After WPP reckoning: The case for and against principal media

After WPP reckoning: The case for and against principal media

From The Digiday Podcast by Digiday

March 17, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the WPP debacle on media buying practices and the shift towards principal trading.

A decade after the ANA’s bombshell report, the WPP debacle has forced a new standard of clarity in media buying. This week, Digiday executive editor of news Seb Joseph and Michael Burgi, senior editor of media buying and planning, join the Digiday Podcast to discuss why agencies are leaning into principal trading, and why some brands are finally reining them in.

People in this episode

Host: Seb Joseph

Guest: Michael Burgi

Topics covered

  • media buying
  • principal trading
  • advertising standards
  • agency practices
  • brand management

Keywords

  • WPP
  • media buying
  • principal trading
  • ANA report
  • advertising agencies
  • brand control

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: WPP, ANA

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