Drip Sequence💧

In case you missed it:

I sent out a report detailing the comp survey, if you missed the first newsletter the URL for the LookerBI Dashboard can be found right here.

If you are here for the Google API Doc leak, you can re-read the story right here.

Also I am always open to suggestions to evolve this newsletter, feel free to either DM me on IG or reply back to this email with feedback or with stuff you would want to see in here.

Headline Overviews

• FTC refers TikTok complaint to Justice Department The FTC has referred its complaint against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance to the U.S. Department of Justice, following an investigation into potential violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The investigation was initiated after a 2019 settlement with Musical.ly and aimed to determine if TikTok engaged in unfair and deceptive business practices.

• Netflix’s Advertising Challenge: It Isn’t Big Enough Netflix is working to grow its advertising business but currently lacks the scale of competitors like Amazon and Disney. While it's introduced an ad-supported tier and is considering free versions in some markets to increase user base and ad inventory, it still trails in reach and sales. Netflix is exploring live events and sports to create more ad opportunities and aims to make advertising a significant revenue stream.

• Amazon developing AI chatbot that would compete with ChatGPT and others Amazon is reportedly developing a new AI chatbot, code-named "Metis," to compete with ChatGPT and similar services, expected to launch later this year. This chatbot will be accessible via web browser and shares infrastructure with the upcoming "Remarkable Alexa," a revamped version of Alexa. Analysts predict this could significantly boost Amazon's revenue, highlighting the company's effort to assert its presence in the competitive AI landscape.

• Legal Issues and Business Considerations When Using Generative AI in Digital Advertising Free whitepaper from IAB, no paywall right here.

• Stanley Cup Final Game 7 draws largest U.S. NHL audience since 2019 The Stanley Cup Final Game 7, featuring the Cats and Oilers, drew the largest U.S. NHL audience since 2019 with 7.6M viewers, surpassing last year's final viewership by more than double. This game marked the highest viewership for a Stanley Cup Final game in North America since 2013, with an average of 16.3M viewers across the continent. In comparison, recent major U.S. sports events like the NBA Finals and World Series drew significantly higher viewership numbers.

• Toys R Us AI-generated ad sparks backlash in creative community Toys R Us faced backlash from the creative community for its new ad created using generative AI. Publicized as the first brand film using OpenAI's text-to-video tool Sora, the 60-second spot depicts the history of Toys R Us and its mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe. Creatives criticized the ad's imagery quality and the uncanny likeness of founder Charles Lazarus, with some calling it an "abomination." This event highlights ongoing tensions in the industry as brands like Under Armour and Lego have also faced criticism for using AI in their campaigns, aiming to save costs and improve efficiency.

Cannes Lions In A Nutshell

We all know what Cannes Lions is, and every year a plethora of articles from multiple places cover multiple topics, this week I am going to attempt to centralize everything that went down last week in a single spot for this week’s newsletter. The event featured over 500 speakers and more than 150 hours of content, covering a wide range of topics relevant to the advertising and creative industries. Similar to last year, I was not invited (nor will I ever be).

Key Sessions and Notable Speakers

Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra, renowned for his work in alternative medicine and personal well-being, spoke about the intersection of mindfulness and creativity. His session focused on how mindfulness practices can enhance creative processes and improve mental health within the high-pressure environment of the advertising industry. Chopra's insights were aimed at helping creative professionals manage stress and cultivate a more balanced and innovative work approach​. It would be really nice if the average employee was able to attend this but we’ll see how this will trickle down from execs who attended.

Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty, a global best-selling author, former monk, and motivational speaker, discussed the importance of mental health in the creative sector. His session emphasized the need for mental health support systems within advertising agencies, advocating for practices that foster a positive and supportive work environment. Shetty's talk was designed to inspire attendees to prioritize mental well-being as a cornerstone of sustained creative excellence​.

Queen Latifah and Tejal Vishalpura

Queen Latifah, in collaboration with Tejal Vishalpura, SVP of Commercial Strategy and Marketing at Novo Nordisk, tackled the issue of obesity and its societal perceptions. Their session explored how creative campaigns can shift public attitudes towards obesity, promoting empathy and understanding. This discussion highlighted the role of creativity in addressing complex health issues and changing societal narratives​.

Elon Musk and Mark Read's Discussion

A major highlight of the festival was the interview between Elon Musk and Mark Read, CEO of WPP. Their discussion centered on the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the advertising industry and included some of Musk's more controversial views.

Musk emphasized AI's potential to enhance personalization and engagement in advertising, predicting its significant role in future strategies. He discussed how AI could automate routine tasks, allowing creative professionals to focus on more innovative aspects of their work. Musk's vision of the future included AI not just as a tool but as a driving force in creative processes, potentially changing how advertising content is conceived and delivered.

However, the session took a dramatic turn when Musk made a controversial remark about advertisers. He criticized what he perceives as the "manipulative" nature of advertising, suggesting that many current practices exploit consumer vulnerabilities. This statement sparked a heated debate, with some attendees agreeing with Musk's call for more ethical advertising practices, while others defended the industry's role in influencing consumer behavior and driving economic growth​.

Mark Read responded by acknowledging the industry's challenges but highlighted the importance of responsible advertising. He emphasized the need for balance, where innovation and ethical considerations go hand in hand. Read also pointed out that advertisers have a responsibility to create content that not only sells but also informs and respects the audience​.

New Categories and Trends

Innovation Lions

The Innovation Lions category was expanded to include Brand Led, Environmental and Societal Innovation, and Fintech categories. This expansion reflects the increasing importance of technological advancements and innovative problem-solving approaches in today's creative work. The new categories aim to recognize and reward groundbreaking ideas that address contemporary challenges in creative ways​.

Humor in Advertising

A new humor category was introduced to celebrate the use of wit and satire in branded communications. This category highlights how humor can create memorable and engaging connections with audiences, demonstrating the power of laughter in advertising​. This is already what I kind of do with @digital_chadvertising but no one reached out to me for my two cents.

Core Content Streams

The festival's program was organized around five core content streams: Trends and Insights, Innovation Unwrapped, The Creativity Toolbox, Talent and Cultures, and Creative Impact.

Trends and Insights

This stream focused on strategic challenges, consumer behaviors, and cultural shifts driving the industry forward. For example, P&G's Marc Pritchard shared strategies on leveraging everyday consumer insights to unlock growth, providing practical examples of successful campaigns.

Innovation Unwrapped

Innovation Unwrapped highlighted technological advancements set to revolutionize the industry. Google's Vidhya Srinivasan and Alexander Chen presented on the integration of AI in advertising, showcasing how AI can enhance brand communication and engagement. This stream also featured discussions on new technologies such as immersive sound experiences and the potential of commerce as the next creative frontier.

The Creativity Toolbox

This stream provided insights into the craft, processes, and techniques behind award-winning creative work. Sessions included interactive workshops and case studies from successful campaigns, offering practical advice for achieving creative excellence.

Talent and Cultures

Focused on the people and practices behind thriving creative organizations, this stream covered topics such as leadership, resilience, and the importance of mental health in the workplace. Notable sessions included discussions on fostering positive work environments and supporting the next generation of creative talent.

Creative Impact

The Creative Impact stream examined the value and effectiveness of creative work. Speakers like Marcus Collins and Kory Marchisotto discussed the evolution of branding and how creative campaigns can drive significant business results. This stream provided insights into measuring and maximizing the impact of creative work on business growth.

Acquisitions

• Cadent completes acquisition of AdTheorent

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