IMAA announces 2026 group deals, brokering new AI and live commerce partnerships
The Independent Media Agencies Australia (IMAA), Australia’s national industry body representing independent media agencies, has announced its 2026 exclusive group deals for its members, successfully negotiating significant savings on a range of insurance, technology, research, recruitment and software services.
This year, the IMAA has brokered 35 deals for its members, re-negotiating several long-standing arrangements, while also brokering five new deals with marketing technology company Exact AI, live-stream commerce experts Live Commerce Australia, global registration and legal protection specialists Ideas Union, AI narrative intelligence platform Pulse Labs, and leading brand-mention solution for Google AI Overviews, Pearch.
Under the IMAA’s group deals program, now in its fifth year, IMAA members enjoy discounted access to a range of industry tools, insurance, research platforms, analytics products, recruitment services and training programs, helping to minimise operational costs and enhance their competitiveness in the market.
This year’s IMAA exclusive group deals include:
• Advertising Industry Careers: advertising, media and creative industries’ job platform.
• Analytic Edge: real-time marketing analytics solutions
• Axela: streamlining businesses with monday.com solutions
• Canda Media Intelligence: Advertising monitoring and analysis service
• Creatalytics: creative optimisation tool
• Cuppa: innovative masterclasses, expert discussions and unique experiences
• Digital Courier: Integrated digital radio management and monitoring service
• Domo: cloud software
• DoubleVerify: fraud protection, brand safety, viewability tracking and performance measurement tool
• Exact AI: marketing technology company, marketing mix modelling (MMM)
• Flaunt Talent: entry-level recruitment and coaching
• Fonto: research and insights
• Funnel: marketing data intelligence and measurement platform
• Gallagher Insurance: Trade credit insurance
• GfK: radio ratings measurement
• Grey Mattr: creative intelligence platform
• Holistic Analytics: attribution and marketing mix modelling
• Human Kind Collective: HR consultancy
• Ideas Union: global registration and legal protection specialists
• Integral Ad Science: ad verification and contextual targeting
• Live Commerce Australia: live-stream commerce
• MAARS: recruitment services
• Maple Insurance & Risk: general insurance and risk advisory
• Marquee: material instruction and ad file delivery platform
• Mosaic Advisory: business and growth strategies
• Nielsen: data and research
• On Device Research: independent brand lift measurement
• Pearch: leading brand-mention solution for Google AI Overviews
• Pulse Labs: AI narrative intelligence platform
• Roy Morgan: research and insights
• Rubii: real-time performance monitoring and reporting visualisation platform
• Shirofune: AI ad management platform
• Stephanie Neutze life coaching : corporate workshops, culture and resilience training
• Tribe Talent: recruitment
• WildJar: call tracking software
IMAA members continue to benefit from the world-first trade credit insurance group deal, brokered in 2021, which protects agencies against bad debts. Through partnerships with leading national providers Gallagher Insurance and Maple Insurance, members also access reduced premiums across a comprehensive range of covers, including professional indemnity, public and product liability, media liability, cyber liability, loss of revenue, office insurance, directors and management liability, and business travel.
Nielsen Australia, Commercial Director, Head of Agencies, Sonia Marine said: “Independent agencies are the true growth engine of the Australian media landscape, yet budget constraints have historically locked them out of premium planning insights. Nielsen is changing the game and levelling the playing field with solutions tailored specifically for IMAA members. Driven by agility, deep local expertise, and the transformative power of AI, independent agencies are shaping the industry’s future. Nielsen is incredibly proud to partner with the IMAA in a collaboration that represents a vital strategic priority for Nielsen.”
IMAA CEO, Sam Buchanan, said: “The group deals program continued to be a game changer for independent media agencies across the country.
“These group deals are one of the most powerful ways that our members can unlock scale. By providing access to world-class technology, research, training and business services at significantly reduced costs, we’re helping to level the playing field, driving operational efficiencies and cost savings, but also empowering our members to invest more in talent, innovation and delivering stronger outcomes for clients.
“The ongoing success of our group deals program is something we’re immensely proud of. These partnerships are more than just discounts; they’re about ensuring our members have the resources and support they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. These arrangements continue to deliver real value to our members and reinforce our commitment to helping the nation’s independent media agencies succeed.”
IMAA members can learn more about the group deals program on its website.