INSIGHT: THE UK LEADS IN PODCASTING AND VIDEO

For the second year, teams based in the UK created the highest-awarded projects at the 12th Annual Lovie Awards—42% of work entered from the UK earned a Gold, Silver and Bronze recognition. Social video, including branded entertainment and podcasts represented more than half of this work.

It is clear that podcasting continues to be a core part of the UK’s digital industry, following an investment in building audio teams by established publishers like Lovie winner Financial Times and Tortoise, a Lovie Awards partner. Despite brands and media companies also entering the space, podcast companies have held their positions with incredible storytelling—projects like Fresh Air Productions’ The Robot Podcast.

INSIGHT: NETHERLANDS AND GERMANY DOUBLE DOWN ON E-COMMERCE

The Netherlands and Germany are also paving a new era for innovation in Europe—at the 12th Annual Lovie Awards, 38.5% of work from the Netherlands and 31.6% of work from Germany earned Gold, Silver or Bronze. Agencies are mostly responsible for this wave, with an overwhelming majority of their work tackling consumer products and e-commerce. From Build in Amsterdam’s Vitra Office Chairs to Blok Watches by Antinomy Studio, read more insights on how Dutch agencies are transforming e-commerce experiences, with new user experiences and centring brand ethos.

INSIGHT: SMALLER NATIONS ARE EMERGING AS GLOBAL PLAYERS

Countries like the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden have historically been at the forefront of Europe’s digital ecosystem. Smaller Portugal, Poland, Ireland, Lithuania and Switzerland have sprouted up as emerging markets at the 12th Annual Lovie Awards.

Portugal, for example, has been on radars as a destination for digital nomads, and is also boasting a rising startup scene—from inclusive dating apps to creative shops like Bürocratik, a Coimbra-based digital branding agency. Their website for Speedy, a digital banking solution, earned two Gold and one Silver Lovie Award.

INSIGHT: DEPT® LEADS THE CHARGE

Taking the spot as the leading digital agency in Europe is the Amsterdam-based DEPT®, after receiving 33 honours across the competition. Their recognition shows their best-in-class approach to building digital commerce experiences, as well as immersive experiences. Personalization for brand experiences still tried and true, while using web applications and immersive technologies for more curated experiences. Through FREITAG F-Cut, DEPT® built a sustainable e-commerce experience for the one-off bag company.

INSIGHT: PURPOSE IS ON THE MIND

In line with the “Great Reckoning” of 2022, agencies and client partners in Europe have further embraced social responsibility in their work. While climate change was most represented in purpose-driven advertising, it was followed by other human-centred issues including food insecurity, diversity and equity, responsible tech and human rights and responsible tech. One standout was Media.Monks’ AR-powered app Ann Frank House: The Bookcase for Tolerance, made for the International Day for Tolerance. With a virtual library detailing Ann Frank’s story with modern personal stories, the experience spoke truth to power giving viewers tools to counter prejudice.

INSIGHT: CREATIVES EXPERIMENT AND PLAY MORE

Best-in-class work by agencies continues to embrace experimentation, and a sense of play to bring brand stories to life. Ranked in the index for the second consecutive year, Demodern Gmbh leveraged gamified learning for two of its 3D Detective Adventure App for leading Swiss supermarket Migros, leveraging a 3D world to help young consumers learn about flora and fauna.

INSIGHT: CHANNEL 4 SETS THE STAGE FOR NARRATIVE STORYTELLING

Today, the digital media and publishing scene have never been more innovative than it is today. Channel 4 entered the highest-awarded projects in the 12th Annual Lovie Awards, after earning 16 recognitions across the competition. Their honours show a deep knowledge of telling human-centred stories for social channels, as well marketing, as seen through 4Creative, its in-house creative studio. Super. Human, its standout longform ad for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games connects audiences with genuine interactions and uplifting content.

INSIGHT: REGIONAL AND LOCAL NARRATIVES REIGN SUPREME

As pop culture continues to splinter into more local and niche interests, Europe’s best media makers have leaned into quality, niche narratives to draw in audiences. Global media network Al Jazeera Media Network is a great example of this with its Lovie Award-winning podcast The Men Who Sell Football on the corruption behind football. Publishers like Woo have prioritised narrative storytelling for social, from Life in Love, its documentary exploring the early stages of love in the LGBTQ+ community to The Bigger Trip, an experimental documentary series on psychedelics.

INSIGHT: SEE STORYTELLING AS PLATFORM AGNOSTIC

In today’s media landscape, a platform agnostic and multimedia approach to content creation is key. STORYHUNTER Limited has mastered this with Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley, their collaboration with BBC. Production companies are also continuing multimedia stories to tell beautiful stories, like Coming Home, Paper Panther’s paint-on-glass film exploring time and transformation.

INSIGHT: INDEPENDENT COMPANIES ARE BREAKING THROUGH

In an oversaturated market, it’s even more important for smaller production companies and independent creators to stand out. Peninsula Films Ltd/Pulped earned a Gold and People’s Lovie Award for its comedy video series, including My Parents Are Idiots to Rock Up Too The Club. Factory42, an immersive entertainment and storytelling studio, has broken ground with its immersive experience The Green Planet AR Experience.

INSIGHT: BRANDED PODCASTS ARE ON THE RISE

After earning multiple Gold, Bronze and People’s Lovie Awards across the competition, Fresh Air Productions entered the highest-awarded podcasts at the 12th Annual Lovie Awards. As brands look to reach and market to consumers, they and the women-founded Purposeful Podcasts, show that branded audio storytelling is worthwhile. Fresh Air Productions’ The Robot Podcast, produced in partnership with Swedish-Swiss digital technologies provider ABB, is a shining example, as it helps listeners break down what the “robot revolution” means for the future.

INSIGHT: WOMEN-LED STORIES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT

Women-founded organisations and women-centred narratives are becoming more prominent in podcasting. Chayn, a gender-based violence survivor network, earned five recognitions for its podcast Less Than 2 Percent which examines the UK’s broken system for survivors.

INSIGHT: SWEDEN AND THE NETHERLANDS SEE GROWTH IN AUDIO

While the UK over-indexed for recognised podcasts at the 12th Annual Lovie Awards, Sweden and the Netherlands are emerging as growing markets. The Amsterdam-based Podimo earned a Gold and People’s Lovie Award for its Alle Geschiedenis Ooit (All History Ever) programme, while Stockholm’s Story Studio One AB won a Silver and People’s Lovie Award for its scripted series SAKNAD: Följarna.

As best-in-class examples of digital work, each company featured in The Lovie Industry Heat Index are setting the pace for innovation. From embracing immersive media and tools, to building diverse e-commerce experiences, their efforts are a testament to how digital creators should bring value to their audiences. To join these forward-thinking companies in the next era of the European Internet, we encourage you to enter the Lovie Awards. Entries are open now.

Join the Best of the European Internet in The Lovie Awards

Entries are open for this year’s Lovie Awards, which recognises European Internet excellence in the fields of culture, business and technology. We accept work across Apps, Platforms & Software, Film & Video and Podcasts to Social, Marketing, Advertising & PR and Websites & Mobile Sites, including Web3 & XR and Beyond categories.

To join a legacy of Europe’s best digital innovators, submit your best work!