- AI now accounts for 10% of revenue, with projections of over 60% growth in AI and Studio divisions
- The company expands in North America and integrates international brands, reaching half of the UK audience
- New strategic investments and creator-led content fuel sustained growth amid a strong digital advertising market
Independent Media has reported a strong first half to its financial year, saying artificial intelligence now accounts for 10% of total revenue as the publisher deepens its push into automation, creator-led video and podcasts, and overseas growth.
The UK-based group said revenue from both its AI activity and its Studio division is expected to rise by more than 60% year on year. Together with ecommerce and US expansion, those four growth pillars now make up more than 60% of the company’s turnover, according to the business.
The results come ahead of a new strategic investment programme designed to speed up the company’s transformation. They also arrive as John Paton prepares to step down as chairman on 30 September after seven years in the role, with Christian Broughton continuing as chief executive.
Under the pair’s leadership, Independent Media says it has doubled revenue and delivered a prolonged run of growth. The company recorded £53.2m in revenue in its latest full-year accounts for 2024, up £7.1m, or 15%, with operating profit of £3.2m. It says that 2025 figures, which will be published shortly, show further increases, and that it has now posted 10 consecutive years of growth and profit since The Independent ended print production.
The company has also broadened its footprint in North America. Earlier this month, it appointed Chris Anthony as president, North America, to lead the regional business and report to Broughton as the group looks to accelerate revenue there. In the UK, Independent Media struck an agreement in March to take over the digital operations of The Standard, extending its reach further.
The publisher has spent the past year building out a multi-brand digital network. A landmark 2024 deal brought BuzzFeed, Tasty and HuffPost into its stable of UK brands, creating what the company describes as an audience reaching around half of British consumers, with average monthly global reach of 650 million users and 1.1 billion content views across its platforms.
Independent Studio, launched only last year, has become an important part of that strategy. The company points to creator-led formats such as In The Room, which entered the UK current affairs podcast top 10 after 12 episodes, and ACFC, a football analysis YouTube channel with more than 200,000 subscribers. Another recent launch, Bulletin, an AI-assisted news summary product, has also helped drive the contribution from AI.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/independent-media-reports-first-half-of-the-financial-year-26689 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.independentadvertising.com/revenue-from-ai-and-independent-studio-soaring-increasing-by-over-60-per-cent-year-on-year/ – Independent Media reports a strong first half of the financial year, with AI projects now contributing 10% of all revenue. Both AI and Studio revenues are set to grow by over 60% year-on-year. The company’s four growth pillars—AI, Studio, Ecommerce, and US expansion—now represent more than 60% of total revenue. These results precede a new strategic investment programme aimed at accelerating transformation. Under CEO Christian Broughton and Chairman John Paton, who will step down on 30 September after seven years, the company has doubled its revenue, achieving record revenue of £53.2m in the most recent full-year accounts (2024), marking a 15% increase and an operating profit of £3.2m. Independent Media has maintained consistent revenue growth of 13% CAGR since 2019. This year marks the 10th consecutive year of growth and profit since The Independent closed its print operations, with first-half figures indicating the upward trajectory is set to continue. Chris Anthony was appointed as President, North America, to oversee the company’s North American business, reporting to Broughton as they implement plans to drive revenue growth in the region. In the UK, the company reached a partnership agreement in March to take on the digital operations of The Standard, further widening its global reach. Working closely with Broughton, Paton has been a staunch supporter of the digital transformation that saw Independent Media’s stable of UK brands incorporate BuzzFeed, Tasty, and HuffPost in a landmark deal made in 2024. This created a multi-brand network with a combined audience totalling half of all British consumers, with the global reach now averaging 650 million users each month and 1.1 billion content views worldwide across all brands and platforms. Independent Studio, created last year, has already achieved impressive results with growth driven by high-calibre, creator-led content. ‘In The Room’ broke into the top 10 of all UK current affairs podcasts after 12 episodes, and ACFC is one of the UK’s fastest-growing football analysis YouTube channels, with over 200,000 subscribers. Another recently launched service, Bulletin, which provides an AI-enabled news summary, has played a major role in driving the financial contribution of AI to the business. Broughton added, ‘John’s commercial nous, business acumen and wise counsel have been invaluable as we’ve struck major partnerships, grown our global audience and strengthened our financial position. Innovation and quality journalism have been at the heart of what we’ve overseen together and I’m excited by the opportunities we have identified to continue our growth, doubling down on the core pillars of the strategy that John and I have worked on together. I would like to thank him for his support, guidance and above all, friendship over the past seven years.’ Paton, outgoing chairman, said, ‘I want to thank Christian for his innovation and the dedication and the energy he has brought to running The Independent. Its success largely lies with him and the team. I want to thank the shareholders for the opportunity. It’s been an honour.’
- https://www.iab.com/news/digital-ad-revenue-2024/ – The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) reports that internet advertising revenues in the U.S. increased by 14.9% year-over-year in 2024, reaching $258.6 billion. This marks the highest revenue since 2021. The growth was driven by digital video advertising, which saw a 19.2% increase to $62.1 billion, accounting for 24% of the digital ad market. Despite challenges such as geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainty, major events like the Presidential Election and the Olympics provided meaningful tailwinds for the industry. David Cohen, CEO of IAB, stated, ‘The U.S. digital ad industry showed remarkable strength in 2024. Despite the volatility from geopolitical shifts, interest rate changes, and economic uncertainty, major events like the Presidential Election and Olympics provided meaningful tailwinds.’
- https://marketinference.com/analysis/r/2024/05/30/RSVR/ – Reservoir Media, Inc., an independent music company, reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2024, ending March 31, 2024. The company experienced double-digit annual revenue growth in both segments, surpassing its full-year outlook. In fiscal year 2024, Reservoir Media reported revenue of $144.9 million, marking a 14% organic increase year-over-year, or 18% including acquisitions. Within this, music publishing revenue increased by 15% year-over-year, while recorded music revenue saw a significant 22% increase year-over-year. The company also reported an operating income of $24.6 million, representing a 17% increase year-over-year, and an adjusted EBITDA of $55.6 million, up 20% year-over-year.
- https://www.axios.com/2024/08/13/independent-journalists-substack-news – The independent journalism era is rapidly expanding, with platforms like Substack experiencing significant growth. According to company executives, Substack is set to more than double its politics and news subscribers in 2024. The number of high-earning journalists (those making over $1 million annually) in this space has also doubled and now sits in the double digits. Driven by pandemic-era media cutbacks and the rise of digital publishing, many journalists with strong individual brands or niche expertise are choosing independence over traditional media careers. Over 22 Substack newsletters in politics, news, business, and tech now boast ‘tens of thousands’ of paid subscribers. Leading earners include The Free Press, founded by Bari Weiss, and Zeteo News, founded by Mehdi Hasan, which have 20,000+ paid subscribers. Other successful examples include The Bulwark and The Ankler, both with large audiences. Substack continues to appeal to journalists facing layoffs or volatility in traditional newsrooms. Alternative platforms like beehiiv are also seeing increased traction, as seen with CNN’s Oliver Darcy launching his own newsletter, ‘Status.’ Despite some policy criticisms, Substack remains the market leader in independent journalism platforms.
- https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/iab-digital-ad-revenue-surges-14-9-percent-yoy-to-usd259-billion-in-2024 – The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) reports that internet advertising revenues in the U.S. increased by 14.9% year-over-year in 2024, reaching $258.6 billion. This marks the highest revenue since 2021. The growth was driven by digital video advertising, which saw a 19.2% increase to $62.1 billion, accounting for 24% of the digital ad market. Despite challenges such as geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainty, major events like the Presidential Election and the Olympics provided meaningful tailwinds for the industry. David Cohen, CEO of IAB, stated, ‘The U.S. digital ad industry showed remarkable strength in 2024.’
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article was published on 22 June 2026, reporting on Independent Media’s performance in the first half of the financial year. No earlier publications of this specific content were found, indicating freshness. The content does not appear to be recycled or republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on a press release from Independent Media, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from Christian Broughton and John Paton are included. While these quotes are consistent with the press release, no independent verification sources were found to confirm their authenticity. The lack of independently verifiable quotes raises concerns about the reliability of the statements. Further verification is recommended to ensure accuracy.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The article originates from InPublishing, a UK-based publication focusing on the media industry. While InPublishing is a reputable source within its niche, it is not a major news organisation like the BBC or Reuters. The press release from Independent Media serves as the primary source, which may introduce bias. The lack of independent verification sources further diminishes the overall reliability of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
6
Notes:
The claims about Independent Media’s revenue growth and strategic initiatives are plausible and align with industry trends. However, the absence of independent verification sources and the reliance on a single press release raise concerns about the accuracy and completeness of the information. The lack of corroborating reports from other reputable outlets diminishes the overall credibility of the claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents plausible claims about Independent Media’s financial performance and strategic initiatives. However, the reliance on a single press release without independent verification sources raises significant concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information. The lack of corroborating reports from other reputable outlets further diminishes the overall credibility of the claims. Given these issues, the content cannot be fully verified, and publishing it carries inherent risks. Further independent verification is recommended before considering publication.
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