Ocean Media
Ocean Media is a U.S. independent media agency that merged with Empower Media in 2025 to form Empower Ocean Media Group, a $1.5B-billing media investment firm serving enterprise and mid-market clients across QSR, retail, CPG, services, and growth brands through data-driven planning, buying, and measurement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersHuntington Beach, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ocean Media does
Ocean Media, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, is an independent media agency that merged with Empower Media in September 2025 to form Empower Ocean Media Group, the second-largest independent media agency in the United States with $1.5B+ in combined media billings and 400 professionals across offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Palm Beach. The firm operates as a technology-enabled media investment platform that treats client media spend as capital deployment rather than a cost center, with accountability tied to incremental revenue and enterprise value rather than campaign-level impressions.
The company's offering is structured around four integrated service lines: Data Science & Measurement (closed-loop attribution and real-time optimization), Strategy & Insights, Media Planning & Buying (across CTV/OTT, television, audio/podcasts, digital, social, and mobile), and Creative & Entertainment (cultural partnerships and entertainment integrations). Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting QSR, retail, CPG, services, and growth-brand clients, with named customers including Priceline, BetMGM, Bank of America, Samsung, Wayfair, PetSmart, Sprouts Farmers Market, Mint Mobile, Realtor.com, Whataburger, Rakuten, and Shutterstock.
Revenue is generated through managed-services media billings and management fees, with media buying commissions and planning/measurement retainers tied to the $1.5B billing book. The merged entity is co-led by CEO & Co-Chairwoman Ashlee Clarke and Executive Chairman Chris Clarke, with no disclosed external private equity or venture ownership; the firm operates as an independent private company positioning itself against holding-company competitors on agility and transparency.
Ocean Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ocean Media
- Legal name
- Empower Ocean Media Group
- Website
- https://oceanmediainc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ocean Media is a U.S. independent media agency that merged with Empower Media in 2025 to form Empower Ocean Media Group, a $1.5B-billing media investment firm serving enterprise and mid-market clients across QSR, retail, CPG, services, and growth brands through data-driven planning, buying, and measurement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ocean Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Media Agency Services
- NAICS
- Media Buying Agencies (541830), Media Buying Agencies (54183), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media Planning, Buying & Optimization (BPAFAAAC)
Keywords
Where Ocean Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Huntington Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Ocean Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Media Billings & Management Fees: Generates revenue through media buying and management fees based on $1.5 billion in combined media billings as one of the largest independent media agencies in the U.S.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ocean Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Empower Ocean Media Group is a technology-enabled media investment firm that delivers media planning, buying, analytics, and creative services to enterprise and mid-market brand advertisers. It manages media investments across CTV/OTT, television, audio/podcasts, digital, social, and mobile, treating media spend as capital deployment and tying outcomes to incremental revenue and enterprise value. The firm combines $1.5B+ in combined media billings with data science-driven measurement to provide accountable media investment management.
Product overview
Empower Ocean Media Group is a technology-enabled media investment firm formed by the 2025 merger of Empower Media (41 years) and Ocean Media (30 years). The company offers an integrated suite of four core services: Data Science & Measurement, Strategy & Insights, Media Planning & Buying, and Creative & Entertainment. These services are designed to work together as a unified media investment solution, treating media spend as capital deployment with accountability to incremental revenue and enterprise value. The company manages media investments across all platforms and devices including CTV/OTT, Television, Audio/Podcasts, Digital, Social, and Mobile, serving clients across QSR, retail, CPG, services, and growth brands with $1.5B+ in combined media billings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Data Science & Measurement Analytics and measurement capabilities that enable data-driven media decisions, including closed-loop purchase attribution and real-time performance tracking tied to incremental revenue and enterprise value. Designed for enterprise and mid-market brand advertisers seeking accountability in media investment.
- Strategy & Insights Strategic consulting services providing market insights and media strategy development to guide investment decisions for enterprise and mid-market brand advertisers across QSR, retail, CPG, services, and growth brand segments.
- Media Planning & Buying Core media investment management service covering planning, activation, and optimization across all platforms and devices including CTV/OTT, television, audio, digital, social, and mobile. Serves enterprise and mid-market brand advertisers across QSR, retail, CPG, services, and growth brand categories.
- Creative & Entertainment Creative development and entertainment media integration services connecting brands with cultural moments through partnerships with artists, creators, and entertainment properties. Designed for enterprise and mid-market brand advertisers seeking cultural engagement alongside media investment management.
Quantifiable outcome
- TE Connectivity's Alita: Battle Angel partnership drove 15.5M impressions, 16M TikTok views, and 7,130 new contacts
Companies that use Ocean Media
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ocean Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ocean Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Empower MediacoreEmpower Media and Ocean Media merged to form Empower Ocean Media Group, creating the second-largest independent media agency in the U.S. with $1.5 billion in media billings. The combination of Empower Media (41 years) and Ocean Media (30 years) created one of the largest independent media investment firms, aiming to offer more agility and transparency than traditional holding company agencies.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ocean Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
Direct peers
- Assembly: Stagwell-owned media agency offering media planning, buying, and performance marketing to enterprise brands—comparable in service mix and target client profile to Empower Ocean Media Group.
- Horizon Media: One of the largest independent media agencies in the U.S., serving enterprise clients with media planning, buying, and analytics across all channels—directly comparable to Empower Ocean Media Group in business model, customer base, and service offering.
- Mediahub: Independent media agency within the IPG Mediabrands network, competing for the same enterprise clients with planning, buying, and analytics capabilities across traditional and digital channels.
Broad incumbents
- GroupM (WPP): The world's largest media investment group, parent of Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, and Essence—represents the dominant incumbent competitor that independents like Ocean Media are positioning against.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ocean Media social profiles
Digital presenceOcean Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ocean Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ocean Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ocean Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ocean Media
What does Ocean Media do?
Empower Ocean Media Group is a technology-enabled media investment firm that delivers media planning, buying, analytics, and creative services to enterprise and mid-market brand advertisers. It manages media investments across CTV/OTT, television, audio/podcasts, digital, social, and mobile, treating media spend as capital deployment and tying outcomes to incremental revenue and enterprise value. The firm combines $1.5B+ in combined media billings with data science-driven measurement to provide accountable media investment management.
Is Ocean Media a public or private company?
Ocean Media is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Ocean Media founded?
Ocean Media was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ocean Media based?
Ocean Media is headquartered in Huntington Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ocean Media make money?
One revenue line is on record: media Billings & Management Fees.
Who are Ocean Media's main competitors?
Omnicom Media Group is listed as an others. Direct peers are Assembly, Horizon Media and Mediahub. GroupM (WPP) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ocean Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ocean Media.
What industry is Ocean Media in?
Ocean Media's product category is Media Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAAAC, Media Planning, Buying & Optimization. Its NAICS code is 541830 and its SIC code is 7311.