Does Elon Own Advertising Now, Too?

We as consumers hold more power than we’re led to believe.

Interpublic Group—and by extension, their overlord Omnicom—are weighing whether to bow to blackmail. Why?

After merging in December 2024, Omnicom became the world's largest ad-holding company. Within weeks, leadership is facing choices that could prioritize their boards and bonuses over their teams, their clients, and the communities they claim to serve. So, what’s under the hood that has them even considering this?

IPG is likely negotiating on behalf of some of the biggest brands in the world—companies shaping what we see, hear, and buy every day:

Amazon, PepsiCo, American Express, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, General Mills, Levi’s, Mattel, Netflix, Exxon, P&G, CVS Health.

And yet, as consumers, we hold the real power. We don’t have to support brands willing to play along

I owe a lot to advertising, and watching this unfold makes my stomach turn. Some of the most talented creative minds work at agencies doing groundbreaking work for these brands—while the leadership above them weighs selling them out.

I don’t have all the answers yet, but I know this: informed choices start with understanding the system. I’m adding this to the list of things to unpack. More soon.

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