Unmade: media and marketing analysis

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today: We analyse the big news that Omnicom is set to take over Interpublic Group in a giant deal which would remake the advertising industry; Should Nine sell its radio stations?; and is the government about to finally make up its mind about designating Meta?

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:

* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn, REmade, Unlock, and Compass , all returning in 2025.

* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;

* Your own copy of Media Unmade.

Here comes Intercom

News broke last night of a deal which would remake the agency landscape. Omnicom is negotiating a takeover of Interpublic. It would create a new industry leader. We consider the global and local implications, and ask whetehr it will change the timeline for the replacement of Omnicom Media Group’s outgoing CEO Peter Horgan.

Also today, we discuss whether Nine should sell its radio network.

And are we finally going to see movement from the government on its decision whether to designate Facebook owner Meta under the News Media Bargaining Code.

Further reading:

* Wall Street Journal: Advertising Firms Omnicom and Interpublic Nearing Merger That Would Reshape Industry

* Madison & Wall: Omnicom-Interpublic M&A Report: Analysis and Considerations

* Mi3: Kristiaan Kroon firming as successor to Omnicom Media Group CEO Peter Horgan

* Unmade: The fateful eight: How Publicis, WPP, Omnicom, Dentsu, Havas, IPG, S4 Capital and Enero rank

* Australian Financial Review: Exits, cuts and Smooth FM: Nine mulls future of 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR

* The Australian: D-day on the horizon for Meta: Stephen Jones set to make a call on news media bargaining code

* Capital Brief: Google renews news deal with Country Press Australia

* Unmade: How Google bought the silence of Australia’s media establishment

Today’s episode features Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.

Editing was courtesy of Abe’s Audio, the people to talk to about voiceovers, sound design and podcast production.

Time to leave you to start your week.

We’ll be back with more on Wednesday.

Have a great day

Toodlepip…

Tim Burrowes

Publisher - Unmade