Tag: Cannes Lions

Kicking Off Cannes Lions With an Intimate Evening of Music and Culture

June 21, 2022

Marcus Mumford performs at Spotify's intimate evening of music and culture, during Cannes Lions 2022, at Villa Mirazur

Photo credit: Getty Images

On Monday, Spotify welcomed our guests back to the stunning Spotify Beach for the first time since 2019. The day began with two insightful panels and ended as only Spotify can: with an evening of music, culture, and celebration.

Set at a villa overlooking the picturesque French Riviera, the event featured memorable live performances, seasonal cocktails, and cuisine. Guests were welcomed to the flower-studded event by an instrumental quartet that played instrumental versions of pop hits. 

Spotify’s Presence at Cannes Lions Is Bigger Than Ever. Lee Brown, VP, Global Head of Advertising Business & Platform, Explains How—And Why

June 21, 2022

Lee Brown at Spotify's Cannes Lions Beach

This week Spotify has returned to Cannes Lions with a robust and reinvigorated presence, combining insightful panels, stunning activations, and unforgettable entertainment. It’s a jam-packed week that highlights the creativity happening at Spotify in a refreshing, interactive setting.

But our physical presence at Cannes isn’t the only thing to write home about: A wave of announcements have been coming out of Spotify in the weeks leading up to the beachside event, including news about a first-of-its-kind third-party brand safety partnership with Integral Ad Science, a new podcast ad deal with Omnicom Media Group, and the drop of our fourth-annual Culture Next trends report. 

Lee Brown, Spotify’s Global Head of Advertising Business & Platform, summed it up well: “Since we last came to Cannes in 2019, we’ve built an entirely new business around podcasting,” he told For the Record. “And now, we know we can provide tools and confidence to help our advertisers show up in the right locations and use the right content to market their brands. And Spotify Beach is the place to demonstrate that—in-person, feeling the energy, hearing about the creative process directly from the source. That goes a long way in building relationships and our business in the years to come.”

For the Record spoke to Lee ahead of the event to get a sneak preview of what’s in store. 

This year, Spotify has a bigger presence at Cannes than ever before. What sort of events and activities can attendees look forward to this year?

We’re all super excited to be back in Cannes doing our iconic activation on the Spotify Beach. It’s been a long time since the industry has had a chance to get together, to celebrate and recognize all the creative and inspiring work that’s happening. During the day, Spotify leaders will host thought-provoking panels and talks with some of our podcast creators and industry leaders, including podcaster and journalist Jemele Hill, Batman Unburied actors Winston Duke and Hasan Minhaj, and Teenager Therapy podcast co-hosts Kayla Suarez and Thomas Pham. 

And then at night, when the sun goes down, we have live performances from a few of the world’s hottest artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, and Dua Lipa. We’re bringing together some of the best creators and musicians in the world because we know that without creativity, there’d be nothing. 

We’re holding several panels at Cannes themed to our ads initiatives including Outside Voice and Culture Next. How does bringing these to the stage help us tell the stories behind them?

Our Outside Voice panel features Jemele Hill, who, along with other BIPOC leaders in the creative space, is taking matters into her own hands to build platforms that amplify underrepresented voices. So to hear directly from Jemele, to learn from her experience, to make sure that we understand the content and the audience—that just gives the advertisers a much closer look at what the process looks like, the goals of that creator, and the needs of their audience. 

Something that brands are struggling with today is how to show up authentically in environments where a new generation of audiences have different platforms, ways of consuming content, and ways of communicating. Brands have to constantly evolve how they show up authentically, with impact, and really make that genuine connection with the audience. So for Culture Next, we’re giving them the opportunity to hear directly from Gen Z about how they create and consume culture—and what advice they give brands trying to reach them.

Daytime stage at Spotfiy Cannes Beach

What are some of the benefits to Spotify of merging our relationships with creators like Jemele Hill and the cast of Batman Unburied with advertisers at an event like this?

Creators are the backbone of our business. And so we take enormous pride in connecting them not only with listeners, but also with advertisers to help them monetize their work. There’s just something so great about getting to experience these remarkable creators in-person, feel their energy, hear about their creative process directly from the source—that goes a long way in building relationships and trust with advertisers.

It also allows us to demonstrate the many kinds of content on our platform and how we’re relevant to and attract and appeal to an incredibly broad audience. Shows like Batman Unburied and other highly produced shows serve as a really great entryway to Spotify for audiences. Then they stick around to discover other amazing content from smaller creators. 

Cannes Lions is also about awarding the most impactful, remarkable advertising and the people behind it. What are some of your favorite campaigns from the last year?

There are so many. I really love the Rocket Mortgage Barbie campaign for its relevance and IP creativity. It’s so timely; it’s so spot on. And it’s taking a commodity product like a home loan and just making it super relevant and timely for today’s environment. I also love what Raja [Rajamannar], the CMO of MasterCard, is doing with his multisensory approach. I think they’re just in the early innings of defining what that looks like for MasterCard. And then Carl [Loredo] at Wendy’s has really embraced and done some amazing work with Web3, with the Wendyverse. 

And then, lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention our own campaign, All Ears On You, Spotify Advertising’s first-ever brand campaign, which launched last fall. The campaign video is stunning, showcasing just how powerful audio can be for listeners, showing them in personalized little audio bubbles as they move about their noisy cities or their daily lives. It also features a super killer song from Joy Crookes, “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now,” and it’s become one of my favorites. I’m sure it’s going to be in my Wrapped this year for sure. 

Why should advertisers come visit Spotify Beach on the croisette?

Creativity and innovation are in our DNA at Spotify. That’s exactly what Cannes Lions celebrates, and that’s why we’ve been attending the festival for so many years. I also think it gets back to that earlier point about having our brand show up in-person, bringing our brand to life through entertainment, education, and inspiration. I think there’s no better way to showcase the Spotify brand than in real life—by bringing that to the advertisers and to the audiences at Cannes. We’re excited about building the future of digital audio and want to bring the advertisers and that community along for this journey because what’s coming ahead is going to be amazing.

Tune in Live on Tuesday, June 21 at 2 PM CET, Unbothered host and sports journalist Jemele Hill will moderate our Outside Voice panel, “Representation Behind the Mic,” featuring panelists Co-founder, and Vice President of the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences Joan Baker, Spotify Vice President and Global Head of Marketing Taj Alavi, and Spotify Advertising Senior Manager of Creative Development Tye Comer.

On the Ground at Cannes Lions with DJ, Author, and Entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman

June 20, 2019

If anyone has a soundtrack to their life, it’s Hannah Bronfman. The DJ, author, and founder of HBFIT has music playing around the clock, from prepping meals that go hand-in-hand with her lifestyle book to making one of her monthly playlists. And people are listening—her 5,000+ Spotify followers are a testament to that. The key to engaging that audience, she says, is in understanding the vibe people are looking for while infusing a fresh musical perspective.

We sat down with Hannah in the midst of the 2019 Cannes Lions Festival, where Hannah DJ’ed Spotify and Hulu’s kickoff party and joined our What’s Next panel. She offered us some firsthand insight into the relationship between music and prevailing millennial trends—and the creative process behind her monthly playlists.

You participated in Spotify’s Culture Next Trend Report. This week at Cannes, you talked about some of the learnings of the report on a panel. What did you walk away with after that conversation?

As a content creator and someone who’s very active in my community and very on-the-ground in pop culture, I think these trends are things that I’m definitely aware of. It was just really interesting to hear a different perspective on them, including from the brand side, too. It’s nice that brands are really thinking about these things.

The report found that millennials are listening to international music more than any other demographic. Have you seen that in your listenership? Is it something that you try to incorporate in your sets?

Absolutely. I think now more than ever, we are really seeing that global music is a huge trend. It’s never been easier to learn about new artists and new music. If I like one song [I can easily]  discover new music and new artists that I wouldn’t otherwise understand or know or have exposure towards.

Do you have a particular discovery tool that’s your favorite? Release Radar, Discover Weekly?

I love Release Radar, I love Discover Weekly. I also love following some of my friends. And then I constantly use Shazam. I travel a lot… and when I’m out in places that are foreign to me and I hear a song that I like, I’ll Shazam it, and then I’ll put it on Spotify and listen.

So what are some of the favorite new artists or international tracks you’ve discovered that you’ve incorporated into your playlists or your sets?

I love playing Doja Cat and Kehlani and then VanJess. They’re kind of newer artists that I’m really into, and I like the vibe of that music right now. And then I think more on the international side, Aroc! is amazing. I have a list that I just got from my friend who lives in Paris who’s been listening to a lot of music coming out of Nigeria. Which has these really authentic, amazing drumbeats, and it’s such a vibe. I think Afrikaans music is becoming a big trend in music right now as well.

You also had a chance to DJ the Spotify/Hulu party this week at Cannes. How was sharing the stage with Ciara?

It was awesome. It’s actually not the first time that I’ve opened for her. And I hope it’s not the last. She’s such an amazing inspiration. She’s unbelievably sexy and cool and just has such a vibe. Kind of an interesting crowd to play for, because I feel like everyone’s kind of like a music enthusiast, and so I was trying to play a little bit of Rosalia, some Lizzo, and then also get into some more mainstream stuff.

Is your playlist creation process the same as when you develop a DJ set?

No, actually. When I’m DJing, I very much read a crowd and go with my instinct. When I’m creating playlists, I really do try to create something different every single month. I like to use my playlists as a little bit of a place for discovery for people who are listening. Things that they might not necessarily hear on Top 40… so it’s a little bit more of a discovery than my DJ sets are.

In January you released your book Do What Feels Good, which outlines some healthy recipes. You spend your fair share of time in the kitchen preparing these healthy meals—what do you listen to?

Being in the kitchen is a very therapeutic moment of my day. I will sometimes put on reggae, or I’ll put on some jazz. Maybe if there’s a new album, I’ll put it on because that’s a really good, solid 45 minutes where I’m in the kitchen focusing on what I’m preparing.

How about podcasts—do you have a current favorite you’ve been binging?

I love Black Girls Texting. I love their conversations. I actually went on their podcast during my press tour for the book. And I just really fell in love with those girls.

You’ve been a guest on a lot of podcasts. Is there a difference in interviews via podcasting and than say an interview like this one?

1000%. Podcasts are single-handedly the most beneficial thing I did throughout my first tour. It’s incredible how addicted the audiences are to podcasts, and how each podcast is unique in how it’s talking about a topic. It’s also really cool to see the crossover in audiences since people are listening to multiple podcasts.

It’s more of a conversation. It’s not just so geared towards a specific answer or a specific routine. It’s very much conversational, and it’s about the interviewer and interviewee.

Don’t just take it from us – stream Hannah’s June playlist below.  

Spotify’s Presence at Cannes Lions Showcases What’s Next in Culture and Audio

June 17, 2019

The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, the largest global advertising showcase of the year, is an incredible opportunity to bring Spotify to life for our partners. Our headquarters, Spotify Beach, is once again right on the Croisette — a space to inspire and excite marketers about the possibilities of audio and what’s next.

Our brand partners can join us at the Spotify Beach for meetings in rooms themed after two of the consumer marketing campaigns we hope to be shortlisted for: Black History is Happening Now and Cosmic Playlists. We spoke with Brian Benedik, VP, Global Head of Advertising Sales, and Jess Park, Global Director, Business Marketing, to get their take on Spotify’s ever-growing presence at the festival.

Why does it make sense for a company like Spotify to have a presence at Cannes?

Brian: Cannes Lions is really the Super Bowl for global marketers. It’s a tremendous honor to be nominated for awards, not to mention win them. Additionally, Spotify is a global advertising platform. Cannes tends to be that middle-of-the-year centerpiece—a table-setter for Q3 and Q4—where brands, advertising agencies, vendors, and ad-tech partners can get together to set the stage for the back half of the year. So Cannes is the place for us to entertain, meet, and ultimately close business with many of our partners around the world.

Jess: We show up to showcase Spotify as the best space to connect brands to our rich ecosystem of fans and creators. Plus, creativity is at the heart of the festival and serves as a natural place for us to underscore our connection to the creative community and inspire marketers to look ahead to what’s next.

What has Spotify’s Cannes journey been like?

Brian: We started attending Cannes back in 2012. We had just launched in the U.S. a year prior, and we were only in a handful of countries. Although we were “global,” Spotify didn’t really have a global presence back then. We were just trying to get on the board—get people to notice us, both on the client side and on the marketing side. Then, as we grew our leadership and our partnerships, we grew our Cannes presence, too.

Jess: When we first went, we didn’t even have a home base in the city. Three years ago, we established our own beach space, and we hosted a few small concerts. Last year, we made a major shift, launching our headquarters, the Spotify Beach on the Croisette. When people walked onto that beach, they were blown away to see how far we had come in such a short amount of time. We took ourselves to another level and last year’s success validated our decision to bring Spotify Beach back this year.

What’s your favorite Cannes memory?

Brian: Last year, in 2018, when The Killers performed at our Spotify Beach, that was just amazing. Looking out at the crowd, the energy that The Killers bring—selfishly, I also got to meet them backstage and then introduce them—but that was just a magical night for me and I’m sure for everyone who got to hear them.

Why should people stop by the Spotify Beach this year?

Jess: I’m really proud of the programming we have this year. On Tuesday we have a panel in partnership with the Idea Initiative under the banner of “Cannes in Color,” where we’re focused on lessons from Latin America. We’re bringing together a dynamic panel featuring Carla Hassan, Chief Brand Officer at Citi; Ashley Frangie and Lety Sahagún, the hosts behind the Spotify Original podcast Se Regalan Dudas, the most popular original podcast in Mexico; and others who are creating spaces for Latin American creatives.

During the week, we’re inviting Cannes attendees to attend a session based on Culture Next, our Global Trends Report. We’ll be diving into Gen Z and Millennial-focused trends we identified from the report, Hannah Bronfman, DJ, Author, and Founder of HBFIT”, and Titi Shodiya and Zakiya Whatley, the podcast hosts of Dope Labs, a winner of last year’s Sound Up Bootcamp program.

And on Tuesday, our Chief Content Officer, Dawn Ostroff, will be on the Terrace Stage with multi-Grammy Award nominated singer/songwriter Camila Cabello.

We also have a podcast studio—as we head into Cannes, audio is at the center of our story. This year, the way we work with creators has definitely expanded, and that’s something that’s top of mind for us at Cannes.

We’re taking the best of what we’re learning and sharing it with those who couldn’t travel to Cannes with us. Stream the second season of our Spotify original podcast: Culture: Now Streaming, published live from our podcast studio at the Croisette.