How full service agencies have come full circle: Meet The&Partnership January 9, 2017 After a scurry following a room change I meet Nick Howarth, managing partner at The&Partnership, in one of the countless buildings it is “slowly taking over” in Fitzrovia. “I think it’s called ‘Noho’ now,” he chuckles. “If you say you work in Fitzrovia people think you’ve gone back in time about 250 years.” The&Partnership is a [...]
Laurence King, founder of the eponymous publisher, talks adult colouring books, soviets, Ezra Pound and anti-digital January 9, 2017 "We caused a shortage of felt pens in Brazil,” says Laurence King, founder of Laurence King Publishing, the creator of the original adult colouring book that sparked the recent craze. In 2013, the firm published the Secret Garden, illustrated by Johanna Basford. In the first two years, it sold 250,000 copies. “It was then we became [...]
Non-Ascential items: Events company puts 13 magazines up for sale, including Health Service Journal, Drapers and Construction News January 5, 2017 Publisher and events company Ascential has put 13 of its magazines up for sale. The Health Service Journal, Construction News, Local Government Chronicle, Drapers and other titles have been separated from the rest of the business into a separate operating entity. Ascential said it was seeking new owners for the “heritage brands”, which sit within EMAP, [...]
Sun and Times newspapers report losses as revenues are hit by advertising decline January 5, 2017 The publishers behind the Times and Sun newspapers, both owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News UK, part of News Corporation, have reported falling revenue and losses. Times Newspapers, which publishes the daily Times newspaper and the Sunday Times, saw its revenue dip from £342.6m to £341.7m in the year to 3 July 2016. The company made [...]
That don’t impress me much, say public of Max Mosley-backed press regulator’s funding structure January 4, 2017 The newspaper industry is stepping up opposition to a government-approved press regulator, today publishing a poll seemingly illustrating public opposition to its funding model. The majority of the industry is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), which is funded by its members. Rival regulator Impress currently has a small number of, mainly hyperlocal, members. Read [...]
Newspapers step up fight against “insane” new Section 40 law January 3, 2017 The newspaper industry is stepping up efforts to avert a new law, which has been condemned as “insane” by the editor of the Sun. What is going on? Next week, a government consultation on whether to implement Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act will end. If passed, the new rules would mean that [...]
Russian “Methbots” show we need to ditch our digital advertising addiction January 3, 2017 The advertising industry had a serious problem in 2016. In recent years, the rise of digital advertising has gone from a new and welcome thrill for marketers, to a full-on addiction that has left brands robbed of money, and the reality of what has been going on behind their backs. It was only a matter [...]
Vinyl comeback led by David Bowie helps UK music to vintage 2016 January 3, 2017 The vinyl comeback, David Bowie and streaming helped 2016 become a vintage year for UK music consumption. Industry body the BPI counted a total of 123m album equivalent sales (AES) last year, a 1.5 per cent increase on 2015’s figures. This corresponded to an estimated retail value of £1bn. There were 45bn audio streams served in 2016, [...]
Trinity Mirror defends buyback amid pension shortfall criticism January 2, 2017 Newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror has defended a £10m share buyback amid criticism over its £426m pension shortfall. Frank Field, chair of the influential work and pensions select committee, has called on the Pensions Regulator to block the buyback, while the move has also been criticised by former Tory pensions minister Baroness Altmann. Read more: New [...]
Star Wars blasted way to top of UK box office in 2016 January 2, 2017 Walt Disney has described 2016 as a “phenomenal year” for its films in the UK and Ireland. The US media company said the new Star Wars spin-off, Rogue One, had taken over £50.7m, making it the biggest film of the year in the UK and Ireland. Read more: Star Wars spin-off feels the force after [...]