Warner Music has drawn up a shortlist of agencies to pitch for its £18m media planning and buying account, inviting MindShare, PHD, ZenithOptimedia and the incumbent Media Campaign.
ZenithOptimedia will pitch for the account along with specialist entertainment agency Media Mix. Contrary to reports, Interpublic Group's Universal McCann has not made the shortlist. Warner Music controls record labels Atlantic Records and Warner Bros Records. Artists on Atlantic include James Blunt, Hard-Fi and Missy Elliott while Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Muse and Gnarls Barkley are signed to Warner.
Richard Hinkley, marketing director at Atlantic Records, and Adam Hollywood, general manager of Warner Bros Records, are overseeing the review process. Media Campaign has held the business for the last six years. The result of the pitch for the Warner Music business is expected by the end of September. This year Warner Music has been involved in a bid and counter-bid takeover battle with rival music firm EMI Group, which represents artists including Coldplay and Robbie Williams.In June, EMI rejected a £2.5bn approach from Warner Music at the same time as Warner Music turned down a similar offer from EMI.
EMI's media account, estimated at £9m, is currently part of a review process. The incumbent on the business is Aegis-owned agency Carat.
The battle between the two recording giants is the latest attempt to unite the music companies in a bid to rival market leaders Universal Music, owned by French media conglomerate Vivendi, and Sony BMG, a joint venture between Japan's Sony Corporation and Bertelsmann.
An attempt to merge Warner Music and EMI in 2000 was rejected by European anti-trust regulators.
The AAR refused to comment on the shortlist for the business.
Source: http://www.brandrepublic.com
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