• Adweek, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 11:30 AM

A record $27.5 billion in ad and media business was in play last year, handily surpassing the previous record of $22 billion set in 2005. According to an Adweek analysis, the total amount of client dollars that moved or went into review in 2007 represents a 57% increase over the $17.5 billion logged in 2006.

Further, based on a study of accounts with more than $20 million in billings, the number of clients that switched shops was up 20% to 153, compared to 128 in 2006. "Clients continue to look for fresh ideas and remain less than satisfied with the strategic partnerships and thinking that they are getting out of their agencies," says Mark Sneider, U.S. managing director at brand consultancy Reardon Smith Whittaker, Cincinnati.

The biggest account shift of all was the $4.5 billion Dell global marketing services review, won by WPP Group last month. Other big names moving some or all of their business included Johnson & Johnson, AT&T and SprintNextel.

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