The ‘uncomfortable’ change at media agencies
Commenting on the latest dip in jobs in the media agencies, our Executive Director – Media and Data Ben Willee said the situation is more evolution than revolution. “Evolution in advertising is like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone,” said Ben Willee, Spinach’s executive director of media and data. “It’s uncomfortable, a few […]
Money News with James Willis on the Journalists strike at the ABC
Ben Willee, Executive Director of Media and Data at Spinach Advertising, talks to James Willis on Money News (3AW, 2GB, 4BC, 6PR) about the Journalists strike at the ABC. Listen to Ben speak here: Check out the podcast here: Money News with James Willis Or read the transcript: James Willis (Host) I don’t quite understand […]
Kyle and Jackie O show cancelled
Ben Willee, Executive Director of Media and Data at Spinach Advertising, talks to Deborah Knight on 9News Afternoon. Read the transcript here: Deborah Knight (Host) A spat that’s now ended Sydney’s top rating FM radio show. After almost thirty years in the business, Kyle and Jackie O will no longer be working together over a […]
‘Sobering’ ad spend brings back rock and rolling
Ben Willee, Executive Director – Media and Data at Spinach, said the headline numbers are sobering. “January feels like a market that has checked its bank balance and decided to sit very still,” he said. “With spend down and confidence fragile, brands are retreating into caution just when share of voice is getting cheaper. “We […]
‘Bringing back jingles wouldn’t hurt’: Which classic Aussie ads would be cancelled in 2026?
Megna looks back fondly on the Wally Walpamur paint campaign from the 1980s, featuring chimpanzees in human clothes with badly dubbed Aussie voices. “They were hilarious,” Megna says. “But apart from the fact they rightly wouldn’t get made today for animal safety reasons, the loose, Aussie, schlocky humour is something you don’t see anymore.” He believes humour itself has […]
Turns out even 200 million dollars cannot buy eternal harmony, it can only rent it for a while
Our Executive Director Media and Data Ben Willee talks to Tim Burrows on the Mumbrellacast about the latest news on Kyle and Jackie O. Listen to Ben speak here: Check out the podcast here: Mumbrellacast emergency edition – Tim Burrowes and Ben Willee on the end of The Kyle & Jackie O Show Or read […]
What ChatGPT ads mean for Australian retailers
For the past two years, the retail industry has looked at Generative AI as a productivity tool or a content engine. We’ve used it to write product descriptions, summarise meetings, and perhaps build a customer service bot. But with OpenAI’s latest announcement, the other shoe has finally dropped. ChatGPT is no longer just a tool; […]
Why a merger could be the death of Myer and David Jones
In recent years, the original value proposition of the department store – everything under one roof – has been rendered obsolete by the infinite roof of the internet. The true disruptor in this space isn’t a competitor; it’s the shift in consumer behaviour. According to Australia Post, one in five households now shop online weekly. […]
‘Grim, ugly and sluggish’ ad spend
The latest numbers from aggregated media agency bookings are ugly, according to Ben Willee, executive director at Spinach. “But they are not the apocalypse either,” he said. Australia’s advertising market ended 2025 softer, with December ad spend down 9.2%. The Guideline SMI data shows full year ad spend down 2% overall, with the 1.6% market growth […]
Nine’s new media platform goes from sofa to street
Ben Willee, executive director, media and data, at Spinach, said there’s no doubt that TV and outdoor are a natural fit. “Strategically there is enormous benefit for Nine to be able to promote their TV shows using outdoor,” he said. “Both mediums live proudly at the top of the funnel where brands are built. “The […]