This week, The Drum is publishing our mid-year update to the World Creative Rankings, highlighting the advertisers, agencies and work leading the way so far at this year’s awards festivals.
Poker Beer took home silverware from shows including Cannes Lions and D&AD, helping propel AB InBev to the top of our table
AB InBev has retained the top spot in our World Creative Rankings Mid-Year Leaderboards. The brewing giant, ranked first in the most recent annual rankings, is currently holding on to its position as most-awarded advertiser thanks to campaigns including Budweiser’s ‘One Second Ads,’ Poker Beer’s ‘Beer Retirement Account’ and Corona’s ‘Corona Eclipse’ performing strongly in awards festivals this year.
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In second place, having made a huge leap from 23rd, is Spotify, the biggest riser in our top five thanks to its ‘Spreadbeats,’ which is the most-awarded campaign this year so far. Unilever, Apple and Heineken have all dropped one place.
The advertiser leaderboard, below, shows the current standings now that the industry’s first-half majors, including The Drum Awards, Cannes Lions and The Clios, have concluded.
The leaderboard provides a glimpse of what the final rankings may look like when all of this year’s eligible awards are complete. However, there remains all to play for in the second half of 2025, with shows including The Drum Awards Festival still to come.
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| Rank (previous) | Advertiser | |
|---|---|---|
| = | 1 (1) | AB InBev |
| ↑ | 2 (23) | Spotify |
| ↓ | 3 (2) | Unilever |
| ↓ | 4 (3) | Apple |
| ↑ | 5 (6) | The Coca-Cola Company |
| ↓ | 6 (5) | Heineken |
| ↑ | 7 (33) | Penny |
| ↓ | 8 (4) | Kraft Heinz |
| ↑ | 9 (48) | Sol Cement |
| ↑ | 10 (50) | Change the Ref |
| ↑ | 11 (40) | Mars Petcare |
| ↓ | 12= (9) | McDonald’s |
| ↓ | 12= (10) | Mondelez |
| ↑ | 12= (62) | Uber |
| ↓ | 15 (13) | Microsoft |
| ↑ | 16 (25) | Ikea |
| ↑ | 17 (32) | KFC |
| ↑ | 18 (34) | Dramamine |
| ↑ | 19= (43) | Nike |
| ↓ | 19= (8) | Renault |
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Dramamine
Sol Cement
Mars Petcare
Uber
We are Uber. The go-getters. The kind of people who are relentless about our mission to help people go anywhere and get anything and earn their way. Movement is...
The Coca-Cola Company
Change The Ref
Mondelēz
AB InBev
As the world's leading brewer, we are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, dream big to move our industry forward and make a meaningful...
McDonald’s
Kraft Heinz
KFC
Heineken
HEINEKEN is the UK’s leading cider and beer producer and the name behind iconic drinks brands such as Strongbow, Bulmers, Heineken®, Foster's, Kronenbourg 1664...
Apple
We’re a diverse collective of thinkers and doers, continually reimagining what’s possible to help us all do what we love in new ways. And the same innovation...
Nike
Nike, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel,...
Ikea
IKEA is a Swedish-founded Dutch-based multinational group, that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories. It has been...
Spotify
Spotify is a music, podcast, and video streaming service that was officially launched on 7 October 2008. It is developed by startup Spotify AB in Stockholm, Sweden....
Unilever
The home of purpose-led, future-fit business.
Renault
Microsoft