Publicis Media Group has been rated as the top media network for 2018, based on net new business gains.

With a new business gains of $3.201 billion, Publicis Media Group led the ranking ahead of other major agency holding companies’ in a media account services reviews by the 2018 edition of Comvergence’s New Business Barometer.

The analysis, which breaks down major account wins, losses and retentions, shows GroupM ranked No. 2 with a $2.630 billion net gain, followed by Omnicom Media Group (+$1.959 billion), Dentsu Aegis Network (+$1.055 billion), IPG Mediabrands (+$0.937 billion), and Havas Media (+$0.358 billion).

Among individual media agency network brands, GroupM’s MediaCom had the greatest net gain (+$2.231 billion), followed by Omnicom’s OMD (+$1.717 billion).

Looking beyond the big agency holding companies, “all others” including independent media services agencies and smaller shops not associated with the holding companies, would rank second with a net new business aggregate of $3.1 billion.

“This includes Horizon Media ($1.1 billion) and Wieden+Kennedy ($210 million) in the U.S.,” Comvergence’s report notes.

Another interesting finding is that media agencies — by and large — are doing a worse job of retaining current business.

“The average account retention rate in 2018 was 25% versus 26% in 2017 (and 31% in 2016),” the report notes, adding: “Holding on to clients remains increasingly challenging for incumbent agencies.”