• by John Gaffney , July 3, 2003

After setting a torrid pace for the year to date, media account turnover stalled in June according to the MAP Barometer. During the month, just $157 million in media billings changed hands, making it the slowest month since the MAP began tracking media account changes in January of 2002.

Year to date through June, media account turnover in 2003 is $3.214 billion versus $4.845 billion for the same period last year. Eleven advertisers shifted their media accounts in June vs. 12 in May. Even through June was slow, Jim Surmanek, Chief Executive Officer of MediaAnalysisPlus, which publishes the MAP Barometer, sees indications that the fall could see increased account turnover.

"We know there are lots of Requests for Proposal circulating in the marketplace, perhaps even a record amount," said Surmanek. "But none of them came to fruition in June. It could well be a harbinger of a very busy fall."

There were no accounts that changed hands in June in excess of $50 million. The biggest media assignment was the win by Arnold/MPG's win of $30 million Amtrak account. Other big wins included Scottsdale Financial Services $20 million account, which went from in-house to Gearon Hoffman, and Northlich's win of the $25 million Ashland business. Ashland previously had no agency.

Other high-profile wins included the new $12 million American Heart Association, which was snapped up by Campbell-Ewald. Wieden and Kennedy picked up $10 million in billings with the addition of AOL's Mystro TV.