As we head into the long Easter weekend, The Media Leader thought the time was right to look back at the biggest themes that have emerged in UK media during what has at times been a predictably chaotic Q1.
Gagasi FM proudly unveils its highly anticipated new on-air line-up, marking a bold new chapter for the station. The refreshed line-up reflects station’s commitment to deliver compelling and entertaining content that resonates with the constantly evolving audience.
This week’s updates include tons of new ad options. Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Pinterest have all added new ways to promote ads around cultural moments or big events, which should help visibility and reach – we also have more updates coming to LinkedIn, Insta & LinkedIn. Let’s take a closer look.
Although a new report found that about 4.7 million teen social media accounts were removed, deactivated or restricted, children still had access to the apps.
The 2026 Love Song study from Live Nation (its biggest study yet) shows the Gen Z generation is seeking deeper, real-world connections, with almost 90% considering to attend concerts alone and 96% valuing pre and post-event moments as much as the event itself.
“We’re thrilled that METRO FM Talk With Faith Mangope has been nominated for the New York Radio Awards in the Talk Programme category. This recognition reflects our team’s dedication to creating impactful conversations that resonate globally and driving change.
Despite marketing’s growing complexity, great ideas remain the industry’s most powerful currency. “Consumers don’t have a problem with advertising — they have a problem with interruption. We reject bad ads, but we share great ones,” says César Vacchiano, president and CEO of Scopen.
Loyalty participation remains firmly entrenched in South African consumer behaviour, with 85% of South Africans actively using loyalty programmes — up from 82% the previous year. While growth has moderated compared to earlier expansionary years, usage remains robust and stable — signalling a mature loyalty market. Check out the most-used programmes in 2025.
The 2026 State of the South African Freelance Economy report’s strategic outlook for 2026/27 finds that AI competency will shift from a competitive differentiator to a baseline expectation by late 2027. The 3.6pp demand-supply gap represents an immediate window for early-adopting freelancers.
Nielsen late last week began informing clients that, effective March 31, it will discontinue monitoring ads on TV in 137 markets. The news comes on the heels of Nielsen’s decision to also discontinue its radio advertising monitoring service.