On the ground at Cannes Lions, aka summer camp for the ad industry

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This week’s dispatch

The biggest names in marketing made for the south of France last week for the annual Cannes Lions festival. Lara O’Reilly and Julia Hood were among them. 

What was the overall mood?

Lara O’Reilly: Jubilant. The sun was shining, the rosé was flowing, and companies were back to spending big on their enormous setups along the beach. No signs of the so-called “ad downturn” along La Croisette this year. 

What were the topics du jour?

LO: Artificial intelligence. Or, more specifically, why the industry needs to stop talking about AI — and other under-the-hood tech — and instead refocus on the kind of creative ideas that make a cultural and business impact. 

Julia Hood: Sports was the star of the show. Athletes on site included Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, the Kelce brothers, and many more. Sports is accelerating as a convener of people across the political spectrum — a safe way to bring people together. 

What did the event reveal about the industry?

LO: For all the talk of automation, advertising remains a relationship business. Yes, this place is a hedonist’s playground of partying, VIP yacht experiences, and questionable ROI, but (I’m told) deals do actually get done here. 

What was the hottest ticket in town?

JH: Wednesday night was the time to party for a lot of the attendees. Highlights included The Chainsmokers at Yahoo Beach and Arcade Fire at Spotify Beach. On Thursday morning, Jason and Travis Kelce recorded their “New Height” podcast at Stagwell’s Sport Beach. Despite the rumors, Taylor Swift was not seen. 

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Curated by Matt Turner and edited by Jordan Parker Erb.

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