Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today: The marketing industry reels at the sudden death of Lisa Ronson; How much more will get done on media policy as Canberra enters its final sitting week?; ARN Media prepares to make mischief at today’s Southern Cross Austereo AGM; and we explore the theory that Paramount should buy SevenIf 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;* Member-only content and our paywalled archives; * Your own copy of Media Unmade.Industry in shock at sudden death of marketer Lisa Ronson; SCA faces bumpy AGM; what next for Seven?In today’s conversation:* The marketing community was shocked to learn yesterday afternoon of the sudden death of Lisa Ronson.* SCA’s AGM is likely to be a tricky one today, with shareholders including rival ARN Media set to turn the heat on the board;* With just one more week left in Parliament, most mooted media reforms are likely to fizzle out;* Here’s a theory: Could the best owner for Seven Network be Paramount?Further reading* Mi3: Vale Lisa Ronson: Former Medibank, Coles, Tourism Australia CMO dies* Unmade: Canberra time* Australian Financial Review: Big tech’s warning on rushing teen ban on social media* Michelle Rowland press release: Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 will not proceed* Australian Financial Review: ‘Vested interests’ frustrate gambling ad reforms* The Australian: SCA to be hit with ‘first strike’ at AGM* Australian Financial Review: Southern Cross hit with first strike, with chairman under pressure* Sunday Telegraph: Channel 7 discuss hosting a rugby league show in 2025* The Australian: Seven West Media: could this be as bad as it gets?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 dayToodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - Unmade This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition. Today’s episode of the Unmade podcast features the second stop on our Compass tour, where we took the temperature of the Brisbane media and marketing community. Plus, further down, in the Unmade Index, SCA’s share price spike begins to unwind.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, why not do it today? 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.Trust, finding consensus in the fractious TV market, and Facebook’s declining relevance for marketersLast week saw Unmade’s Compass tour hit the Eastern seaboard with the Brisbane edition of the event delivering an excellent conversation.Among the topics was the opportunity that a more complicated marketing environment creates for brands that are good at what they do. Jonathan Kerr, Chief Growth Officer of Budget Direct observed: “I like complexity. I’m tired, but I like complexity because best navigator wins.”Meanwhile Cath Brands, CMO of B2B pricing specialists FlintFox, raised a topic that has come up a number of times during Compass: growing scepticism towards the effectiveness claims of some of the global digital platforms. She observed: “As a marketer, Facebook is so 1980s in my mind. I’m over it as a platform from an advertising perspective.” However she acknowledged that other Meta brands are still drawing audiences: “The cool kids aren’t on Facebook but they are on Instagram.”Michael Crutcher, now a PR executive and a former editor of the Courier Mail said the industry needs to start talking about “the looming war between social media and mainstream media in Australia”, with Meta and potentially Google dropping out of their news funding deals. He added: “And 2025 is going to be nuclear for that.”Meanwhile, Simon Murphy, global strategy director for Publicis, suggested that social media is benefitting from a decline in public trust in established news outlets. He warned: “There's a crisis of trust and social media definitely plays into that space. They're filling that void.”.Kerr, who is one of the biggest buyers of TV advertising in the country also had a warning for the TV networks: “I am annoyed with TV. It’s really sad to see the way they can’t come together. I always say ‘never be hard to buy’. We’re at the point where it’s worth coming together to make it so that it’s a much more tradeable, understood medium. TV is such a wonderful medium if you want to deliver a brand narrative and a story so I think it would be truly wonderful if they said ‘Let’s save this together’.”* Jonathan Kerr, Chief Growth Officer, Budget Direct* Cath Brands, CMO, FlintFox* Michael Crutcher, Director, 55 Comms* Simon Murphy, Global Strategy Director, Publicis* Jennifer Garner, Senior VP of sales, EpsilonUnmade Index flattens as SCA recovery runs out of steamA day after Southern Cross Austereo’s share price unexpectedly spiked upwards by 12.6%, it lost 5.2% yesterday, taking it back down to a market capitalisation of $130m.It was a mixed day for Australia’s listed media and marketing stocks. Nine gained 0.4%, while Ooh Media lost 0.4%.Among the broadcasters, ARN Media had the best day, gaining 2.9%.The Unmade Index finished the day flat on 447.5 points.Time to leave you to your Thursday.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.We’ll be back with more tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, we prepare for a big week of media legislation in which the government will try to make the social platforms responsible for those scammy crypto ads featuring deepfake David Koch, and to push through its age-gating legislation. We also recap the week in AI and ask whether new platform Bluesky is about to hit critical mass as a Twitter replacement.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 (2025), REmade (2025), Unlock (2025), and Compass (November);* Members-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Welcome to the human race: How Bluesky is taking offA key fortnight for media law lies ahead in Canberra. The government will attempt to legislate around age limits for social media, and to force the platforms to take more responsibility for scam ads. The timeline is tight, with just two more sitting weeks of Parliament before the long summer break.Also in today’s podcast: Coke turns to AI for a reboot of its Christmas ad, and Perplexity starts to monetise its search. And as X is increasingly recognised as a tool in Donald Trump’s victory, the exodus to Bluesky is under way.Further reading:* Minister for Communications: Minimum age for social media access to protect Australian kids* Australian Financial Review: Why this former TikTok executive wants a strict social media ban* Minister for Communications: New Duty of Care obligations on platforms will keep Australians safer online* Unmade: Why the sudden hurry on social media?* Forbes: Coca Cola’s AI-Generated Ad Controversy, Explained* TechCrunch: Perplexity brings ads to its platform* ABC News: Why X users are jumping across to new platform Bluesky in the wake of US electionToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we share the highlights from the opening chapter of this year’s Compass roadshow. And further down, the Unmade Index’s green streak comes to an end.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 (2025), REmade (2025), Unlock (2025), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Brand fame, burnout and doing more with lessUnmade’s six-state Compass roadshow kicked off in Hobart last week.Today we share highlights from that first session. The discussion, recorded in front of a live audience, featured Ally Bradley, GM of Southern Cross Austereo in Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and the NT; creative Chas Bayfield; Lindene Cleary, CMO of Tourism Tasmania, Abe Udy, founder of audio production house Abe’s Audio; and Simon Crerar, editor-in-chief of SmartCompany.The evening kicked off with a warning from Bayfield that timidity from brands in their advertising is a far bigger risk than controversy because unremarkable advertising will not be seen. “The big challenge is invisibility,” Bayfield warned.Other topics in the debate, moderated by Unmade’s Tim Burrowes, included the journey of Tourism Tasmania’s ‘Come Down for Air’ positioning, the business challenges being faced by SmartCompany and other publishers, the effects of burnout on over-stretched teams, and the threats and opportunities offered by AIFor those curious about the reference to Blackcurrant Tango, this was Bayfield’s famous 1998 ad, ‘St George’:The Compass roadshow continues next week. We’re in Perth on Monday, Adelaide on Tuesday and the tour concludes in Melbourne on Wednesday. Tickets are on sale via this link.Unmade Index slips back into the redThe Unmade Index’s four-day winning streak came to an end yesterday with falls almost across the board for media stocks.Among the larger businesses, Southern Cross Austereo has the worst of it, losing 2.8%. Audio rival ARN Media dropped 2.1%The Unmade Index lost 0.69% to land on 429.8 points.Time to leave you to your Thursday.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.We’ll be back with more tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, we ask whether Donald Trump’s podcast strategy will signal an advertising shift; we look back at the Seven and Nine AGMs, and forward to the ABC, Seven and Are Media upfronts.f 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 (2025), REmade (2025), Unlock (2025), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Did Joe Rogan put Trump over the top?Just a week ago, the consensus was that the US election was too close to call. Now, everybody is an expert on why a Donald Trump victory was inevitable.One underplayed factor was the strategy of Donald Trump’s team to make him available on several podcasts including The Joe Rogan Experience. With podcasts skewing younger and more male than most mainstream media, will Trump’s victory change how marketers see the medium?Also today, Seven West Media and Nine set very different tones at their AGMs; and we look forward to the ABC, Are Media and Seven’s 2025 scene setting upfront events.Further reading:* Google Trends: ‘Did Joe Biden drop out?'* Unmade: Index bottoms out as TV networks share a gloomy outlook* The Saturday Paper: ‘The mighty and powerful Joe Rogan’* Pivot: How Trump will impact media* Joe Rogan Experience: #2219 Donald TrumpToday’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’r taking a scheduled publishing break tomorrow while I travel to Compass Brisbane. We’ll be back with more on Wednesday.Have a great dayToodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - Unmade This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today’s interview features Australia’s most talked about business writer, Joe Aston, whose book on Qantas has dominated the political cycle for the last ten days.Also today, in the Unmade Index, Seven and Nine held their AGMs, taking different approaches to acknowledging their failings.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Complimentary tickets to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (2025), REmade (2025), Unlock (2025), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives; * Your own copy of Media Unmade.‘No amount of PR can fix the operations of a company that is failing’: Joe Aston on how profit-chasing caught up with the Qantas brandToday’s conversation with Joe Aston takes place where brand, business, and lobbying collide.His book The Chairman’s Lounge contains the most detailed examination yet seen of the Qantas-operated network of invitation-only lounges for politicians and the business elite.Across Australia’s capital cities, alongside the well signposted Qantas Club and Qantas Business Lounges, is a third type of lounge, hidden behind mirrored doors, with word ‘Private’ written on them. The Chairman’s Lounge isn’t just a space with an a la carte menu and top shelf wine; being invited to become a member means a range of travel perks. No matter what type of ticket they buy, a Chairman’s Lounge member will likely be upgraded when they fly.At the very least, they’ll be sitting in the front row of economy. Ever noticed those smartly dressed people enjoying the extra leg-room of row 4, being greeted by name by the cabin crew and handed a glass of something nice from the business trolley? Chances are they’re CL members.And for influential politicians travelling internationally, CL status means buying an economy class ticket and sitting in a first class seat.The Chairman’s Lounge has been an incredibly effective lobbying tool, allowing Qantas more access to politicians than any other business in Australia. Says Aston: ”What the Chairman’s Lounge does is make Qantas the most powerful lobbyist in Canberra.”And that’s without taking into account the bosses who bend their company travel policies towards Qantas, even if other alternatives are cheaper. As Aston puts it: “It’s worth every cent. The operating costs aren’t that high compared to what it gets people to do, and that is spend millions and millions more than they otherwise would”.Aston’s book covers the period where underinvestment in operations began to catch up with the Qantas brand. He is critical of the board for failing to hold former CEO Alan Joyce to account as the brand deteriorated. That includes Australia’s most famous adman Todd Sampson. “I do think it is ridiculous that he's still on the Qantas board - he proved to be completely useless when it mattered.Not, by the way, more useless than than anyone else, and not less useless: just as useless.Theres a risk of burying the lede in this interview. His Rear Window column in the Australian Financial Review was often an agenda setter. So what will he do next?Aston hints that he may launch a newsletter of his own: “Doing my own reader-funded content is something I’ve thought about.”He acknowledges that his style of writing on the edge puts him in danger of attracting threatening letters from defamation lawyers. “It’s all a risk calculation,” he says. “It’s how much revenue you can generate and is it enough to just pay for whatever litigation costs come your way. “Index bottoms out as TV networks share a gloomy outlookThe Unmade Index recovered marginally on Thursday after hitting another all-time low the day before.Yesterday saw The Unmade Index lift by 0.15% to land on 424.2 points. The Index, which tracks the value of Australia’s ASX-listed media and marketing sector, began at the start of 2022 on a nominal 1000 points.Both Nine and Seven West Media held their annual general meetings yesterday.Nine’s chair Catherine West used a significant her address to shareholders to acknowledge that the company still needs to do more to address its problematic culture within its newsrooms.SWM’s chair Kerry Stokes dedicated one paragraph of his address to tell his shareholders that his company has now modernised its culture, and four paragraphs to complaining about the ABC’s coverage of the problem.Nine told the market that after an Olympics boost, TV revenues have returned to the 10% rate of decline seen in the previous financial year. It warned “we are seeing no tangible signs of improvement to date”.Seven said its revenues are likely to be down about 6.5% for the half.Nine’s market cap grew slightly yesterday, up by 0.9% to $1.75bn. Seven West Media lost 3%, to land on $239mMeanwhile, Ooh Media recovered by 2.1% and Southern Cross Austereo was up by nearly 1%. ARN Media went in the other direction, losing 4.2%.Time to leave you to your Friday.I’ll be back tomorrow with Best of the Week.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition: Can a loveable monster make Myer’s Christmas?; The launch of AI-driven search in Australia creates a new peril for news publishing; and Nine’s chair faces a shareholder rebellion.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes a complimentary ticket to this month’s Compass roadshow, plus all of Unmade’s 2025 events, including HumAIn, REmade and Unlock (2025).You also get our member-only content and our paywalled archives; and your own copy of Media Unmade. As Myer parts with Clems, it launches their last Christmas campaign; Zero click comes to Australia; and Nine’s board readies for rough AGMWith the Christmas retail season more crucial than ever for the advertising sector, Myer has launched its Christmas effort, featuring a bovver-boot wearing monster called Humbug. And will the decision of Myer to pitch its creative account open the door for a reunion?Speaking of bovver boots, we also discuss Google’s local launch of AI Overviews and OpenAI’s decision to turn on web search.And we discuss today’s report in Capital Brief that Nine’s chair Catherine West faces a shareholder vote against her reappointment.Further reading:* The Australian: Myer kicks off Christmas season with playful campaign* Little Black Book: Myer Pitches Creative Account* Little Black Book: Ant Keogh, Paul McMillan, and Michael Derepas Leave The Monkeys Melb to Launch Agency* Unmade: Can ChatGPT’s new search offering see past paywalls?* Unmade: News Corp kicks off its first big AI legal battle* Google: Introducing AI Overviews in Australia, a new generative AI experience on Search* The Australian: Nine chair Catherine West set for re-election at AGM this week* Capital Brief: Nine shareholders urged to 'hold directors accountable' for toxic cultureToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today, ahead of his visit to Australia for next month’s IAB Leadership Summit, we talk to IAB Tech Lab’s CEO Tony Katsur about the state of play in digital advertising. And the Unmade Index approaches a new low.Only Unmade’s paying members get full access. They were entitled to a ticket to today’s inaugural Unlock conference in Sydney. They also get an invitation to our Compass: Reflections and Projections event, taking place across six states throughout November. Next year they’ll also be able to join us at our AI-focused conference HumAIn (Q2 2025) and at our retail media conference REmade.They get full access to our archives, which go behind the paywall after two months. Feeling jealous of all that access? Maybe that should be you. Upgrade today.‘Data provenance is going to be one of the top issues in 2025 and 2026’: What IAB Tech Lab CEO Anthony Katsur worries aboutBeing the boss of IAB Tech Lab, the standard setting body of the digital advertising industry, must be a frustrating experience. With more responsibility than power, the IAB attempts to shepherd its members towards agreed tech standards including around audience measurement.In the rise of the open web, the industry broadly agreed about specs like standard ad sizes and audience measurement. In Australia, the IAB endorses Ipsos as preferred currency, and before that Nielsen.In CTV (connected TV) though, in Australia and around the world, there’s no such consensus. That includes Foxtel at the centre of a coalition of streamers pushing for a solution from Kantar, while OzTAM, owned by Seven, Nine and Ten, takes a different direction with VOZ (Virtual Australia).Then there’s the issue of global platforms who want to apply their own measurement and standards to their walled gardens, which tends to deliver them the results they want.Today’s podcast guest is IAB Tech Lab’s New York-based Tony Katsur, talking to Unmade’s Tim Burrowes. Katsur be speaking on standards at the IAB’s Leadership Summit in Sydney on November 20.Katsur is a veteran of the digital advertising economy having worked for some of the industry’s formative players including DoubleClick, MediaMath and Rubicon Project before joining IAB Tech Lab three years agoIn the wide ranging conversation, Katsur describes himself not so much as a sherrif of what was a wild west, but a constable, imploring his constituents to do the right thing.On CTV he observes: “There are companies that may believe that they're a walled garden, but they're not. Therefore they think they can go it alone with their own proprietary forms of measurement.“There are a lot of companies out there that think they’re a bigger deal than they are, and think they can measure themselves or have their own proprietary measurement standard.”Among the other topics discusses are the threat that the large language models of AI pose to the intellectual property of media owners; why data provenance will be the key phrase of 2025 and 2026; whether the preparation for cookie deprecation that never came was wasted effort (he argues not); and reasons to feel optimistic for publishers.* Tony Katsur will be speaking at the IAB Australia Leadership Summit on November 20Unmade Index hovers over the trapdoorThe Unmade Index slipped to within a fraction of a percentage point of a new all-time low yesterday. The index, which plots the movement of Australia’s ASX-listed media and marketing companies, lost 0.51%, to land on 437.7 points. It’s previous all-time low of 437.4 points came six weeks ago.The index was pulled down by shifts at the top of town, with Nine losing 1.3% and its majority owned real estate platform Domain dropping 1.7%. Nine is now trading at its lowest point since April 2020.It was a better day for the audio players, with ARN Media gaining 2.8% and Southern Cross Austereo up by 3.1%.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio. The Unmade team are all in Sydney today for our Unlock conference. And we’ll be back with a text-led edition tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, Seven West Media and News Corp lobby for government help on funding; households make the switch to ad-funded tiers, and we look ahead to the final upfront events of the year.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 Unlock (this Thursday October 31), Compass (across November), HumAIn (Q2 2025) and REmade (Q3 2025);* Member-only content like this post; and all of our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Fighting disinformation by funding news: Media bosses stop up the rhetoric; Ad-supported TV back in vogueAfter last week’s softener from the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society, Australia’s big media players are moving into lobbying overdrive. Seven will argue this week that the giant digital platforms are a force for evil; while News Corp’s boss is arguing that the little end of town cannot be the solution.Instead, Seven and News Corp are lobbying for the government to support the not-too-big, not-too-small Goldilocks solution of companies like, well, Seven and News Corp.As the Australian reports, the editor-in-chief of Seven West Media, Anthony De Ceglie, will tomorrow use a Melbourne Press Club speech to attack the platforms including Elon Musk’s X, and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, saying: “Elon Musk doesn’t care about the truth. In fact, he revels in peddling lies and boasts about using his bin fire of a site to influence the US election.“Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg is seemingly happy for Meta to profit off the page impressions that child sex offenders create when they routinely use his site to prey on their next victim.“Against these evil forces — and calling them that is not an exaggeration — there is only one true antidote. The news. The truth. The fourth estate.”De Ceglie will also champion the idea of a tax break for producing news and current affairs content.And News Corp’s executive chairman Michael Miller argues in The Australian today that the government should try to force Meta to go on supporting the big media players it did deals with three years ago:“The government is at risk of abandoning the engine rooms of Australian news, which is where the bulk of the jobs are and where the bulk of important Australian stories are told,” he said.“The parliament’s primary focus should be those deals Meta has walked away from.As well as discussing De Ceglie and Miller’s arguments, today’s edition of Start the Week examines new numbers from Kantar which suggest a big jump in household penetration of ad-supported streaming services - up from 10% of homes to 25% in just a year; and looks across the agenda of media events over the next couple of weeks.Further reading:* The Australian: Seven boss Anthony De Ceglie slams government for not supporting media* The Australian: News Corp boss Michael Miller urges government to prioritise survival of mainstream media outlets* Unmade: Landing lights glimmer for a digital levy to fund news* Mi3: Meta barked, Australia blinked: News Bargaining Code to be shelved as Feds prepare possible digital ad tax* The Australian: Viewers are increasingly signing up to streaming services with advertising, Kantar research showsToday’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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - Unmade This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Along with revealing the lineup for the Brisbane edition of our Compass event, we today feature an in-depth interview with Mark Frain, CEO of Foxtel Media, recorded around last week’s Upfront event. Plus, a further dip in the Unmade Index.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 Unlock (October 31), Compass (across November), HumAIn (Q2 2025) and REmade (Q3 2025);* Members-only content; and all of our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.  Budget Direct Chief Growth Officer, Nine MD, Publicis strategy chief and comms veteran to bring Compass to Brisbane Cat McGinn writes:We can today reveal the leadership panel for the Brisbane Compass event, Unmade’s annual industry meet-up, this year taking place in six states. The panel features Jonathan Kerr, Chief Growth Officer of Budget Direct; Michael Crutcher, PR professional and former editor of the Brisbane Courier Mail; Simon Murphy, chief strategy officer for Publicis; and Kylie Blucher, managing director of Nine Queensland & Northern NSW.The panel will be moderated by Unmade’s Tim Burrowes and the discussion will later be featured as an Unmade podcast.Unmade’s paying members are entitled to a complimentary place at Compass, and tickets are on sale here.Unmade’s Compass roadshow takes place across six states.* Wednesday November 6 - Hobart, The Hope and Anchor;* Tuesday November 12 - Brisbane, The Prince Consort;* Wednesday November 13 - Sydney, The Sporting Globe;* Monday November 18 - Perth, The Globe;* Tuesday November 19 - Adelaide, Elephant British Pub;* Wednesday November 20 - Melbourne, The Garden State Hotel.‘We agitated for change and we didn’t get the answers we were looking for’: Why Mark Frain created the VFCFrom his opening words on stage at last week’s Foxtel Media Upfront event, it was clear that boss Mark Frain hasn’t made peace with the decision made by Seven, Nine and Ten to refuse him a place at the ownership table for measurement system OzTAM.Instead, he has gone it alone, with Foxtel building its own measurement system powered by Kantar, and inviting a coalition of streamers to join them in the Video Future Collective.Frain sees it as the free-to-air networks’ loss: “It’s been cathartic” he tells Unmade’s Tim Burrowes. “We did request to become officially part of OzTAM from a shareholding perspective. We also discussed the opportunity to provide our data to that business where we thought we could enrich and improve the service. And unfortunately, the shareholders said no. So from there, that forced us down a different direction.”The biggest downside of the schism is that for media agencies and brands they now have a second measurement system to contend with. Frain is unapologetic. “Any change causes some unrest”.This new direction includes the creation of a coalition of streamers under the banner of the Video Futures Collective, chaired by Foxtel’s Toby Dewar. Alongside Foxtel, the VFC membership now consists of Amazon Advertising, Disney Advertising, Samsung Ads, SBS On Demand, Vevo and YouTube. Frain says, pointedly, “Everyone’s got an equal share of voice.”* Declaration of interest: Foxtel provided my travel and accommodation for the upfront event, and they’ve been advertising with us this week. The podcast interview was not part of any commercial arrangement.Unmade Index continues downwards driftTim Burrowes writes:The Unmade Index’s slow stall has stretched into a week after losing another 0.74% yesterday. That followed a drop of 0.73% on Tuesday. The Unmade Index, which tracks Australia’s listed media and marketing companies has been losing ground since last Tuesday. It closed on 444.7 points last night.Yesterday saw Vinyl Group grow by 4.6% to a market capitalisation of $111m, just behind Southern Cross Austereo’s $112m.Ooh Media’s slide also continued, losing 2.5% yesterday to land at $641m. The company has lost nearly 9% over the last month.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio. We’ll be back with more tomorrowHave a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition: We reflect on the industry’s move against Campaign Brief; And Nine is hit with a historic rape claim after publishing its culture report.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and REmade and HumAIn next year.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership also includes members-only content, access to our paywalled archives and your own copy of Media Unmade. Upgrade today.How Campaign Brief contributes to the problemThe dominos have continued to fall for Campaign Brief after a backlash against its perpetuation of a creative club dominated by middle aged white men.In today’s conversation, we explore why Campaign Brief isn’t just reporting a problem, but is actively contributing, by using its power and influence to support the same club.And also today, a new challenge for Nine, as The Australian breaks news of an alleged rape after a Christmas party.Further reading:* Unmade: Why won’t Campaign Brief acknowledge women (and why do male execs still support them)?* Unmade: Campaign Grief* The Australian: Advertising’s gender representation debate heats up as agencies boycott trade title* Unmade: Truth and consequences at Nine?* The Australian: Former Nine junior female staffer reports alleged sexual assault involving senior male managerToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today’s edition features a fascinating exploration of how Four Pillars Gin became such a huie brand success, with an in-depth conversation with co-founder Matt Jones. Also today, we share details of the Sydney panel for Unmade’s Compass roadshow.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 Unlock (October 31), Compass (across November); HumAIn (2025), and REmade (September 2025).* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Smart, Barrett, Horgan and Bedir revealed for Unmade’s Compass Sydney panel next monthCat McGinn writes:We can today reveal our Sydney panel for our annual industry meet-up Compass, which will travel to six states for the first time.The Sydney edition, taking place on November 13, will feature Brent Smart, CMO of Telstra; Lou Barrett, managing director of client partnerships at News Corp; Jasmin Bedir, CEO of creative agency Innocean; and Peter Horgan, outgoing CEO of Omnicom Media Group, for a lively discussion of the year just gone and outlook on 2025.The pub conversation will also be featured as an Unmade podcast.Unmade’s paying members are entitled to a complimentary place while tickets are also on sale here. Unmade’s Compass will for the first time take place across six states. We’ll be announcing each state’s speaker lineup across the next few days* Wed 6 November - Hobart;* Tues 12 Nov - Brisbane: The Prince Consort;* Wed 13 Nov - Sydney: The Sporting Globe; * Mon 18 Nov - Perth: The Globe; * Tues 19 Nov - Adelaide: Elephant British Pub; * Wed 20 Nov - Melbourne: The Garden State Hotel.Love and craft and marketing - how Matt Jones helped create the legend of Four Pillars GinA year on from a $100m exit, Four Pillars Gin co-founder Matt Jones has written a book about the business discipline behind the creation of one of the great Australian brand success stories.Unusually for the author of a business book, Jones is not just a strategist, but one who put his money where his mouth was. Along with partners Stuart Gregor and Cameron Mackenzie, he made the decision to create a luxury gin brand, and then executed it brilliantly.Lessons From Gin: Business the Four Pillars Way tells the story of how they did it, and offers a series of insights that anybody building a brand could borrow from. The book breaks the story into four stages - thinking, crafting, sharing and growing.In today’s Unmade podcast, Jones shares with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes some of the lessons applied, and learned, along the way.He makes the case that many business are underpowered in having marketing brains at the top. Like Jones, Gregor came from the communications world as owner of the PR agency Liquid Ideas. Mackenzie was the only working directly in the production of alcohol.Says Jones: “We were far heavier in terms of creative industries, creative mindset, brand mindset, marketing mindset than 99% of leadership groups out there in the world.“My perspective on the whole is that businesses are underweight when it comes to those voices around the leadership table. And I think that is something that we absolutely benefited from, that we valued these things that we might call brand leadership. We valued them at the heart of the business, not just the marketing strategy.”Lessons from Gin will be published by Wiley on October 30 and is available on presale. On October 31 Jones will deliver the keynote at Unmade’s Unlock conference in Sydney where he will discuss the role of telling stories in building brands. Tickets are on sale now, or complimentary to Unmade’s paying members.SCA moves back past VinylTim Burrowes writes:The old order reasserted itself on the Unmade index yesterday with Southern Cross Austereo moving back past Vinyl Group.SCA lost 1.1% to land on a market capitalisation of $111.5m, But Vinyl Group lost 4.4% to land on $111.1m.Most acitvity on the Unmade Index was negative yesterday with Domain losing 1.3% and parent company Nine dropping 0.8%.Seven West Media bucked the trend, growing by 3%The Unmade Index fell 0.67% to land on 454.1 points.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.I’m about to hop onto a flight to Sydney to cover tonight’s Foxtel Upfront event. I’ll let you know how it went in tomorrow’s newsletter.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition: With Campaign Brief under fire for continuing to focus only on male creatives, the industry reacts; AI exhumes movie stars; the ACCC’s exposure of Coles’ and Woolworths’ shady pricing hits their brands; and Seven defends yet another legal case.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and REmade and HumAIn next year.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership also includes members-only content, access to our paywalled archives and your own copy of Media Unmade. Upgrade today.Why won’t Campaign Brief acknowledge women (and why do male execs still support them)?The scandal of the last few days has been playing out on LinkedIn as the industry questions Campaign Brief’s ongoing emphasis on the talents only of male creatives Campaign Brief’s latest ranking of creatives in NZ and Australia - in the gift of publisher Michael Lynch - focuses mainly on men. Even agencies featuring on the list, including Thinkerbell, appear to be asking themselves whether it’s a good idea to be there.Thinkerbell was among the agencies highly placed. CEO Margie Reid, who is also a director of Support The Girls Australia, took to LinkedIn over the weekend to distance her agency from the ranking, writing: “Thinkerbell has not paid, created or had any part to play in the list that appeared in the latest edition of the Campaign Brief magazine or the BestAds ranking list. Nor were we contacted when the list was published.”Creative Jet Swain put it more succinctly yesterday: “Shame on you Campaign Brief. Nothing has changed in the three decades I’ve witnessed this blatant misogyny. Your NZ lists had no women, and Australia only has Tara Ford.”Also in today’s podcast: AI can bring dead actors back to life; but should it?; Coles and Woolworths have seen tangible brand damage from the ACCC prosecution new data from Roy Morgan Research shows; and Southern Cross Austereo is accused of ‘mocking’ its local TV news obligations.Further reading* LinkedIn: Thinkerbell’s Margie Reid on the Campaign Brief sexism row* LinkedIn: Darren Woolley of Trinity P3 on the Campaign Brief sexism row* LinkedIn: Jet Swain accuses Campaign Brief of misogyny* Australian Financial Review: Think you know that voice? Dead celebrities are working again* The Australian: Aldi nabs ‘most trusted supermarket’ title as Coles and Woolies suffer* The Australian: An absence of local news in the regions is denying a voice to the people whose lives are affected* The Australian: Seven blocks release of ‘humiliating’ docs in case against ex-producer Amelia Saw* Australian Financial Review: Inside ARN’s Melbourne gamble on The Kyle and Jackie O ShowToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today’s edition features one of the highlights of last week’s REmade - Retail Media Unmade conference, our leadership panel. 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 Unlock (October 31), Compass (across November); HumAIn (2025), and REmade (September 2025).* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Growing pains, data gains, and techy brains: retail media’s leaders reflect In today’s audio edition, we hear from the retail media leaders in a session which concluded our retail media conference REmade last week.Dan Ferguson, chief marketing officer for Adore Beauty Group, Sarah Minassian, head of retail media at Metcash and Marc Lomas, MD of commerce for GroupM AUNZ shared their views on the surge in retail media and its growing industry impact.The panel presented a unified case that retail media is on a fast track, and with year-on-year expansion, demanding attention, investment - and increased integration across the industry.In the conversation, moderated by REmade’s Curator Cat McGinn, Lomas argued “We are rapidly approaching Retail Media 3.0 where it’s no longer a separate entity - it's just media, seamlessly integrated across channels and treated the same as other forms of media."Another key takeaway was the need for better collaboration and data sharing between brands, retailers, and tech partners. The message was clear: transparency builds trust, and trust fuels the kind of partnerships that can really scale retail media. Minassian said “It’s about having authentic conversations, building trust, and aligning everyone’s expertise to move forward at a million miles an hour."The panel doubled down on putting customers first. Whether it’s using podcasts or digital channels, keeping customer experience front and centre drives genuine engagement. As Ferguson said, “We listen to our customers. They give us sharp and direct feedback, and it’s what drives our decisions. At the start of the pandemic, our audience told us, ‘less of the hard sell,’ and we changed our tone of voice accordingly. That kind of customer feedback is what shapes everything we do."On the tech side, integration is key. Metcash is focusing heavily on building the infrastructure needed to enhance its retail media offerings, while Adore Beauty’s commitment to leveraging customer data shows just how important tech and data are in taking retail media to the next level.Lomas added: "When you look at the way consumers are starting to shop, younger demos are rekindling the love of the store. The store is a new canvas for innovation, and syncing experiences between online and offline through technology is where retailers can really step in and deliver."And Metcash’s Minassian called out the need for more diverse voices at the table to shape the future of the industry, reminding women to apply for roles, even if they don’t feel they have the "perfect" experience.* REmade will return in September 2025. Subscribers who become paying members of Unmade now will get a whole year of access to paywalled content and all our events, plus a ticket to the next REmade, Upgrade todayUnmade Index hovers as Nine moves up and Seven moves downDeclines from Ooh Media (down 1.2%) and Seven West Media (down 2.8%) were offset by increases in the valuation of Domain (up 1.5%) and Nine (up 0.4%) to slightly lift the Unmade Index yesterday.The index closed up by 0.2% at 451.6 points.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio. We’ll be back with an end-of-week update tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we talk to two of the co-founders of Mercha - Ben Read and Sam Hardy. Plus, the top of town pushes down the Unmade Index.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 (2025), REmade (September 2025), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. The Unmakers: Meet Mercha - ‘A digital platform in an analogue industry’Mercha can claim to be the first branded merchandise player in Australia to have fully digitised its processes in what remains marketing’s arguably most analogue sector.Last month the company wrapped up a $300,000 crowd-funded seed round, valuing it at around $10m.In today’s edition of The Unmakers, Unmade’s Tim Burrowes talks to CEO Ben Read and chief revenue officer Sam Hardy about why the promotional marketing sector has taken so long to scale up in Australia. As Hardy puts it: “Mercha is a digital platform in an analogue, old school industry.”Over just three years, Mercha has ramped up to a turnover of $2.9m in the last financial year.Promotional merchandise is also a sector facing headwinds as sustainability moves further up the agenda. Mercha claims to be part of the solution by focusing on products that people will want to keep. Says Read: “It is shocking to me that 66% of promotional products end up in landfill. That is just disgusting to me. It should never happen.“We're trying to be better than an industry that is not trying hard enough.”By way of example, Hardy adds: “We had a radio station out of Sydney ask us very early on in the piece to do 250,000 whistles for a New Year's Eve event. Plastic whistles next to the harbour. And it would have been great, the revenue. But we turned it down.“I draw the line on offering people crap that's going into the bin or offering people product that's not made fairly.”Unmade Index red up top, green belowThe Unmade Index slipped on Wednesday after Nine, the biggest locally listed media and marketing stock lost 1.6% to fall back to a market capitalisation of $1.9bn.The move added to the daylight between Nine and its 60.1% owned subsidiary Domain. Domain slipped by 1.2% yesterday.Ooh Media was also on a losing trend yesterday, slipping by 1.1%In the mid market, ARN Media and Southern Cross Austereo both saw slight improvements.Vinyl Group, which this week announced the acquisition of blockchain music collectibles business Serenade, rose by 9.5%. In the company’s annual report released on Tuesday, it said it had written down the value of its Vampr “LinkedIn for musicians” platform, founded by CEO Josh Simons, by $1.8m, but remained “bullish”.The Unmade Index slipped by 0.7% to 461 points.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio. As disclosed in the podcast, at the time of recording this interview, I was considering taking part in the Mercha crowd funding round on Birchal, via my super fund. I did choose to investWe’ll be back with an end-of-week update tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: We chew over what the ACCC’s concerns over Cartology and Coles 360 may mean for Australia’s retail media sector; Bruce Gordon retires; and yet another significant week in AI developmentsIf 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 (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Can retail media networks succeed if they are non-retailer owned?; AI’s latest threat; Bruce Gordon hands overLast week, the ACCC lit the fuse on a new battleground for retailers - does their ownership of retail media networks give them too much power? In today’s podcast, recorded the day before our REmade - Retail Media Unmade conference, we discuss the implications.Also today: Google’s AI Overviews are finally coming to Australia, which will alarm many publishers; and Google also unveils a powerful new research tool, Notebook LM. And Meta goes hard on AI-generated content.And Bruce Gordon, proprietor of WIN and kingmaker at Nine, moves into retirement.Further reading:* Unmade: Cartel-ogy: The ACCC comes for retail media* Unmade: Brands beware: ACCC’s supermarkets attack is PR used as an offensive weapon* ACCC: Supermarkets inquiry August 2024 interim report* The Australian: Consumer trust in Coles and Woolworths plummets following ACCC action* Australian Financial Review: Google to test its artificial intelligence-powered search in Australia* Australian Financial Review: Billionaire Bruce Gordon retires from WIN as succession questions loomToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes and Cat McGinn.(pic)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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today: As Vinyl Group this morning announces yet another acquisition, we talk to CEO Josh Simons about the bust-up that saw the ousting of Brag Media co-founder Luke Girgis, and the background to his opportunistic acquisition of Mediaweek.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 (2025), REmade (next week), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. ‘I stand behind the acquisition every day of the week’: Vinyl boss Josh Simons on the bumpy Brag Media buyoutAmong the bosses of Australia’s ASX-listed media companies, nobody has had a more random path to the hot seat than Josh Simons. From the lead singer of rock band Buchanan, Simons went on to found Vampr, a social networking site for the music industry, before seeing that acquired by the company he went on to head, Vinyl Group.Simons was the architect of Vinyl’s $8m+ purchase of the Brag Media group, publisher of The Brag and local editions of Rolling Stone and Variety among others, at the start of the year.The initial plan was for Vinyl Group to be a portfolio company with its Brag Media arm run separately to its music platform interests. But that quickly fell over, with the less-than-amicable departure of Brag Media co-founder Luke Girgis five months after the takeover.That left Simons taking what he describes in today’s interview with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes as “a masterclass in media” as he relocated from Melbourne and took charge of the Brag Media publishing operation.That’s included a lesson in the publishing etiquette around journalistic independence. Simons concedes that he was “naive” when he took control adding: “I'm not dogmatic in terms of my views on things. And I think it's important to be able to know when you've said something stupid.”Vinyl Group, with a market capitalisation of a little under $92m, is behind only Nine, Domain, Ooh Media, Seven West Media, ARN Media and Southern Cross Austereo when it comes to local ASX-listed media companies. When it comes to the narrower business of publishing, Vinyl is fourth if you also include the dual-listed News Corp. As Simons observes dryly: “It’s not lost on my parents.”During the interview, Simons offers few clues about what led to the ousting of Girgis, although he hints: “We had to invest in areas that were previously just not being invested in. We needed to bring journalists in.”Hires have included Lars Brandle as head of content, and promoting former Daily Mail and Cartology executive Jess Hunter to head of Brag Media. Since recording the interview, editor-in-chief Poppy Reid who was part of the Girgis era, announced her exit.Earlier this month, Vinyl Group completed the fire sale acquisition of Mediaweek for just $1m after owner Trent Thomas was forced to sell the title following allegations of harassment towards staff. The timing and price of the deal was, Simons says, “almost too good to be true”. The integration is being overseen by Vinyl Group’s chief operating officer Joel King.Simons hints there are more media acquisitions in the entertainment space to come, including overseas. Asked about the fact that Vinyl Group’s tech platforms are global while the media companies are local, he notes: “Rome wasn’t built in a day. We’ve got broad, ambitious plans for global. Rest assured that we're looking around the world to find teams that might add value in any of those areas inside the media part of Vinyl.”As we were publishing this morning, Vinyl Group announced to the ASX that it has agreed to buy event and brand activation agency Funkified from founder Gus Stephenson for $2.5m. Funkified has been Brag Media’s in-house events supplier since 2021. It had a turnover of $4m and EBITDA profit of $430,000 in the last financial year. In the interview, Simons also fleshes out his strategy for Vinyl Group, which as well as Vampr includes music credits database Jaxsta and online retail platform Vinyl. The job of the media arm is to fund investment in the company’s (so far) loss-making tech. “Our media company now is really the engine that allows us to invest in technology. In the past, we've seen media companies try and buy tech companies, and it hasn't worked out so well. And so what we're trying here is buying media companies to fuel tech.”Despite being an ASX-listed company, Vinyl Group’s shareholder register is dominated by a handful of wealthy investors including WiseTech Global founder Richard White and Songrtradr boss Paul Wiltshire.Says Simons: “I'm quite calm and optimistic about where everything's at.” Asked whether Vinyl Group still belongs on the ASX, he adds, intriguingly: “Yeah. Especially if you knew what I know.”* Declaration of interest: Via his super fund, Tim Burrowes owns shares in most of Australia’s listed media companies, including Vinyl Group.Inflation relief lifts Unmade IndexThe Unmade Index bounced yesterday as the market absorbed improving inflation numbers. The index - which tracks Australia’s listed media and marketing companies - grew by 1.5% to 449.3 points - outperforming the wider ASX All Ordinaries which grew by 0.15% yesterday.Among the larger stocks, Nine saw the biggest lift, up by 2.44%.In the audio space, ARN Media and Southern Cross Austereo grew by 1.6% and 1.1%, while radio company Sports Entertainment Group lost 5.5%.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.As we count down to next week’s REmade conference, we’ll be back with a retail media-led edition of Unmade tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: James Warburton invests in Boost Media; troubled Disrupt Radio says it’s in a “holding pattern”; the AFL and NRL lobby on betting ads; and LinkedIn admits to training its AI on user content.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes REmade - Retail Media Unmade on October 1; Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and HumAIn next year.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership also includes members-only content, access to our paywalled archives and your own copy of Media Unmade. Upgrade today.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 (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Telstra kicks off new campaign around grand final; Warburton invests in Boost; Disrupt Radio staff still unpaidTelstra is among the first brands to reveal its plans for a big campaign launch timed around AFL grand final, according to The Australian today. The Oz also features good and bad news from streaming radio, with Disrupt Radio still in a funding crunch and Broad Radio about to go from pre-recorded live.Over in the AFR, Seven West Media is the topic of the day, with former boss James Warburton revealing an investment in ad inventory reseller Boost Media alongside private equity company CVC; and questions about Seven Group’s appetite to remain invested in its media arm SWM.And today’s AI chat covers the revelation that LinkedIn is training its large language model on posts from its users; the role of generative AI in creating media content; and a new version of OpenAI.Further reading: * The Australian: Disrupt Radio is two months behind in staff payments, future of station unclear* The Australian: Broad Radio launches new live programs on the women-only radio station* The Australian: Telstra gets animated to shake off corporate image* Australian Financial Review: Ex-Seven chief James Warburton, CVC Emerging Companies ink media deal* Australian Financial Review: Seven West Media stokes tension behind the scenes at Seven Group* Unmade: Publishers await their Independents Day* Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Nanny state’: NRL, AFL storm the field over gambling ads* Mumbrella: AI generated content doesn’t work – But if it did? The media’s screwedToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinn.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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to a Tuesday update from Unmade. In the interests of topicality we’re reworking our publishing rhythm this week. We’ve brought forward to today our usual Thursday audio-led interview to focus on the Paramount Upfronts which kicked off in Sydney yesterday. And our member-only post which usually happens on a Tuesday, will be later in the week. Further down, we’ve also got better news on the Unmade Index which finally broke its eight day losing streak.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 (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. How Paramount is making one plus one add up to moreParamount yesterday become the first of Australia’s TV companies to show its hand during 2025 Upfronts season.One of the challenges of covering Upfronts presentations is that they tend to be a grab bag of announcements, without there necessarily being a unifying theme.That was certainly the case with Paramount, with announcements covering free to air commissions for Network 10, local commissions for streaming service Paramount+, the company’s global content pipeline, converged trading technology upgrades with Paramount Connect, and a rebrand that will see 10 Play disappear so it will be Ten across both linear and streaming.And that in itself was the unifying theme. Albeit by accident rather than plan, the global ownership structure of the company leaves Paramount as the best placed media company to argue that the sum of its parts adds up to more than the whole.While Paramount Plus isn’t the biggest subscription streaming platform with an advertising tier, it gets to be the only one that is part of a local Upfront.While a distant third behind Seven and Nine in broadcast TV, Ten gets a pipeline of global formats and content from its parent company.While 10 Play isn’t as big as Seven’s FAST (free ad supported TV) channels, advertisers and agencies can buy across both Paramount+ and 10 Play.To lean in to the acronyms, Paramount is the only company locally that can offer advertisers audiences across SVOD, BVOD, FAST and FTA. The sum of the parts has the potential to equal more than the wholeUnder Hugh Marks, Nine’s portfolio felt like a company where its assets across TV, streaming, publishing and radio added up to more than the whole. More recently one plus one has equalled two at best.Seven West Media’s TV and publishing assets feel similarly disconnected, even more so since being split into seperate divisions ready for some sort of M&A activity.ARN Media’s (so far failed) takeover plan for SCA was about being stronger in the single medium of audio. Southern Cross Austereo’s valuation will go up as soon as it finally offloads its fading regional TV licences (presumably mostly to Paramount) and becomes a pure play audio company.So what to make of Paramount’s announcements?There’s a further investment in live reality TV alongside I’m A Celebrity. Big Brother returns to its original home where it ran for its first eight seasons, before three seasons on Nine where it relaunched well out of the 2012 Olympics before fading, and five seasons on Seven which took much of the life out of the format by moving to a cheaper pre-recorded format.Big Brother will be live on Ten and streamed 24 hours a day live which is almost exactly the sort of content FAST was invented for.There were no other major format surprises. Have You Been Paying Attention, MasterChef, Taskmaster, Survivor, and Thank God You’re Here all return. The Project stays on air.Talking ‘Bout Your Generation (or Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Gen as it will be this time) has been revived minus Shaun Micallef as host. Sam Pang will get his own show.During the podcast conversation with sales boss Rod Prosser and programming lead Daniel Monaghan, I didn’t detect much of an appetite to go after a big (and expensive) sporting code. The kite flown at the weekend by NRL boss Peter V’landys feels more like an attempt to scare Nine into thinking it could face an auction.There was also some paranormal activity from Paramount.An Australian version of sitcom Ghosts, which started life in the BBC in the UK will be cast shortly (I have my suspicions we won’t see it on screen until 2026). I’m intrigued how the caveman character of Robin from the original will translate into a local character without controversy around First Nations people. Monaghan tackles that in the interview.And a spooky six part scripted drama Playing Gracie Darling will land on Paramount+As well as talking about the content announcements, the interview addressed the question of how the TV industry can stop sounding defensive about its fading linear numbers and start getting aggressive about streaming.Prosser acknowledges: “We don't see ourselves as a free-to-air business anymore. We see ourselves … as a premium video business. Obviously, the free-to-air asset is incredibly important.It's important to recognize a couple of things. The first thing is that the free-to-air linear still drives the biggest reach.“The second fact is linear audiences are declining. I think none of us can have our heads in the sand about that.“We were artificially propped up through Covid. I think everyone recognises that.“And that decline that we knew was coming has come. And I think we'll see stabilisation in those audiences now.”“The reality is television is still a mass-reaching vehicle. And I think there's no reason to be defensive around that. We own it.“But I do think the linear audiences have found their place.”* Declaration of interest: My travel and accommodation for the event was covered by ParamountUnmade Index finally breaks losing streakThe Unmade Index finally broke an eight day streak of declines to record a move upwards yesterday, growing by 1.36% to 443.3 points.The best performer was Domain, majority owned by Nine, which rose by 4.3%. That in turn helped lift Nine by 2.1%.Rival TV network Seven rose by 2.9%.Among the larger stocks, Southern Cross Austereo had the worst of it, slipping by 3.8%. SCA’s market capitalisation of $122m is the lowest it has ever been. The smaller audio stock of Sports Entertainment Group, owner of SEN radio, lost 7.6%.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.We’ll be back with another newsletter tomorrow.We also have a clarification. In Saturday’s Best of the Week, I reported that VOZ streaming would launch on November 25, as a means for advertisers to frequency cap their campaigns across differing media plartforms. I mentioned that this had previously been announced as December 29. In fact, that date is the full launch of VOZ as a trading currency and remains the same.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, we explore what happens next at Nine, the NRL tries to bring Paramount into its next TV rights auction, and Upfronts season rolls on.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 (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Mike drop, now what for Nine?Mike Sneesby may be on the way out for Nine, but the company still has months of dramas ahead.As we discuss in today’s podcast, acting CEO Matt Stanton’s first challenge will be navigating the release of the report into the company’s culture. The Australian reports today that “a slew of bullying claims have also been levelled against two senior women at Nine”.Also in the podcast, we list some of the contenders for what is one of the biggest jobs in Australian media.Plus, we get ready for another big week in Upfronts season, with Paramount sharing its plans for 2025 today, and Digital Publishers Alliance running Independents Day on Thursday.And the NRL is trying to talk up a bid from Paramount for its next round of rights negotiations.Further reading:* Unmade: Nine's $3bn decline* Unmade: Scorecard: Mike Sneesby failed at Nine, but first he gave the company a future by launching Stan* Unmade: After Sneesby* The Australian: Outside pick firms as next Nine boss* Capital Brief: Nine execs jostle for power as race to replace Sneesby as CEO begins* Sunday Telegraph: What’s the Buzz: Peter V’landys seeks meeting with Channel 10 over NRL rightsToday’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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - Unmade This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: The government clear the decks on its policy logjam, with privacy reforms dumped until after the election; new AI rules, and heavy fines on scam ads. Plus, the boss of Disrupt Radio - where staff have gone unpaid for nearly two months - claims: “Start-ups are not for the salaried and superannuated”.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes REmade - Retail Media Unmade on October 1; Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and HumAIn next year.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership also includes members-only content, access to our paywalled archives and your own copy of Media Unmade. Upgrade today.Privacy reforms move to the ‘too-hard’ basket; Don’t expect salaries and super, Disrupt Radio founder tells staffIt’s a frenetic day for government policy announcements with major consequences for the marketing industry.Most notably, The Guardian has broken the news that the most consequential reforms to the Privacy Act have been moved to “the too-hard basket”, and are likely to be dumped to the other side of the election.Also today, the government is announcing a crackdown on scam ads with fines for the digital platforms that carry them. What’s unclear is whether this will extend to media brands (most local news outlets) who carry Google Display Network content.And the government has also kicked off a fortnight long consultation period around a new set of voluntary rules on AI usage.Sticking with AI, Unmade’s Tim Burrowes, Cat McGinn and Abe Udy also examine the launch of Seven’s The AI Factory - is it substance or spin?And the team discusses the latest on the ailing Disrupt Radio. Founder Ben Roberts told The Australian today that the real problem for unpaid staff isn’t their empty bank accounts, but that they’re not used to what he sees as the realities of life in a startup.“Start-ups are not for the salaried and superannuated, and I made it very clear to people I personally hired that it might be a bit of a rollercoaster."It’s been particularly difficult for those who haven’t been through the rough and tumble of a start-up before,” he told The Oz.Further reading:* The Guardian: Get a VPN and delete your cookies, Australia’s privacy laws are still lagging behind“Are we the baddies?”* Brisbane Times: Up to $50m fine for banks, telcos, social media firms in war on scams* Australian Government: Voluntary AI Safety Standard* Seven West Media: Seven opens the AI Factory* Unmade: Disrupt Radio goes off air* The Australian: Disrupt Radio hits turbulence: unable to pay staff and the station is taken off DAB+Today’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, streaming audio and video pull in advertising growth, while podcast audiences boom. Plus, we look back on results season and forward to Upfronts.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 (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Video and audio streaming lead digital growth; Results season’s theme: at least the bad news was no worse than expectedIn today’s episode of Start the Week, we cover off the new 2024 financial year data from the IAB. It reveals video streaming growing by an impressive 18.6% while connected TV is taking the biggest slice of that. Meanwhile, online audio has just had its best quarter.We also discuss a seperate half yearly report into podcast listening habits from Commercial Radio & Audio and Triton Digital.We look back upon a results season full of lots of bad news but few nasty surprises. And we look forward to Upfronts season which kicks of with Ooh Media’s Outfronts on WednesdayFurther reading:* Commercial Radio Australia: Australian Podcast Bi-annual report* IAB Australia: Internet Advertising Revenue Report FY24 & June Quarter* Unmade: SCA: The disappearing agency dollars* Unmade: 'Sometimes you have to cop to a bad quarter' - Ooh Media drops a mediocre set of numbersToday’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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today’s conversation features demographer Bernard Salt on what really motivates Australians. Further down, the Unmade Index takes a breather after Nine’s financial results were no worse than expected.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes REmade - Retail Media Unmade on October 1; Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and HumAIn next year.Your membership also includes members-only content, access to our paywalled archives and your own copy of Media Unmade. Upgrade today.Has Australia got it too good to be great?As the lockdowns of Covid fade in people’s memories, some of the changes in trajectory are permanent, observes demographer and columnist Bernard Salt. Technology adoption and the pursuit of more space for home working remain. The Zoom room now takes priority over the pool room.However, pursuit of quality of life was a longer term, underlying Australian trait, possibly driven by enjoying a more benevolent climate than European settlers had known.“We're a free, open, easy, sporty, home-focused people, quality of life-focused people,” says Salt. “And it ain't going away. It was there in the 1950s. It'll be there in the 2050s.”Another factor that shaped Australia’s destiny is geology, says Salt in his conversation with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes. While the more populous US was driven by farming, much of central Australia lacks the rick soils that would have been needed to settle it through intensive agriculture.The conversation also covers how consumer mindset changes depending on life stage.And in a question that was covered before this week’s news that the government has controversially closed the door on new topics for the next census, Salt explains why he wants to know more about the rise of pet ownership alongside the loneliness epidemic.* Boomtown is running a webinar today at 10am Eastern featuring Salt’s presentation at the Boomtown breakfast event a fortnight ago.Unmade Index flat as Nine offers no more bad newsThe Unmade Index stood still on Wednesday with the market offering a sigh of relief that Nine’s annual financial results were no worse than expected. The index lost just 0.1 points, to land on 456.5 points.Nine finished the day up by 0.75% to a market capitalisation of $2.1bn. Seven West Media gained 2.94%.The Market Limited, owner of Hot Copper, Gumtree and Carsguide, jumped nearly 30% despite reporting a drastic fall in profitability.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.We’ll be back with more soon, including a deeper dive into the Nine numbers.If you’re interested in retail media, don’t forget that our call for entries for the REmade Awards is live only until the end of the weekend.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: News publishers push back against media agencies’ brand safety default settings; AI search startup Perplexity gets into the advertising business; and X becomes an image disinformation engine.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes REmade - Retail Media Unmade on October 1; Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and HumAIn next year.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership also includes members-only content, access to our paywalled archives and your own copy of Media Unmade. Upgrade today.How brand safety is throttling news revenuesMedia companies are starting to push back against buying agencies’ brand safety policies after the admission of Group M boss Christian Juhl that by default most of his clients are kept off news sites. Juhl testified to Congress that just 1.28% of brand spend goes to online news.In today’s podcast we discuss the difference between brands sensibly avoiding polarising mastheads, and defunding news altogether. We ask whether brands’ claims to be good social citizens align with decisions that make it harder for public service journalism to occur.Also today, we look at Perplexity’s plans to take on Google in search with an advertising offering; Conde Nast’s deal with OpenAI and Donald Trump’s sharing of fake AI imagery.Further reading (and viewing):* The Australian: Brand suitability myth busted* Unmade: Taken to the farm: GARM harm* Unmade: What if Elon is right, and marketers should occasionally be told to get fuuucked?* Digiday: Perplexity’s pitch deck offers advertisers a new vision for AI search* OpenAI: OpenAI partners with Condé Nast* Forbes: AI Gone Wild: How Grok-2 Is Pushing The Boundaries Of Ethics And InnovationGroup M boss Christian Juhl’s testimony on brand safety:Today’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to a midweek edition of Unmade.Tomorrow is Unmade’s third birthday and we’ll be sharing a post with some updates on how we’re travelling, and where we go next. So our usual, audio-led episode is a day earlier than usual, featuring the team at Man of Many at a point when independent digital publishing is a front page political issue.Further down in the post, the Unmade Index hits another all time low as the valuation of ASX-listed media and marketing companies falls to the lowest point since we started the index two-and-a-half years ago.Producing independent analysis of the media and marketing industry that goes beyond press releases takes time and resources. If you like what we do, you can support us by becoming a paying member. Upgrade todayScott Purcell and Frank Arthur’s trip into the independent media establishment with Man of ManyMan of Many has a different founding story to most digital titles.Neither of its two founders Scott Purcell and Frank Arthur came from a publishing background. Purcell was a credit analyst at Westpac and Arthur was an industrial designer for a street furniture company.The then housemates started Man of Many as a way of talking about the men’s lifestyle products that interested them.From something which was essentially a blog, Many of Many has become a company of increasing substance. With a staff of just under 20, the company now talks mental health and carbon neutrality, as well as continuing to champion luxury consumption.Through persistence and participation, Many of Many has become a significant voice within the publishing ecosystem. If there’s such a thing as an establishment within independent media, then MoM is a member.They’re signed up for The Digital Publishers Alliance, the Online News Association and the Australian Press Council. Man of Many has been a long time entrant (and sometimes winner) in Mumbrella’s Publish Awards. They’re shortlisted for website of the year and brand of the year amongst other categories this year.Man of Many says it is now Australia’s largest men’s lifestyle site (albeit, as is discussed in the interview, with much of their traffic comes from overseas).In today’s podcast conversation with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes, Purcell speaks not just the language of watches and whisky but also brand values and carbon neutrality. Pragmatically, MoM has successfully applied to be on the Australian Communications & Media Authority’s register of news businesses. Depending what the governmenrt chooses to do about designating Meta or other platforms, that could be crucial for publishers.Not that Purcell necessarily welcomes the prospect of a Meta designation by Treasury minister Stephen Jones: “We're hoping that there won't be one because I think the impacts of that will be quite detrimental to the broader market. We are an ACMA registered news organization, which was meant to be a requirement under the code for negotiation. But unfortunately, that hasn't really resulted in any further bargaining power for us.” So far, anyway.If the government does decide to create a digital levy on the platforms, Man of Many will inevitably be one of the voices arguing that lifestyle journalism is a form of public interest journalism that deserves funding. “I think that it is important for it to be quite a broad definition of public interest journalism and that the funding goes towards independent and a diverse set of media,” argues Purcell.Further reading: * The business book recommended by Purcell in the interview is Traction, by Gino Wickman;* See more about Man of Many’s credentials on their About page;* Man of Many’s advertising pageUnmade Index hits a new lowThe Unmade Index hit a new low point yesterday, dropping by 1.06% to 465.2 points.The previous low came when the index dipped to 465.9 points on July 5.The Unmade Index, which covers the market capitalisation of all the local ASX-listed media and marketing companies, began at the start of 2022 on a nominal 1000 points. Yesterday’s number marks a fall of more than 53% of their collective value.Among the larger stocks, Domain saw the most movement, losing 3.1%. Stocks in Domain have lost 15% since it updated the market on its full year numbers last week. Ooh Media lost 2%.Enero dropped by another 5.2% yesterday, to its lowest point since the early weeks of the Covid crisis in April 2020. Enero lost one of the zeroes from its market cap after falling below a $100m valuation.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.I’ll be back tomorrow with Unmade’s three year birthday update. As is the annual tradition, I’ll be sharing details of our financial performance and audience numbers. And we’ll also be announcing a big upgrade on the privileges for Unmade’s paying members.If you’re interested in retail media, don’t forget that discounted earlybird tickets are on sale for another four days for the next edition of REmade on October 1. And our call for entries for the REmade Awards is live for just another fortnight.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, rumblings about a tech tax get louder; clues from earnings season as Ooh Media’s profits slip; and the ABC invites the Bruce Lehrmann defamation judge to host Media Watch.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.Digital levy drumbeat get louder; Is this the week ARN tries yet again to capture SCA? ABC thinks out of the box for Media Watch Publishers smell money in the air, and they’re launching a landgrab before the dollars drift to the ground. With the government dithering about whether to designate Meta under the News Media Bargaining Code, lifestyle publishers are arguing that what they do had a value too. If Meta or anyone else gets designated, they want to be allowed into the negotiations.Also today, we check in on earnings season with Ooh Media reporting a down half this morning, and ARN likely to update the market on its SCA takeover ambitions when it does its half yearly update on Thursday.And The Australian reveals that The ABC has been rebuffed in what would have been a wonderful casting move. It tried to interest Justice Michael Lee in replacing Paul Barry as Media Watch host. In a parallel universe it would have been a great idea.And it was the morning after Larry Emdur won the Gold Logie.Further reading:* The Guardian: The door to an Australian tech tax is clearly ajar. Can Labor make it happen?* Unmade: A digital levy for platforms now looks likely* Australian Financial Review: Lifestyle, culture websites argue for their slice of Meta’s pie* The Australian: Financial markets say FTA advertising market won’t improve until consumer confidence lifts* Unmade: Labor will do the TV industry a favour if it bans gambling ads* The Australian: Southern Cross Austereo takeover deal is pie in the sky – for now* The Australian: ABC’s pitch for Federal Court judge Michael Lee to take Media Watch hot seat declinedToday’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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade (with quite a few written words too).Today, we talk to Foxtel’s streaming and advertising boss, Julian Ogrin; Seven’s slumping share price sees it at risk of being eclipsed by ARN Media; and we share more news of our retail media conference REmade.‘We can be number one in digital advertising’ - Julian Ogrin on Kayo’s growth storyTim Burrowes writes:Julian Ogrin, the man tipped as the future boss of Foxtel Group, has been taking a higher profile of late. Over the last few days, he’s been the face (and voice) of the latest set of results from the company.Ogrin is CEO of Foxtel’s streaming division including sports platform Kayo (“the home of Australian domestic sport”, as he puts it in today’s podcast), and entertainment platform Binge.The rise of the two platforms - each of them passed more than 1.5m paying subscribers for the first time - is an unusual success story against a backdrop where most satellite and cable TV providers around the world have failed to react to the disruption of changing consumer habits.Last week, News Corp publicly hung a “for sale” sign on Foxtel Group, of which it owns two-thirds. Telstra owns the other third. The company flagged “third party interest” in what looks like an attempt to flush out other potential bidders.The urgency is because these numbers may be as good as they gets for Foxtel.For Kayo, the fourth quarter is the one where local footy fans return for the season before beginning to churn away again. And looming in the next few months is the next NRL deal negotiation. Foxtel currently shares the rights with Nine, which will inevitably chase the full package this time, to spread across its subscription platform Stan too. The all-or-nothing battle will be an expensive one if Foxtel is to win it.And Binge is almost certainly only months away from losing its HBO content to a local launch of Warner Discovery’s streaming service Max.So now is the time to sell Foxtel - and for Ogrin - to sell the message of the company’s streaming growth.In today’s conversation he alludes to a subtle repositioning of what Kayo (and Foxtel) stand for when it coms to sport. He talks about domestic sport five times. Having lost the English Premier League to Optus Sport in 2015, perhaps Formula One, last renewed in 2022, will be next to go.The interview also covers the question of Kayo’s price. By global standards the $25-per-month entry level price, or full package for $35, is low. Ben Shepherd, who is often right about such things, predicted last week that we may see the price rise towards $50.Ogrin hints: “We used to have three tiered products and we came back to two. Maybe we go back to three.”Naturally, we asked Ogrin about the succession plans when the time comes to replace Delany. Naturally, he navigated around the question.We also pushed him on the number of sign ups to aggregation service Hubbl. He used the word “proud” twice but declined to share numbers.Ogrin also has Foxtel Media, the company’s advertising sales house, reporting in to him. Even in a down market, the division has reported growth. Ogrin claims Kayo is the only scalable advertising solution for streaming in the market. “We’re talking about seven hours of highly engaged viewing a week”.“In the next 12 to 24 months we can be number one in digital advertising and we’re just going to go for it.”Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.We’ll be back with another newsletter tomorrow.If you’re interested in retail media, don’t forget that discounted earlybird tickets are on sale for another four days for the next edition of REmade on October 1. And our call for entries for the REmade Awards is live for just another fortnight.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: The call is coming from inside the house as Nine’s papers highlight disquiet over the company’s share buyback and Domain’s leadership; we look at the first edition of the reincarnated Cosmopolitan Australia; and the latest in AI.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.Nine’s Foxtel takeover talks revealed as Cosmo returnsSix years after Bauer Media killed it off, Cosmopolitan Australia is back on the newsstands. In today’s audio-led edition of the Unmade podcast, we take a look at that first edition of Cosmo.Plus, a revelation that Nine talked to News Corp about buying Foxtel; what reads like a subtle hit on the management team at the Nine-aligned Domain in the Australian Financial Review, and suggestions that Nine’s share buyback program has been a fizzer.And in the world of AI, have we hit the trough of disillusionment?Further reading:* Unmade: As good as it gets - Foxtel on the block* Capital Brief: Nine and News Corp deal talks add to Foxtel intrigue* Australian Financial Review: REA’s success exposes shrinking Domain* Brisbane Times: The $220 million ‘double-edged sword’ that’s bothering Nine* Cosmopolitan Australia: Tones And I Is Ready For Her Close UpToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we talk to author and Crikey proprietor Eric Beecher as he publishes a book condemning the power of media moguls. And further down, the Unmade Index bounces back a little after slumping on Monday and then losing some more on Tuesday.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.‘They do it to make money and they do it to wield power’ In today’s audio-led conversation, we talk to one of the leaders of Australia’s independent media sector, Eric Beecher.A former editor-in-chief of the Sydney Morning Herald early in his career, Beecher has been involved in building and selling two big publishing businesses, and is currently proprietor of Private Media whose flagship is trouble-making daily newsletter Crikey.Last week, Beecher’s new book, The Men Who Killed The News, was published by Simon & Schuster. In it, he takes aim at media moguls around the world who use their influence for their own ends. A major focus is the Murdoch family. Beecher has gone from working for Rupert Murdoch and selling a business to what was then News Ltd, to being an influential critic of the company and being unsuccessfully sued for defamation by Lachlan Murdoch.The conversation also covers the imperfection of the industry-funded Australian Press Council (“the lesser of evils”) his views on the sort of public interest journalism that deserves to be publicly funded (“It’s about scrutinzing power and government. I do not believe it includes lifestyle journalism”) and what’s likely to happen in the Murdoch family’s new succession battle.Beecher describes the unregulated influence of owning a media company as “the loophole in democracy”.We talked to Private Media CEO Will Hayward last year:Unmade Index slide endsThe Unmade Index recovered slightly yesterday after its drops of 3.6% and 1.2% to start the week. Yesterday the Unmade Index improved by 1.08% to 477.9 points.Among the larger stocks, printing and marketing services group IVE did best, growing by 3.4%. Seven West Media was up by 3% after hitting a four year low on Tuesday.Enero, owner of agencies including BMF, hit its own four year low yesterday, dropping to a market capitalisation of $106mToday’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.We’ll be back with another newsletter tomorrow. If you’re interested in retail media, don’t forget that discounted earlybird tickets are on sale for another 12 days for the next edition of REmade on October 1. And our call for entries for the REmade Awards is now live.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, the theme of the week is government intervention in betting ads; airline failures and the social media landscapeIf you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.Government set to back off on betting ad ban; Could Rex have marketed itself differently?; Digital levy loomsThe Australian government is currently navigating tricky questions about where to intervene across the media and business world.In a proposed crackdown on betting ads, the government seems to be watering down its threat to ban them from TV. Instead it might limit gambling brands to two ads per hour, which would create premium inventory for the networks. Meanwhile, the networks are asking for another discount on what they pay to access the public airwaves.The government is also weighing up what intervention might be needed to save regional airline Rex. Should the airline have stayed focused on the country?And a major new intervention around the digital platforms is looming, including the possibility of a digital levy.Further reading:* The Guardian: ‘A total cop-out’ if Albanese government refuses blanket ban on gambling ads, Pocock says* Australian Financial Review: TV networks to demand fee relief as $40m wagering hole opens up* Unmade: The levy is breaking coverToday’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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we recap one of the most talked-about sessions at Unmade’s HumAIn conference. And further down, the Unmade Index surges on new data suggesting inflation may be back under control.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. How AI is already changing life for news breakersWhile the audience at HumAIn voted down the debate motion that AI is an extinction level event for media, its impact on the business of journalism is nonetheless undeniable.In a conversation moderated by Unmade’s Tim Burrowes, we brought together a panel of news practitioners to discuss how generative AI is already changing practices in journalism and the publishing business model. Our panellists:* Melanie Withnall, Head of News and Information, Southern Cross Austereo* Michael Davis, Research Fellow, Centre for Media Transition* Shaun Davies, Responsible AI Consultant* Ricky Sutton, Author, Future MediaThe topics tackled included how news organisations are already using AI, combating AI as a source of disinformation, using AI as a storytelling tool; the place for news media if generative search wipes out direct traffic, the challenges of algorithmic biases and the ethics of accountability.Melanie Withnall has since announced she would be moving back to the ABC as head of continuous news, audio and video. She is due to finish at SCA tomorrow.Unmade Index back above 500It was an afternoon of optimism on the Unmade Index after new inflation numbers quelled fears that interest rates might go up again.Our tracker of locally listed media and marketing stocks jumped by 2.77% on Wednesday to 500.7 points. This outperformed the wider ASX All Ordinaries which rose by 1.76%.The index has been stuck below 500 points - signifying a halving of value of Australia’s media and marketing stocks since we started tracking them in 2022 - for the last two months.It was a particularly good day for TV stocks, with Nine growing 4%, and Seven West Media growing 5.9%. Southern Cross Austereo, which is in both radio and TV, improved by 0.8%.The two outdoor advertising stocks, Ooh Media and Motio, both bounced too, up by 3.6% and 5.3% respectively.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.I’m speaking at a couple of private industry events in Hobart today and tomorrow, and not planning a newsletter tomorrow unless something urgent breaks. If you’re in Hobart and want to say hello late on Friday afternoon, possibly over a beer, then please do drop me a note.If you’re interested in retail media, don’t forget that earlybird tickets are now on sale for the next edition of REmade on October 1. And our call for entries for the REmade Awards is now live.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: Should Nine’s journos have gone on strike?;The AI content snake threatens to eat itself; and a chance to hear the Infinite Dial launch.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.Are Nine’s journos right to strike?Nine’s big Olympics fortnight in Paris has been overshadowed by its journalists going on strike. Several regular columns are missing from today’s papers. But should they even be striking?Plus, we examine the latest developments in AI, including the launch of OpenAI’s own search offering, Google’s attempt to position Gemini as a blog writer, and Mutinex cofounder Henry Innis’s (bad) idea for resurrecting the axed Pedestrian brands.And as bonus content we also share a replay of this month’s Infinite Dial webinar.Further reading:* Unmade: Torch relays, both good and bad* The Australian: Nine’s strikers misread the room, and their audience* The Guardian: Nine journalists do their block over Scott Cam’s Paris Olympics appearance amid strike* 7news: Nine CEO refuses to answer questions as newspaper reporters strike over pay as Olympics starts* The Australian: Fair’s fare – big tech must pay for the news it uses* LinkedIn / Henry Innis: Someone could start a very profitable local business using the remains of the Pedestrian licences* OpenAI: SearchGPT Prototype* CRA: The Infinite Dial 2024 Today’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we talk to one of the world’s most celebrated advertising creatives, Sir John Hegarty.Further down, the Unmade Index lifts back towards 500 points, but Seven West Media slumps back to its four-year low.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade‘Take off those f*****g headphones’ - Sir John Hegarty on why creatives need to stay connected to the worldAd agency BBH is among the most significant advertising agencies of the last half century. It may never quite have opened its doors in Australia - the closest it came was Singapore - but its local influence on advertising is still remarkable with many of its alumni having built agencies locally.Created four decades ago by John Bartle, Nigle Bogle and John Hegarty, BBH is now owned by Publicis.Sir John Hegarty - who also cofounded Saatchi & Saatchi and TBWA - is behind some of BBH’s most celebrated ads. In February he’ll be coming to Australia as part of his Business of Creativity course.In this wide ranging conversation with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes, Sir John discusses the sliding doors moment early in his career as an art director when he ended up paired with copywriter Charles Saatchi; how a black sheep came to define his career; and the nature of creativity.He also explains his provocative premise that the reason why Sydney is not a great creative hub is because the weather is too good. "A lot of creativity comes out of struggle. You can’t sit outside a lovely beach bar and have a beer. You’ve got to go in and have an idea.”Sir John also argues that the only way for creatives to stay relevant is to stay in touch not just with culture, but with their surroundings. “If you’re a creative person, please, will you take those f*****g headphones off? Great creative people are absorbers. They absorb things around them all the time.”He also tackles the separation of media from creative agencies: “one of the greatest mistakes our industry made”.And he shares the anecdote of how his second thoughts about a weak campaign his agency had already sold in, became the acclaimed “Cream of Manchester” ad for beer brand Boddingtons.Further links:* Business of Creativity* Training Day:* The Stormtrooper Scandal* Apple TV: Stones in Exile* Disney+: The Beatles: Get Back* Hegarty on Creativity: There are No Rules* Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson* Backstory book subscriptionToday’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.If you’re interested in retail media, don’t forget that earlybird tickets are now on sale for the next edition of REmade on October 1. And our call for entries for the REmade Awards is now live.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade, featuring an interview with the editorial and commercial leaders of The Australian recorded to mark its 60th birthday.Producing independent analysis of the media and marketing industry that goes beyond press releases takes time and resources. If you like what we do, you can support us by becoming a paying member. Become a member todayThe Australian’s Gunn and Gray: Is radio the next frontier?; platform friends and foes; and AI optimismIf Meta stops sharing news on its platforms to beat the News Media Bargaining Code, it should be forced to leave Australia altogether, the executive leading News Corp’s relationships with digital platforms argues.The comments from Nicholas Gray come during a podcast conversation with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes. As part of the News Corp restructure, Gray has been given the expanded, dual role of MD and publisher of The Australian and the company’s stable of prestige publishing arm, along with MD of tech platform partnerships.It comes as the industry waits on treasury minister Stephen Jones’ decision whether to designate Meta under the News Media Bargaining Code rules. In 2021, Google (owned by Alphabet) and Facebook (owned by Meta), fended off designation by voluntarily striking deals with local publishers. In March. Meta said it would not renew its deals.If designation of Meta occurs, the company would be forced to go into binding arbitration with local companies that appear on the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s register of eligible news businesses over how much it must pay each of them to feature their content.Facebook has indicated that it would prevent news links being shared, which would enable it to argue in arbitration that it would not need to pay the publishers.During the conversation Gray argues: “We hope the Assistant Treasurer designates. Obviously then, Meta have a decision.“They've threatened to turn off news as they have in Canada.“If they're designated and if they try to turn off news, we say that won't be enough.We prefer they didn't exit the market entirely, but if they're not prepared to pay for the news that's unquestionably an important part of their service, all of the research says that, and our data says that, then we don't think it's sustainable for them to operate in this market.The call that Meta should be prevented from operating in Australia altogether was first hinted at by News Corp’s boss, executive chairman Michael Miller in his speech to the Australian Press Club last month. He called for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which created the bargaining code, to have “the power to ultimately block access to our country and our people if they refuse to play by our rules.”The interview with Gray and The Australian’s editor-in-chief Michelle Gunn was timed for the 60th anniversary of The Australian, which celebrated the landmark over the weekend.During the conversation, Gunn is asked about previous reports The Australian is contemplating launching its own radio station, similar to The Times Radio in the UK. Gunn acknowledges that “live audio” is on the table.She says: “We are looking at our success in podcasting. I think it's an important tool for us to grow audience.“Whether it takes the form of live audio or podcasts, and we're still looking at what the mix will be, and what form it will take.”On the same radio question, Gray adds: “We need to be in new places with our brand and our news reporting in the forms that people want to consume it, however they may, in order to develop them as potential subscribers down the track.”News Corp’s global chair Lachlan Murdoch already owns radio stations in Australia through Nova Entertainment.The wide ranging conversation also covers the tough publishing environment; The Australian’s increasing use of vertical video, lessons learned from failed youth brand The Oz, how AI will change journalism, and The Australian’s battles with its rivals at Nine.How Unmade yesterday covered Rupert Murdoch’s prediction that newspapers have no more than 15 years left in printThe Unmade Index rose again yesterday. Since the start of last week, our index of Australia’s listed media and marketing stocks has risen on six of the last eight trading days.Yesterday saw the index lift by another 1.28%to 490.6 points.Of the locally headquartered media stocks, Seven West Media was the best performer, up by 2.78%.News Corp, dual listed in New York and Sydney, also had a good day, rising by 3.35%, to close at an all-time high market capitalisation of AU$24bn.Only three smaller stocks - Enero Group, The Market Ltd and Motio - bucked the trend and fell.Time to leave you to your Thursday.Today’s podcast was edited by Abe’s Audio.If you’re interested in retail media, don’t forget that earlybird tickets are now on sale for the next edition of REmade on October 1. And our call for entries for the REmade awards is now live.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - Unmade This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today: Is Nine going to make a profit or loss on the Olympics? It depends who you ask, and how you calculate it; Will Mediaweek’s embattled owner sell to Vinyl Group? And the TV networks dial back their Upfronts plansIf you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.Olympics countdown: Has Nine locked in enough sponsorship?Nine says it’s made it into profit with its Paris Olympics sponsorship packages.As we discuss on today’s Start the Week podcast, this morning Nine said it has booked $135m against the event, which CEO Mike Sneesby says will deliver a profit. It comes the same day The Australian reports that the Games will be a $60m loss for the network.Sneesby - who recently saw staff cast a vote of no confidence against him as Nine makes rounds of redundancies - also revealed today that he would be going to the event, but just for one week. Also on the podcast, we discuss the future of Mediaweek, with the AFR reporting today that owner Trent Thomas, subject of sexual harassment claims by staff, is considering selling the business to Brag Media owner Vinyl Group.And also today, this year’s Upfronts are shaping up to be a lacklustre affair, with media bosses reluctant to be seen to be hosting big parties while staff lose jobs.Further reading:* The Australian: Nine faces Olympic Games blowout, as rising costs and ad slump bite* Australian Financial Review: $135m and 5000 hours: Paris Olympics ‘profitable’, Nine CEO says* Unmade: Mediaweek sexual harassment allegations* Australian Financial Review: Mediaweek publisher flags potential sale of business with staff* Australian Financial Review: The TV networks’ big annual parties aren’t a good look this yearToday’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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we talk to Christian O’Connell, host of Melbourne’s top FM breakfast show. And further down, a slight recovery on the Unmade Index.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives; * Your own copy of Media Unmade.‘Radio needs to change. It has to build a different model’ Why Christian O’Connell is ready to be networkedIn today’s podcast we talk to Christian O’Connell, who arrived from the UK six years ago and took his show on Gold 104.3 to Melbourne’s number one breakfast show.The conversation was based around the launch of O’Connell’s mentoring service, Finding Fire, but it was also a well timed opportunity to subtly remind a market distracted by the arrival of the Kyle and Jackie O Show into Melbourne that he’s the biggest voice in the FM market.Gold’s owner ARN Media has been trying to mastermind a takeover and breakup of rival Southern Cross Austereo. Most likely that would have seen O’Connell move across to a national metro breakfast show on Triple M.If a deal doesn’t happen - and there’s nothing currently on the table although it’s likely to return - O’Connell might instead see his show networked into Sydney on ARN’s WSFM, with Jonesy & Amanda - Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller - potentially making way by switching into a national drive slot.In the conversation, O’Connell makes clear that he has been talking to ARN’s management, including CEO Ciaran Davis and chief content officer Duncan Campbell, about taking his live show into other markets.“I want the show to be more widely available,” he tells Unmade’s Tim Burrowes. “That’s my drive for the next couple of years. I did a national show in the UK for 12 years and I loved it. So here, I want the show to be more available. I do something different and I think that’s of value.”And O’Connell is talking about more than a “best bits” package. “The magic of radio for me is live. I always has been. There’s nothing better than when you hear a radio show and in the moment something opens up.”The conversation also focuses on how O’Connell has developed as a leader of his team, including lifting them up when The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick show briefly overtook them in the ratings.But O’Connell insists that being number one is not what matters to him. “If I was to design a show to be number one, it would be really bland. It would be like The Fox. It would be made of blandishments. I have to make a radio show that is about my values.”He also says that he deliberately resisted listening to the much talked about boundary-pushing first hour of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson’s Kiis show into Melbourne, warning that rival shows are letting themselves be distracted by the arrival“You’ve got to be really careful that you don’t let other shows and their mindsets bleed into your own. I’m hearing other shows that are doing that now. They’re changing in the wrong way.”O’Connell also reveals that he still hankers after a return to talking about sport on the radio. In the UK he hosted the long running BBC sport-comedy show Fighting Talk. “One of the things I’d love to do is a version like that. That show was the most fun I’ve ever had in radio. It was a whole hour of opinions, arguments. Sports is entertainment and it should be treated like that.”Meanwhile, O’Connell sees the networking of big shows like his and the Kyle & Jackie O Show as the direction the radio industry is taking. “It’s very clear what Ciaran’s direction is, what he wants to do. It’s very clear what I want to do. Radio here is ready for the next evolution.“Kyle coming into Melbourne is the start of it. Radio needs to change. It has to build a different model.”Unmade Index improvesThe Unmade Index improved from Tuesday’s all time low, bouncing back by 1.28% to 466.5 points yesterday.Nine recovered by 1.52% to a market cap of $2.1bn while IVE Group was up 2.57%.The only stocks to fall were ooh Mediua, down by 0.74%, and Sports Entertainment group, off 7.14%This week’s episode was edited by Abe’s Audio.Time to leave you to your Thursday.We’ll be back with more tomorrowHave a great day.ToodlepipTim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: We look back on media’s most brutal week for a decade, and reflect on how things will play out in this new financial year. Plus, we round up the latest on how AI is changing the media and marketing worldStart the financial year by upgrading to an Unmade membership. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event;* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeWhat now for Australia’s media companies?; Meltwater unveils AI-PR play; Music companies and voiceover artists prepare for warWe start the new financial year by looking back at the final week of the last one. We assess what was perhaps the TV industry’s worst week, and we consider how that will reverberate into FY25.Plus, we dive into the latest AI issues including the challenges for those who make their living as voiceover artists and the music industry. We also discuss Meltwater’s new AI-driven media monitoring tool, which launched today.Further reading:* Unmade: F*****g crazy week* The Australian: Mike Sneesby heads to Greece, as Nine’s newsrooms crumble* The Hollywood Reporter: Toys ‘R’ Us Debuts First Video Ad Using Sora, OpenAI’s Text-to-Video Tool* The Guardian: Cheap AI voice clones may wipe out jobs of 5,000 Australian actors* The Verge: The RIAA versus AI, explained* Meltwater: Meltwater unveils new Meltwater Copilot built in collaboration with MicrosoftToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinnEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today, we talk to one of adland’s most experienced media executives Michael Anderson as he takes on the new challenge of chairing the ASX-listed research house Pureprofile.Also in this post, the decapitation of most of Seven West Media’s leadership team spooks the Unmade Index.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the best three days to do it. Save 40% forever, with Unmade’s EOFY sale. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadePureprofile chair Michael Anderson prepares for the AI gold rush: ‘This is going to be the most disruptive technology the planet’s ever seen’In today’s interview we talk to former Austereo boss Michael Anderson as he returns to the fray as chair of Pureprofile.Anderson is one of Australian media’s most storied executives, having run Austereo when it was at the height of its powers before being taken over by Southern Cross Media. Anderson went on to be a board member of Fairfax Media and Ooh Media before taking on the thankless job of CEO of New Zealand’s Mediaworks.The conversation - recorded the same day Anderson chaired his first Pureprofile board meeting - ranges across what generative AI-driven synthetic data means for the company (he argues it could be an opportunity); what his board needs to do to persuade the stock market to value the company more highly; and whether a company as small as Pureprofile still belongs on the ASX.Anderson also reflects on the tough media landscape and the lessons that the decline of Mediaworks and its axing of Newshub has for Australian networks. “The value of having news as you lead into prime time became so expensive that the value equation collapsed. I could easily see that trajectory occurring at some point in the future in Australia.”He also discusses how advertisers have abruptly turned their backs on Australia’s broadcasters: “This has been coming for a long time and seems to have taken forever to get here. And then all of a sudden is really happening quickly."“Given that we're as close to an economic recession as we're going to get, if not tip over, there doesn't seem to be any let up to what media is experiencing in advertising in the short to medium term, which means it could actually be quite a sustained structural shift.”Anderson also discussed what happened to the merged Southern Cross Austereo after he left, including the defection of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson to ARN when SCA boss Rhys Holleran decided not to offer them a long term contract. Having paid $740m for Austereo, the whole company has now declined to less than a $150m valuation. Says Anderson: “They've done a lot of things that that have contributed to that - so some of that has been management failure, board failure. Losing Kyle and Jackie O would be one of those things you'd put into the basket of going ‘that was unnecessary’.”Red day on the Unmade IndexThe Unmade Index saw a hefty decline yesterday as the share market reacted to Seven West Media’s moves to remove most of its top management tier. The index fell by 2.88% to 473.1 points, almost at its all time low. Seven’s nearest rival Nine declined 4.18% to a market capitalisation below $2.2bn for the first time since the Covid crisis. Outdoor company Ooh Media fell 4.51%. ARN Media lost another 0.77%.Today’s podcast was edited by the excellent people at Abe’s Audio.Time to leave you to your Thursday. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: Which door will the SCA management choose? And, to very few people’s surprise, the AI companies do not appear to be playing fair when crawling publishing content.Have you considered becoming a paying member of Unmade to get the full picture? Only our paying members receive our members-only Tuesday analysis; get access to our archive where all our content is paywalled after two months; get their own copy of Media Unmade; and receive discounts on all our events. Become a member today.Will it be The Cat’s week?If The Australian is correct, this may be the week where the board of Southern Cross Austereo makes up its mind about whether it wants to get into bed with Antony Catalano’s Australian Community Media.As we discuss in the podcast, the choice boils down to two alternative paths - the pureplay audio future visualised by SCA’s management where the company’s Listnr investment begins to pay for itself; or an attempt to become a multi-platform regional powerhouse.Also today, there’s growing evidence that AI companies are scraping news sites without permission. Meanwhile, local publishers with traffic built around SEO are becoming increasingly alarmed by Google’s AI Overviews product which threatens to cost them clicks by giving a full answer on the page.Further reading:* The Australian: Southern Cross ‘heavily engaged’ on ACM merger bid* Australian Financial Review: Publishers fear this new Google AI feature will kill their traffic* Reuters: Exclusive: Multiple AI companies bypassing web standard to scrape publisher sites, licensing firm says* Unmade: Is it blackmail?* Unmade: Domain becomes biggest part of Nine’s worthToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes and Abe UdyEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today, we talk to the creator of Australian media’s most enduring youth media brand, Pedestrian TV cofounder Chris Wirasinha, as he begins to scale up his new venture Linkby. And also in this post, the Unmade Index wipeout has stretched into another week, particularly for audio stocks.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade‘It felt like everybody was getting paid but us’ Linkby’s Chris Wirasinha on helping publishers monetise their linksIn today’s episode of The Unmakers we talk to Chris Wirasinha about his latest venture in the publishing world, Linkby.Like several entrepreneurs who came out of the media and marketing world, Wirasinha has spotted a more scalable tech opportunity as a supplier to his old ecosystem. Just as Matt Farrugia and Henry Innis broke out of WPP to start media mix modelling system Mutinex, and Ben Gunn and Nathan Powell left Nine to start influencer platform Fabulate, Wirasinha is doing the same thing in the space between affiliate marketing and PR.This week, Linkby announced its third round of venture capital funding - a $4m Series A round, to grow its teams in the US, UK and Australia.Linkby provides a new way for publishers to be paid by brands for links in editorial content.During the conversation with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes, Wirasinha reveals that Linkby is seeing $30m of marketing spend pass through its pipes, meaning that based on its 30% commission, the company is hitting annualised revenue approaching $10m.As well as discussing the Linkby model, why he came together with his Linkby cofounders and the factors behind choosing a VC-funded path, Wirasinha reflects on how he and Oscar Martin achieved a big number exit from Pedestrian, and the current state of the media market. Hear more about how the founders of Pedestrian TV exited to Nine:Nine lifts the Unmade IndexA better performance by Nine helped lift the whole Unmade Index on Wednesday, despite another tough day for several stocks.Nine lifted by 1.8%, taking its market capitalisation back above $2.2bn. The Unmade Index followed, rising by 0.76% to 476.2 points.It was a bad day for the major audio stocks, with Southern Cross Austereo falling below a $150m market cap for the first time in its history after losing another 3.85%. ARN Media lost nearly 1.5%. Both stocks have lost more than 20% of their valuation over the last month alone.Meanwhile, Seven West Media lost 2.9% to return to its lowest point since 2020.Today’s podcast was edited by the excellent people at Abe’s Audio.Time to leave you to your Thursday. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: Why are women turning away from news?; The dawn of synthetic data - good news for marketers, bad news for research companies?; and comedian Mark Humphries joins Seven NewsIt’s a great day to become a paying member of Unmade. You get:* Member-only pricing for next week’s HumAIn conference* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeUpgrade todayRobots replace focus groups; why are women avoiding news?; Mark Humphries joins Seven NewsThis morning’s episode was recorded in a quiet corner at this morning’s launch of University of Canberra’s 2024 Digital News Report. We examine the report’s findings, hot off the press.Plus, in another busy week for AI, the moment when it overtakes humans comes closer, and synthetic data becomes a real threat for research companiesAnd in a smart move, Seven News hires comedian Mark Humphries.Further Reading:* UoC News & Media Research Centre - Reports* Unmade - Digital News Report 2023: What compels Australians to pay for news?* The Australian: Media Diary: Channel 7 hires comedian Mark Humphries to liven up its 6pm news bulletin* Marketing Week: Synthetic data is as good as real* Situational Awareness: The decade ahead* AI Whistleblowers open letter Today’s episode featured Tim Burrowes in Canberra, Abe Udy in Devonport and Cat McGinn in the UK.Time to leave you to start your week.Editing was courtesy of Abe’s Audio, the people to talk to about voiceovers, sound design and podcast production.Toodlepip…Tim [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today, we talk digital advertising fraud with a man who knows where the bodies are buried. And further down in this post, the Unmade Index wipeout continues with Seven West Media’s growing debt load yesterday overtaking its shrinking market capitalisation.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives; * Your own copy of Media Unmade‘It’s not easy to pick a worse time’: DoubleVerify’s Jack Smith on fraud in the advertising chainToday’s conversation features the man who’s been labelled the “godfather of digital advertising”, DoubleVerify’s global chief innovation officer Jack Smith.Before joining brand safety service DoubleVerify four years ago, Smith was global chief product officer for the investment arm of WPP’s GroupM. In 2007, he founded Media Innovation Group - now part of WPP’s Xaxis which can claim to have been the first large scale agency trading desk.The conversation with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes kicks off focusing on a new scheme - “FM Scam” discovered by the DoubleVerify Fraud Lab, in which scammers were using software to imitate smart speakers, or hijacking those out in the world. As a result, advertisers were being charged for audio ads without human listeners.As well as outlining the new audio scam, Smith discusses the other places where brands are seeing their budgets targeted by fraudsters.He points to connected TV as the scammers’ current big target because it attracts high CPMs. “It’s definitely CTV,” he says. “The amount you can charge on connected TV is much higher. Pound-for-pound that’s the place where fraudsters are moving to.”The wide ranging conversation also covers Made For Advertising sites; the Forbes scandal; principal media - where agencies resell media to their own clients; Smith’s scepticism about whether the finding from the Association of National Advertisers in the US that 64% of ad dollars are leaking out of the chain is as bad as that; and whether advertisers should simply focus their dollars on the walled gardens of social media.Is it a losing battle to stop digital advertising fraud? “The scale of programatic advertising is so much bigger today. It’s not easy to pick a worse time.”Further reading:Unmade Index fall accelerates as Seven’s debt load outweighs its market capitalisationThe market wipeout of Australia’s ASX-listed media and marketing stocks accelerated on. Wednesday, with the Unmade Index, which was already at a record low, losing another 1.54%.The Unmade Index landed on 472.2 points, representing a loss of nearly 53% of its value since the index started at 1000 points at the beginning of 2022.The fall was worse than the wider ASX All Ordinaries which lost 0.5%.Seven West Media passed the threshold where its net debt - $257m when it last updated the market in February - is now larger than its market capitalisation which dropped by 2.9% to $254m yesterday.Meanwhile, Southern Cross Austereo stocks (down 0.7%) dropped to a new all-time low as the company’s market capitalisation fell below $170m for the first time.Ooh Media (down 1.1%) hit its lowest point since November last year. IVE Group (down 1.8%) was its lowest since last October.Enero (down 2.8%) fell to its lowest point since last June.Pureprofile, which hit a low point since 2020 on Tuesday, recovered by 11.1% yesterday.How we covered the wipeout yesterday:Today’s podcast was edited by the excellent people at Abe’s Audio.Time to leave you to your Thursday. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio led edition of Unmade. Today, we share the closing session of last week’s HumAIn conference, where we invited six people from within the media and marketing industry to debate whether generative AI will be an extinction level event for media. And further down, yet more decline on the Unmade Index as Antony Catalo buys a bigger SCA stake.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s six-state Compass event in November;* Weekly member-only content;* Access to our paywalled archives - everything gets locked down after two months;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeFrom dinosaurs to chickens - is news media evolving to obsolescence in the face of generative AI?Today audio-led edition of Unmade shares a highlight from last week’s HumAIn conference where we invited six pAnelists to debate the proposition: “Generative AI will be news media’s extinction level event”.As is traditional for such debates, the participants were invited to impress our audience with the rhetoric and the quality of their arguments on the understanding that these might not be their sincerely held views. They had just four minutes each.The six panelists were:For: Karen Powell, founder & CEO, of B2B marketing agency Omnipresence. Karen argued that the news media industry should face the fact that, like town criers, news media is about to become obsolete;Against: Scott Purcell, cofounder, men’s lifestyle site Man of Many argued that AI is an opportunity for publishers;For: Anita Ayres, a fractional CMO, with Tumbleturn Marketing Advisory. Anita suggested that the cycle of disruption will be as disruptive to media as the arrival of the internetAgainst: Tom Robinson, CEO of Edelman Australia. Tom argued that AI is at its peak in the hype cycle, and that people will prevail;For: John Cucka, Head of Kantar Analytics. John pointed out that dinosaurs once ruled the earth, and are now transformed to chickens;Against: Ross Dawson, futurist, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, podcaster, and author. Ross argued that there was a reason why the mammals out-evolved the dinosaurs.At the end of the event, the pro-humanity team, arguing against the proposition, romped to victory based on the votes of an optimistic audience.The panel was moderated by Tim Burrowes while the conference was curated by Cat McGinn.Unmade Index slips as the broadcasters take a spanking and the Cat tightens his grasp on SCAThe Unmade Index slipped another 0.25% yesterday, to 489.9 points, as most stocks dipped.Last night, the ASX was informed that the Antony Catalano-led investment vehicle 19 Cashews, has upped its stake in Southern Cross Austereo to 14.4%. Catalano wants to fold most of his Australian Community Media mastheads into SCA in exchange for a larger slice of the company. Prior to the announcement, SCA slipped by 0.67%Meanwhile ARN Media, which still hopes to land its own takeover of SCA slipped by 5%.Seven West Media shed 2.63% to return to its low point of 18.5c per share. Nine lost 0.35%Vinyl Group - which on Wednesday made the surprise announcement that Luke Girgis, co-founder of its Brag Media acquisition - was unexpectedly departing, lost 8.3%.Today’s podcast was edited by the excellent people at Abe’s Audio.Time to leave you to your Thursday. We’ll be back with more tomorrow. Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: A big week in radio; what News Corp’s boss will tell the Press Club meet the newest retail media network; and Paramount’s ownership battle comes clearewrIf you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeA first signal on The Kyle & Jackie O Show; Skydance closes on Paramount; and journos’ AI fearsIn today’s conversation, we explore what to look out for in tomorrow’s radio ratings (and explain why there will be limited clues about the launch of The Kyle & Jackie O Show into Melbourne); we discuss what News Corp’s executive chairman Michael Miler will say in his Press Club address; a new survey reveals journalists’ fears for their jobs over AI; and Australian Venue Co joins the retail media goldrush.Further reading:* Unmade: The defederalisation of News Corp* The Australian: Big tech not above the law: Miller* The Australian: Media and Arts union calls for urgent action on AI dangers* AVC Experience+: Meet 15m consumers in their cultural comfort zone* Puck: Paramount sage reaches finaleToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes and Abe UdyEditing 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 tomorrow.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio led edition of Unmade. Today, we talk to the newly arrived regional CEO of media mix modelling firm Mutinex, Mat Baxter, along with one of its cofounders, Henry Innis.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s six-state Compass event in November;* Weekly member-only content;* Access to our paywalled archives - everything gets locked down after two months;* Your own copy of Media Unmade‘I wouldn’t call it ego; I’d call it highly opinionated’: Mutinex founder Henry Innis on working with Mat Baxter In the nearly two decades I’ve been covering the Australian media and marketing beat, perhaps the biggest trouble magnet has been Mat Baxter. For a journalist writing about an industry where people complain that executives lack the personality and substance they used to, trouble magnet is a positive, by the way.Baxter was one of a trio who irritated the establishment by blowing up the orthodoxy around media planning with the creation of Naked Communications.He then raced up within the big agency world as chief strategy officer at Mediacom. It was a time when the agency won lots of business as Baxter worked alongside the giant collared (and giant egoed) Toby Jenner, who these days is global CEO of Wavemaker.The pairing of the two big personalities only lasted 18 months before Baxter moved over to UM where he repeated the trick of turning the agency into a business-winning machine, working for IPG Mediabrands boss Henry Tajer.When Tajer was promoted to global boss, Baxter joined the entourage. He moved to a global role in New York, and when Tajer’s time running IPG quickly blew up, Baxter moved upwards, as global CEO of Initiative.He then went on to take charge of IPG’s agency Huge, where his efforts to reengineer it became one of the foci of Michael farmer’s book Madison Avenue makeover.Since Baxter announced his return to Australia, the industry has been keen to know what he would do next, with the possibility of him joining Mutinex in the frame for many weeks before it became official.Unmade first featured Mutinex in an episode of The Unmakers two years ago. At that point cofounders Henry Innis and Matt Farrugia had not long evolved to talking about themselves as a software-as-a-service platform, rather than a consultancy or agency. And they were still called Mutiny before a name change forced by a collision of global ambitions and trademark considerations.Since then, the company has grown to a six figure valuation, and you wouldn’t bet against it becoming a billion dollar unicorn if it stays on track. They are mostly describing themselves as Mutinex Growth OS, as they position themselves as the operating system, or dashboard, of media mix modelling.Notably in today’s podcast conversation, featuring Baxter and Innis, Baxter uses the Growth OS brand far more than he does the name Mutinex. (Another rebrand in prospect?)After this month’s announcement of Baxter as CEO for APAC, the single question that came up most in industry gossip was whether there is room for the egos of Baxter and Innis in the same organisation. They tackled that question during the podcast conversation.Innis argues that in a high growth organisation, it’s possible to channel that dynamic outwards. Baxter says his role is to act as a “whisperer” to Innis and Farrugia.Since Baxter’s appointment, the duo have been accused of hubris. In an interview with Media Week, Innis declared “There will be no other tech company shipping product as quickly as us within six months,” adding: “Good luck to anybody else.”In their B&T chat Innis compared his relationship with Baxter to that of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg with the executive who commercialised the platform, Sheryl Sandberg.For those covering the industry, the unfiltered, opinionated nature of Innis and Baxter’s personalities is no bad thing - not least when the digital supply chain is so murky. Asked whether Baxter is ready to be a cop on the beat, the first part of his answer: “Of course.”Take a listen.When Unmade first talked to Mutinex:Index drops further below 500Having dropped below 500 points for the first time on Tuesday - meaning a halving of the value of Australia’s media and marketing businesses over the last two-and-a-bit years - the Unmade Index lost some more ground yesterday, dropping another 0.65% to 495.1 points.Southern Cross Austereo had the worst of it, losing nearly 5% as the market contemplates a slow radio advertising market, the flatering ARN Media takeover bid and an alternative propsal from Australian Community Media looking to bring it into the local newspaper market. The only stock to rise yesterday was Domain, up 1.4% Today’s podcast was edited by the excellent people at Abe’s Audio.Time to leave you to your Thursday. We’ll be back with more tomorrow. With Nine’s CEO on the precipice, News Corp restructuring and ACM proprietor Antony Catalano in the hunt for Southern Cross Austereo, there’s a lot happening in media this week.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: Nine’s scandal over behaviour of its ex-news boss threatens to engulf CEO Mike Sneesby; winners start to emerge in the News Corp restructure; and is Cam Blackley’s Bureau of Everything the next stage of agency evolution?If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn (tomorrow) and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeTough questions about how much Nine management knew about news boss Darren Wick’s behaviourNine’s CEO Mike Sneesby has returned early from holiday to deal with an escalating crisis over the company’s handling of complaints about the alleged behaviour of former director of news and current affairs Darren Wick towards women who worked for him.In a key development today, The Australian reports: “It’s understood multiple non-disclosure agreements have been signed by female staff at Nine over interactions they had with Wick in recent years.” The claim about Nine using NDAs is not verified.This followed the weekend’s reporting by the Sydney Morning Herald - owned by Nine - that Wicks “has been accused of engaging in drunken, lecherous behaviour in what furious staff say was “an open secret” for more than a decade.”For legal reasons, Unmade should point out that it does not claim that the allegations being made about Wick are true; only that they are being reported.Also today, former M&C Saatchi executives Cam Blackley and Em Taylor have launched a new creative offering, Bureau of Everything.And the executive winners in the forthcoming News Corp shakeup are starting to emerge. Reportedly, Nicholas Gray will head up the prestige division; Mark Reinke will lead metro and sport; and Pippa Leary will get the free division.And what the hell were Canva thinking with their rap battle?Further reading:* Australian Financial Review: Canva, in the US, lifts the lid on its plan to win over Wall Street* Daily Telegraph: Nine’s sordid ‘cover-up’: ex news director’s alleged inappropriate behaviour kept secret* Sky News: Channel Nine star's HR complaint against Darren Wick over inappropriate behaviour was leaked directly to former news boss* Sydney Morning Herald: Former Nine News boss Darren Wick accused by staff of drunken, lecherous behaviour* Capital Brief: Nine CEO touches down as scandal over former exec intensifies* The Australian: Seven West news boss Anthony De Ceglie urges staff to ignore the TV ratings* The Australian: Advertising guns launch office offering ‘end to end’ strategy and creativity* Australian Financial Review: Winners and losrers emerge as News Corp’s major restructure takes shapeToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes and Abe UdyEditing 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 tomorrow with a special post for our paying members explaining all the issues around today’s developments in the SCA takeover battle.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today, as Mamamia’s new CEO Natalie Harvey steps up, she joins co-founder Jason Lavigne to discuss where the independent publisher goes from here. And further down in the post, the Unmade Index falls to a record low.Producing independent analysis of the media and marketing industry that goes beyond press releases takes time and resources. If you like what we do, you can support us by becoming a paying member. Upgrade today.Mamamia hits scale as Harvey takes the helmFor the best part of a decade, Natalie Harvey was one the best known faces of the business of TV advertising, rising to national sales director of Seven West Media. Earlier this year, she moved away from television to join Australia’s largest (depending how you measure it) independent publishing house, Mamamia.This month Harvey stepped up from chief revenue officer to CEO. Jason Lavigne, who co-founded the business with his partner Mia Freedman more than 15 years ago, moves in to the new role of executive chairman.In today’s podcast interview, Lavigne and Harvey discuss how the business has developed from a single blog to a 150-staff organisation with a powerful publishing platform, Australia’s eighth biggest podcast publisher (ahead of the likes of Nine and Nova) and a thriving agency, Squad, which includes clients beyond its advertising roster. Along with growing subscriber revenue, short form video is Mamamia’s latest development area.During the conversation, Lavigne signals a route to the “highly profitable” company hitting revenues of $50m (it’s not there yet), and addresses the obvious question of whether his change of role is a prelude to an exit (he claims only 15% of his work is done).Meanwhile, Harvey makes the point that her move to Mamamia was about her own development and not a vote against TV in which she remains “a staunch believer”They also discuss how Mamamia has becoming increasingly purpose-driven, around its mission of making the world a better place for women and girls.The company is also leaning into AI, including “Sam” its new artificial voice available to create and articulate scripts for brands featuring in its podcasts. The podcast features Sam in action.Mamamia may be slightly less vulnerable than some publishers to the likely loss of traffic if Facebook is designated under the News Media Bargaining Code and removes news links from its platform. However, Lavigne concedes it will have an effect. During the conversation, he argues that the potential solution is for more effective taxation of platform revenue before the profits end up offshore.How we assessed Mamamia three years ago:It isn’t too late to get a ticket to next week’s HumAIn - our half-day deep dive into how AI is changing the media and marketing world. Check out the program here.Index slips by another 3%The Unmade Index slipped to another record low on Wednesday, losing 2.77% to land on 506.2 points.The fall in share prices was specific to the media and marketing sector, with the wider ASX All Ordinaries finishing almost flat yesterday.Much of the weight on the index came from the biggest locally listed stock (excluding News Corp which is dual listed in the US and Australia) Nine, which slumped by nearly 4%.Fellow TV company Seven West Media lost 2.4%, and Southern Cross Austereo lost more than 3%.Today’s podcast was edited by our favourite people at Abe’s Audio.Time to leave you to your Thursday. We’ll be back with more tomorrow. I’ll be keeping an eye on the ASX today. It’s tipped to open down. There’s a very real possibility that todayis the day where we hit the milsetone of The Unmade Index falling below 500 points, a loss of 50% sine it began. If so, I’ll be reflecting on that threshold.Have a great day.Toodlepip…Tim BurrowesPublisher - [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe

Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: ARN refuses to let its Southern Cross Austereo takeover bid die; and ChatGPT starts talking back - why that matters to the marketing world.It’s a great day to become a paying member of Unmade. You get:* Member-only pricing for next week’s HumAIn conference * A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeUpgrade todayThe all-seeing, all-talking AIIn the space of two days, the pace of change in AI accelerated again. OpenAI unveiled its upgraded ChatGPT4o - complete with “multi modal” abilities to listen and look. And Google launched a whole series of updates to its Gemini AI system. In today’s edition of Start the Week, Cat McGinn, curator of Unmade’s HumAIn conferece explains what it all means for the marketing world. We then bring ChatGPT in on the conference call.Also today, ARN Media refuses to give up on its battle to take control of Southern Cross Austereo.Further reading:* Unmade: A baller move from OpenAI, but who will end up paying for all this ‘free’ technology?;* Guardian: CEO of world’s biggest ad firm targeted by deepfake scam* Bloomberg: Apple Set to Unveil AI Strategy at June 10 Developers Conference* HumAIn: Full program* The Australian: ARN Media forges ahead with potential takeover plans of Southern Cross Austereo* Australian Financial Review: ARN Media’s M&A record holds out for elusive winToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinn (plus a cameo from ChatGPT-4o).Time to leave you to start your week.Editing was courtesy of Abe’s Audio, the people to talk to about voiceovers, sound design and podcast production.Toodlepip…Tim [email protected] This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unmade.media/subscribe