Brandi Rand, CDMP’s Post

Unpack our foolproof guide to making the most of your week in the French Rivera amidst the hustle and bustle of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 📝🌊 We’re heading back to Cannes this year for our second rodeo, and want to share some advice that we would’ve loved to have known as first-timers. Discover our do’s, don’ts, and recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/eugv9MNy #CannesLions #CannesLions2024 #Cannes2024 #CannesEvemts #influencermarketing #creatoreconomy #influenceragency

While everyone (looking at you Michael Thill) is off enjoying the sun and creativity at Cannes Lions, here I am, not jealous at all. Seriously, not one bit jealous. Not even a little. For those unfamiliar, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a premier event in the advertising and communications industry. It runs from June 17-21 this year and features over 150 hours of content with around 500 speakers from across the globe. Icons like Deepak Chopra, Jay Shetty, and representatives from top companies like Google and P&G are sharing insights and innovations that are shaping the industry. https://lnkd.in/gv7s3rQH Why do we flock to events like this? The draw is in both the recognition and the opportunity for professional growth. From a behavioral science perspective, humans have a deep-seated desire for validation and acknowledgment. Awards like the Cannes Lions provide a platform to be judged and, hopefully, celebrated for our creativity and hard work. But why do we want to be judged? The answer lies in the psychological satisfaction of recognition, which can enhance self-esteem and motivate continued excellence. Beyond personal satisfaction, there are significant business reasons for pursuing these accolades. Winning at Cannes can enhance a company’s reputation, attract new clients, and justify higher fees for services. In essence, these awards are a tangible marker of success and a powerful marketing tool. However, at Havas Edge we believe that the best award is the trust and loyalty of our clients. While it's great to be recognized on such a prestigious stage, our ultimate goal is to consistently deliver value and results for our clients, day in and day out. That, to us, is the most meaningful accolade of all. Still, would be nice to be there.

“To Cannes or not Cannes?” There seemed to be a time when people celebrated success, rewarded creativity and banded together as a bunch of talented misfits, celebrating the great and good of the advertising industry, applauding each other whilst getting totally off their nut with only photos to prove they were there. Sadly (to me) it seems those times have gone. Yes, Cannes cost a lot of money. Yes, it’s all a bit pretentious, and yes, there will be PLENTY of folks who say it’s shite - however I bet if someone did a survey it would be those that didn’t get invited, couldn’t afford to go, couldn’t get time off, or are simply aren't that good that complain the loudest. Yes, yes, there will be those that hate crowds, don’t care about awards and think the whole thing is a bunch of irritating guff… If this was true let’s scrap all forms of awards then. The Oscars? Who gives a shit. Having had the pleasure to work with creatives at all levels (from interns to CCO’s) across the globe, and from all walks of life, I know so many of them care a great deal when their work is applauded on the global stage. It means a HUGE amount to them. If you don’t care, that’s fine. But I’ve seen so much negativity around Cannes on LinkedIn and ‘what it stands for’ it’s made my stomach churn. Choosing not to enter, to shy away from awards quietly is perfectly fine. Knowing who you are, what you stand for, and ensuring best in-class results for you, your team, your clients is HUGELY admirable. Honestly... that would probably be my style and approach. However, if I won at Cannes I’d be proud as hell. The recognition of my efforts, my teams efforts, my agencies efforts, my family for putting up with all my late nights and mood swings, etc. So, if you have won at Cannes, well fucking done. If you have attended for the event to rub shoulders with influencers, meet mates, or just to get pissed. Well done to you too. Here’s to the awards, the parties and the hangovers. Without them, what’s the point. #cannes #awards #opinions #winning #parties MCG Talent

A few weeks ago our founder Rafael Cubela shared some insights on how the waning publishing industry should lean more into in-person events. Well we have some proof in action— A recent ADWEEK article shares how Boardroom, the sports media publisher, is already on track for a profits-record-breaking year and how it "pins its profitability to a star-studded experiential strategy." The organization is leaning into its relationships to deliver transformative events for its small yet impactful audience. Its ability to bring celebrities, artists, and professional athletes into intimate settings is proving to be a lucrative ongoing business model. ✨ Lean into relationships to deliver a memorable and impactful experience. ✨ It sounds so simple, but it can be so hard to do. While we love a conference endlessly bustling with people and ideas, we also understand the influence and importance of more intimate productions. Think about it like this: The difference between seeing your favorite musical artist on an arena tour surrounded by the energy of the crowd versus seeing that same artist in a small venue where you may feel more connected to them as a person as well as the music. Both are important and profound experiences, both are needed. Publishers should reconsider brand budget and attendees in a more well-rounded strategy. The case has been made for customer loyalty and increased enthusiasm through a more robust events strategy. Head to the comments for a link to the full article. #eventsproduction #experientialevents #innovation

What were the biggest trends at Cannes Lions 2024? 🌟 I personally didn't attend this year’s festival but stumbled across a short article by Lou Paskalis that outline some interesting takeaways: 📈 RMNs are booming: Retail Media Networks are capturing attention with premium experiences and first-party data. Demand set to outpace supply! 🔄 Publishers pivot: From content to commerce, publishers are now focusing on direct sales. (lower funnel) 🌍 Sustainability strides: New frameworks aim to reduce the industry's carbon footprint. At least a starting point... 🏀 Sports culture reigns: Stagwell’s "Sport Beach" underscored the power of sports in connecting with audiences. 📰 News resilience: Despite challenges, quality journalism seeks sustainable ad support. And his last point that I 100% agree with: ✨ Serendipity wins: Cannes Lions' magic lies in unexpected, valuable encounters. If you were at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this year, let me know if anything else stood out to you in the comments below (where I also placed a link to the article)! 👇 #CannesLions #Advertising #DigitalMarketing #Sustainability #Innovation

If you're in the NYC area next week and looking for a great networking event plus an overview on the latest happenings in the Media industry, check out our #womeninmedia event on Thursday evening. We have an all-star lineup of leading female media execs with the very talented Kerry Flynn from Axios moderating. Speakers: Amy Tunick, Chief Marketing Officer, National CineMedia (NCM) Jenny Wall, Chief Marketing Officer, VideoAmp Linda Villani, Chief Revenue Officer, DailyMail.com Amidst the uncertainties of the media industry, advertisers, brands, and publishers are tackling internal and external hurdles. From layoffs to the imperative need to boost revenue, reach new audiences, and demonstrate performance, these entities require innovative approaches and execution strategies. With minimal margin for error, creative solutions are essential. Join industry professionals from renowned companies as they share: 💡 Innovative strategies for confronting challenges; media business models that are working 💡 How to expand audience reach 💡 Tips for staying relevant in times of disruption Looking to stand out at Cannes Lions this year? The event will end with a Cannes Lions festival preview and insights for brands, agencies, media companies and industry organizations about ways to align with Cannes Lions and Young Lions. From sponsorships, speaking opportunities, or on-the-ground activations at the festival, we’ll give you the inside scoop now so that you’re successful in June. Our location partner for this upcoming event is NCM, the official US Representative to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and the US Young Lions competition. *Must RSVP to attend this event* #media #advertising #cannes #upfronts

HELLO #creatives. Are you sparkling with inspiration from Cannes Lions or are you back to staring into your screen waiting for another kicker fix of creative genius? Worry not! We’ve got you. It’s taken us a hot minute (er, two weeks) to catch our breath, but Brands&Culture has launched its post-Cannes report, in partnership with We Are Social and WeTransfer. In our first report, we’ve deep-dived into the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity winners that listened to, responded to, made, shaped and created culture. This work met consumers where they wanted to be met, uninterruptedly entered their lives, added value and left more than a crumb of value. It made an impact. You’ll get to hear from some of the leaders behind the work, including, the brilliant: Youri Guerassimov & Gaëtan du Peloux, Joint CCO & CEOs,  Marcel Paris Susie Walker, Chief Creative Operations Officer, DDB Jamie George Cordwell, Global Executive Creative Director, Edelman  Marissa Eddings, Senior Director Of Brand, Advertising, Media, In-Store Marketing, and In-House Creative Agency, 7-Eleven Alex Nassour, Senior Creative & Art Director, Wieden+Kennedy  Luca Lorenzini and Luca Pannese, Co-Founders and Executive Creative Directors, SMALL and top quote from Leila Fataar Cultural relevance matters, for everyone: for individuals, for businesses and for society at large. There isn’t a “Culture” Lion yet (there is a cultural insights sub cat though), so we focused on Entertainment, Social and Influencer, PR and Creative Strategy Lions and kept an eye on the cultural pulse across all other categories too to unearth a few trends and natty stats. I really hope you find it useful/ valuable/ in some way insightful :) 🐶 P.s. Did you know that Cannes Lions winners prefer dogs to cats?  🎮 And that gaming and grub should be an entire new Lions category? Josephine Andrews, Vanessa Sawyerr, Michelle Graves, Mark St. Andrew #creativity #canneslions

Did you know that last Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity no one was awarded the 'Grand Prix for Good'? Indeed, it was the only category at Cannes not to have work deemed 'good' enough to win a Lion. We believe the industry can do better, and this year we aim to highlight some of the work that is trying to do 'good' with our 'Walk the Work: The Responsible Edit' tours. Spaces are filling up fast, so if you'd like to sign up to a tour, or indeed sit down and grab a coffee with Responsible Marketing Agency, please click on the link in the comments below. Alice Brady Aina Fuller #canneslions2024 #responsiblemarketing #responsiblemedia #sustainablemarketing

I'm sitting and watching the Met Gala live stream while working, here's what it taught me about B2B Tech PR..... . just kidding 🤓 I wouldn't do that to you! Part of the reason I moved from New Zealand to LA was my dream of walking the Met Gala stairs and I can happily say I'm now (geographically) closer to this achieving this!!! People find creative inspiration in many different formats. For me, a massive one is engaging in pop culture events like the Met Gala or GRAMMYs. Yes, I'm a pop culture nerd and get excited by celeb culture. But more importantly I find ways to flex my creativity around them. Creativity is like a muscle you have to flex and grow in order to continue improving and that's why I challenge myself to brainstorm ideas around these events... for fun! For example: The Mark Hotel is a hotspot for celebs to prepare for the big night. Could a brand collab with the hotel to design the entrance way mat stars walk out on? How do you go about finding creative inspiration? I'm always on the hunt to find new ways to flex the creative brain muscle 🤠 PS: i'm desperately awaiting Ariana Grande to step foot on this carpet and she better not let me down!!! #creative #creativity #MetGala #PR #publicrelations