Has 2025 been the year for independent agencies?

<p>At the start of the year, 2025 was predicted by some adland commentators to be the year for independent agencies. Omnicom was beginning to acquire IPG to make the largest holding company, redundancies occurred across some of the networks and WPP had a more-than-difficult year on top of a new chief executive.</p><br><p>2025 has seen the launch of many independent agencies including <a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/richard-brim-martin-beverley-polly-mcmorrow-launch-ace-hearts/1921287" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ace of Hearts</a>, <a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/former-akqa-boss-ajaz-ahmed-launches-shop-rival-slow-bureaucratic-agencies/1915628" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Studio.One</a> and <a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/lynsey-atkin-chris-watling-rebecca-lewis-launch-start-up-baby-teeth/1917043" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Baby Teeth</a>, while <a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/former-adam-eve-ddb-chief-executive-mat-goff-unveils-new-agency/1876857" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ark Agency</a> and <a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/laura-jordan-bambach-hannah-matthews-fern-miller-unveil-advanced-creative-agency/1866718" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Uncharted</a> came into their second year. Plus, <a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/its-tools-taste-r-gas-creative-chiefs-creativity-tech-return-independence/1912623" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IPG sold R/GA</a> and Huge separately to private equity, also becoming independent.&nbsp;</p><br><p>So now the year is almost up, Campaign's editorial team discuss whether independent media and creative agencies have benefited from distraction caused by the holding companies. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode and is joined by creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun,&nbsp;media editor Beau Jackson and editor Maisie McCabe.</p><br><p>Further reading:</p><p><a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/omnicom-reveals-huge-agency-shake-up-unveils-new-leadership-cuts-4000-jobs/1941561" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Omnicom reveals huge agency shake-up, unveils new leadership, cuts 4000 jobs</a></p><p><a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/ace-hearts-dealing-adland-new-hand/1940730" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ace&nbsp;of Hearts: dealing adland a new hand</a></p><p><a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/troy-ruhanen-i-wouldnt-taken-oag-job-efficiency-smashing-things/1905674" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Troy&nbsp;Ruhanen: 'I wouldn't have taken OAG job if it was all about efficiency and smashing things'</a></p><p><a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/group-m-tells-staff-redundancies-restructure-hits-uk/1918857" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Group M tells staff about&nbsp;redundancies&nbsp;as restructure hits UK</a></p><p><a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/omnicom-cut-3000-roles-during-2024-ahead-ipg-takeover-move/1905570" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Omnicom cut 3000 roles during 2024 ahead of IPG takeover move</a></p><p><a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/mega-merger-adds-existing-questions-interpublic/1904327" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mega merger adds to existing questions for Interpublic</a></p><p><a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/global-agency-groups-2024-report-card-performances-staff-numbers-decline-restructures-continue/1909724" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Global agency groups 2024 report card: Performances and staff numbers decline as restructures continue</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>