Mediaweek contributing editor Greg Graham speaks with three media agency leaders – Mediabrands' Mark Coad, Initiative's Melissa Fein and UM's Anathea Ruys. 

Mediaweek contributing editor Greg Graham speaks with three media agency leaders – Mediabrands' Mark Coad, Initiative's Melissa Fein and UM's Anathea Ruys.

Mediaweek Podcasts deliver insider access to Australia’s media industry. From exclusive interviews with top execs and talent, to sharp analysis of trends shaping media, marketing and advertising.

Mediaweek Podcasts deliver insider access to Australia&rsquo;s media industry. From exclusive interviews with top execs and talent, to sharp analysis of trends shaping media, marketing and advertising.

Mediaweek

Mediaweek Australia

Heavy Hitters: Media Agency Leaders

When Brian Gallagher first walked into the offices of what’s now Tapt Media, it was a Tuesday and the sales floor was empty. His verdict? “Culturally bereft.”

A lot’s changed since the Laundy family bought the business. Tapt Media is building a bigger digital audience; its YouTube channels are pulling in more than five million views a month, and Brian’s making a fresh pitch to advertisers.

But you won’t find him putting on a flashy Upfront. 

Instead, he reckons a conversation, perhaps even a round of golf, will do more. 

So what’s the plan for Tapt Media? Well, who better to explain the future than the very man himself?

When Brian Gallagher first walked into the offices of what&rsquo;s now Tapt Media, it was a Tuesday and the sales floor was empty. His verdict? &ldquo;Culturally bereft.&rdquo;
A lot&rsquo;s changed since the Laundy family bought the business. Tapt Media is building a bigger digital audience; its YouTube channels are pulling in more than five million views a month, and Brian&rsquo;s making a fresh pitch to advertisers.
But you won&rsquo;t find him putting on a flashy Upfront.&nbsp;
Instead, he reckons a conversation, perhaps even a round of golf, will do more.&nbsp;
So what&rsquo;s the plan for Tapt Media? Well, who better to explain the future than the very man himself?

Mediaweek Newsmakers - Tapt Media's Brian Gallagher

Mediaweek and Mumbrella have spent years covering Australia’s media industry while becoming one of its juiciest stories.

The latest argy-bargy centres on Vinyl Media's plans to use AI to dramatically scale its publishing output. The debate has since come down to AI publishing and, somehow, the word “bombastic”.

So, naturally, we put the two men at the centre of it in the same room.

Vinyl Group CEO Josh Simons and Mumbrella publisher Tim Burrowes sat down at Mumbrella HQ in Sydney to discuss their public clash, the role AI could play in journalism and the difficult business of making publishing pay.

The conversation is frank, occasionally fiery and surprisingly civil. No furniture was harmed.

Think of it as a media peace summit, with microphones.

Mediaweek and Mumbrella have spent years covering Australia&rsquo;s media industry while becoming one of its juiciest stories.
The latest argy-bargy centres on Vinyl Media's plans to use AI to dramatically scale its publishing output. The debate has since come down to AI publishing and, somehow, the word &ldquo;bombastic&rdquo;.
So, naturally, we put the two men at the centre of it in the same room.
Vinyl Group CEO Josh Simons and Mumbrella publisher Tim Burrowes sat down at Mumbrella HQ in Sydney to discuss their public clash, the role AI could play in journalism and the difficult business of making publishing pay.
The conversation is frank, occasionally fiery and surprisingly civil. No furniture was harmed.
Think of it as a media peace summit, with microphones.

Josh Simons and Tim Burrowes 2026

You probably know Matty Fahd from the Gogglebox couch. But before he was critiquing TV for a living, he spent 18 years working behind the scenes in media, from the agency trenches to helping build TikTok Australia.

Then he did something many of us have probably fantasised about: he walked away from the corporate gig.

With Gogglebox Australia back for a new season, Matty joins me on Newsmakers to talk TikTok, taking the gamble on becoming a full-time creator, and why leaving the job he always wanted ultimately gave him something much more valuable: time with his family.

You probably know Matty Fahd from the Gogglebox couch. But before he was critiquing TV for a living, he spent 18 years working behind the scenes in media, from the agency trenches to helping build TikTok Australia.
Then he did something many of us have probably fantasised about: he walked away from the corporate gig.
With Gogglebox Australia back for a new season, Matty joins me on Newsmakers to talk TikTok, taking the gamble on becoming a full-time creator, and why leaving the job he always wanted ultimately gave him something much more valuable: time with his family.

Heavy Hitters: Media Agency Leaders

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