpack these insights and more in our latest episode! Link in the comments to listen or read the full AI transcript. And thanks, as ever, to our lovely sponsors at CoverageBook! 🙏

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My latest article on Financial Mail Red Zone, explores some key considerations when launching a new website in terms of what needs to in place from a digital media perspective: https://lnkd.in/eQE7nEAG

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🔥 Excited to join the panel on AI during UK Creative Festival, together with Kat Hahn, Prof Victoria Baines, Tom Ellis and Calypso Newman. 💡 The question is not how we leverage AI to make better creative, but how we leverage creativity to make better AI

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“🇬🇧 For Audiences under 35, Streaming & Social Video now combine for an 80% share of viewing time.” 📈Very telling actual trendline on share of viewing and power of streaming! Showmax #dstvstream #gotvstream streaming services are ready to capture this opportunity in Africa finding right balance between 1) value for money, 2) exclusive relevant local content and 3) Ease of accessibility!

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ViewLift is tapping into the heart of London’s pub culture to conquer the EMEA streaming scene, appointing Luke Boyle as Senior Vice President, Commercial. Boyle, a bloke who’s spent over 30 years perfecting the art of #digital #streaming, isn’t just bringing his expertise to ViewLift—he’s bringing the kind of savvy that pairs perfectly with a pint of warm ale and a packet of crisps. “I am delighted to be joining ViewLift, a company at the very cutting edge of technology and innovation in the OTT space,” Boyle said, possibly while sketching the company’s next big move on the back of a pub coaster. “Our leadership team has a very strong vision for the future in this space, and our ability to custom build and utilize best-of-breed partners for the betterment of our clients are what really excite me.” You can practically hear the clink of glasses as he says it. Rick Allen, CEO of ViewLift, chimed in from his corner of the streaming universe: “We’ve streamed content around the world since 2008 and head into 2025 with an increased focus on opportunities in the EMEA region, particularly in sports. Luke’s deep knowledge of streaming and monetization make him a brilliant leader for this accelerated effort.” And if anyone can monetize sports while juggling a proper Guinness and a footie match on telly, it’s Boyle. Boyle’s career is basically the Premier League of digital streaming. Before joining ViewLift, he held senior roles at Magine and NeuLion/Endeavor Streaming, working with iconic names like UEFA, Eleven Sports, the English Football League, NFL, and NBA. He’s the kind of guy who’d probably find a way to stream a live darts tournament from your local pub and monetize the match with sponsorships from craft beers no one’s ever heard of. ViewLift, meanwhile, isn’t just dabbling in EMEA; they’re diving in headfirst. They’re already streaming LaLiga, UEFA Champions League, and French Ligue 1 to audiences in Mexico and Asia—because why wouldn’t they? Now they’re turning their focus to local leagues and clubs across Europe, possibly while debating which is better: a classic bitter or a trendy hazy IPA. Their goal? To boost revenue, fan engagement, and maybe even the number of people who can name more than three players on their favorite team. Stateside, ViewLift is no stranger to the big leagues. They’ve been streaming National Hockey League (NHL) games, National Basketball Association (NBA) clubs, Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises, and even LIV Golf since its inception in 2022. Basically, if it involves a ball, a puck, or a swing, they’ve got it covered. Add to that partnerships with media giants like NBC Universal and TEGNA, and you’ve got a recipe for global streaming domination. And Boyle? Well, he’s clearly got big plans. As he (didn’t really) say, “If we can stream the FA Cup final directly into a pub and make it taste better than a pint of stout, we’ll have done something truly revolutionary.”

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🤝 How to Secure Ethical Sponsorships for Films: Finding the Right Partners for Your Project 🤝 Securing sponsorship can be a game-changer for filmmakers, but finding the right sponsors means aligning with brands that share your values. At Hive Film Kollektiv, we know that ethical partnerships enhance credibility and ensure that both the film and its sponsors support a positive impact. Here’s how to approach sponsorships the right way: 1. Define Your Values: Start by clarifying what matters most to you and your project. Whether it’s environmental awareness, social justice, or creative freedom, having a clear ethical stance will help you attract partners who share your vision. 2. Research Potential Sponsors Thoroughly: Don’t just look for companies with deep pockets—look for those that align with your film’s themes or audience. Investigate their history, values, and past partnerships to make sure their reputation complements your project. 3. Reach Out with a Clear Pitch: Craft a concise and authentic pitch that highlights your project’s impact, goals, and unique message. Be clear about why you believe their brand would make a perfect partner, focusing on the mutual benefit of the collaboration. 4. Consider In-Kind Sponsorships: Not all sponsorship has to be cash. Many companies can provide valuable resources—like equipment, locations, or services—that reduce production costs while keeping your partnership aligned with your ethics. 5. Prioritize Transparency: Sponsorships can come under scrutiny, so communicate openly with your audience about your partnerships. Clearly acknowledge sponsors and explain why you chose them to help build trust and credibility. 6. Think Long-Term: An ethical sponsor isn’t just for one project—they can become an ally in your filmmaking journey. Look for sponsors who see value in a lasting relationship and may support future projects with a shared vision. Ethical sponsorships enhance both the film and the message—let’s make partnerships that truly make a difference. If you like this content, please like and repost so more filmmakers can benefit from it. #HiveFilmKollektiv #IndieFilm #EthicalSponsorship #FilmFunding #CreativePartnerships

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Delighted to have Sir Martin Sorrell and leading programmatic economist Tom Triscari Lemonade Projects with us today at Programmatic Pioneers Summit Sir Martin Sorrell was founder and #CEO of #WPP for 33 years building it from a £1 million shell company in 1985 into the world’s largest #advertising and #marketing company. Topic of #keynoteinterview As advertising spend is expected to grow where should you allocate your media budget to get the best ROI during on certain times? #SirMartinSorrell #Programmatic #digitalmedia #LiveEvent #Host #Interview #ProgrammaticAdvertisin #ProgrammaticMedia #AdvertisingBudget

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For me, the semantics here say everything. First up, the word 'newsroom' is an anachronism. The term is legacy and the entity unscalable — and anything that can’t scale is in trouble. The use of the word 'versus' is also revealing. If the MSM retain this bunker mentality, there is only one winner. Clue: he builds electric cars on the side. To truly transform, the newsroom has to morph into a newsplane, which is decentralised and co-powered by citizen journalists from the bottom-up. The newsroom of the future is everyone and everywhere. Journalists work alongside citizen journalists and vice versa. That collaboration results in faster news, truly impartial news and more democratic and shareable news. To remain relevant, news publishers have to decentralise. If they don't, if they try to fight the platforms and remain centralised, they're going the same way as the dinosaurs. cc: Jukka Väänänen

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Luminate Data's Midyear Music Industry Report for 2024 has been released, offering valuable insights for artists, labels, and fans. The report highlights the factors influencing the future of music and reveals that the industry has seen significant growth, with global music revenue reaching $20 billion in the first half of the year. Streaming services now contribute to 75% of this revenue, and there has been a 30% increase in vinyl sales. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:    𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞:      - 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: Paid subscriptions surged by 18%, with 450M users.      - 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Ad-supported streaming increased by 22%, reaching         600M users.      - 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Streaming revenue now makes up 75% of the global music         industry's $12B income in H1 2024.    𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐲𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥:      - 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬: Vinyl sales grew by 30%, with 25M units sold in H1 2024.      - 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬: 40% of vinyl buyers are under 25.      - 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲: 60% of sales are limited edition and special releases.     𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:      - 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: Music consumption in India, Brazil, and Nigeria grew by         35%.      - 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: Emerging markets contribute 20% of global music         revenue, up from 15%.      - 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: Cross-border collaborations increased by 50%, enriching         global music.     𝐀𝐈 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:      - 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: AI-generated music usage increased by 40%.      - 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: New tech reduced distribution costs by 25%.      - 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: AI-powered recommendations improved user         engagement by 20%. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:    - 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬: Understanding these trends can help artists navigate the complex landscape of music release strategies, audience engagement, and revenue generation. Leveraging streaming platforms, embracing physical formats like vinyl, and exploring new markets can provide diverse income streams and greater exposure.    - 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐬: Record labels can use this data to refine their marketing and distribution strategies, identify promising markets, and invest in technology that enhances both production and consumption.    - 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐬: Fans are at the heart of the industry, and these trends reflect the changing ways they consume music. Whether it’s through discovering new artists on streaming platforms or enjoying the tactile experience of vinyl, fans have more options than ever to engage with music. #MusicIndustry #Streaming #VinylRevival #GlobalMusic #AIMusic #MusicTrends #LuminateData #DigitalTransformation #MusicMarketing #EmergingMarkets

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The Drum recently reported on 'How can brands effectively reach the Olympic audience with connected TV advertising?' in which they outlined why brands are putting connected TV at the centre of their Olympic strategies and what you can do to achieve 'medal-worthy' performance from your CTV campaigns. - The size of the Olympic TV audience is impressive, with over 3 billion unique viewers – almost 40% of the world’s population – tuning in to coverage of Tokyo 2020. For this year’s games in Paris, a billion people are expected to tune in for the opening ceremony alone. - The balance is tipping away from linear TV advertising toward CTV and streaming services. This year CTV will account for around a third (32%) of the $91bn spent on TV advertising in the US. By 2027 this will increase to 42% of $98bn. Another year or two and CTV will overtake linear. - This shift in ad spend is due partly to changing viewing habits, with 80% of US consumers aged 25 to 54 expected to watch CTV this year. The popularity of streaming services has been boosted by the arrival of live events – especially sporting events – which for many years had remained the domain of linear TV. Why brands are sprinting to CTV - 1. It allows one-to-one communication Traditional linear TV advertising has always been about mass reach, with ad spot selection based on broad audience demographics, e.g., preferred shows, preferred dayparts. CTV, on the other hand, is addressable, so brands can engage in one-to-one communication with individual households, which makes advertising more effective and efficient. 2. It’s cookie-free by design With Google finally withdrawing support for third-party cookies in Chrome this year, there’s a lot of talk about how brands can continue to deliver relevant, personalized advertising. But if brands look beyond traditional digital advertising, they’ll find cookie-free alternatives like CTV. 3. It’s easier to measure than linear CTV advertising is far easier to measure than linear TV advertising. That’s once again due to the unique identifiers within the CTV environments, as well as the return path for ad exposure data that makes associating a customer’s journey from ad impression to purchase simpler. 4. It’s engaging due to content choice With CTV, viewers have more control over what they watch and when they watch it. With all Olympic events for Paris 2024 being streamed on services like NBC Universal’s Peacock, viewers can watch the ones they’re interested in – anything from breakdance to kitesurfing – rather than just viewing what the major broadcasters choose to show. To read the full article; check out: https://lnkd.in/eEVEgXnu #redmediaplus #ctv #connectedtv #linear #Olympics

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Insightful change of reporting of Netflix. "...as we’ve evolved our pricing and plans from a single to multiple tiers with different price points depending on the country, each incremental paid membership has a very different business impact. It’s why we stopped providing quarterly paid membership guidance in 2023 and, starting next year with our Q1’25 earnings, we will stop reporting quarterly membership numbers and ARM.” https://lnkd.in/eGe5CdZJ

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Tomorrow at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity check out 'The Extraordinary Cost of Dull: Why Boring Advertising Must Die'. Our founder Adam Morgan along with Jon Evans will uncover why dreary, dull and beige advertising persists across global industries and the escalating cost of it. Backed by brand new IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), System1, WARC, and MESH data, as well as expert insights, they'll reveal alarming findings and equip you with the tools to challenge this norm. https://lnkd.in/e5p6MiyA #canneslions #thecostofdull #challengermindset

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