VideoAmp’s Post

Excerpts of my speech as I took on the mantle as the new LAIF Chairman 2023-2025: It's a privilege to stand before you today to acknowledge the brilliant work of the previous board and share our plans for the future of our precious creative festival .  Our core ideology , inspired from the now famously synonymous saying You only have one Laif. This years theme titled “ A new Laif signifies a pivotal moment in our industry’s evolution where we celebrate the hard work, passion and dedication of creatives all around the country. We are restructuring, and this is not merely a change in structure, but a profound transformation that will harmonize the brand that is LAIF with a clear vision of its founders and future goals. We are committed to upholding the best global practices while preserving our heritage beyond the past and present.   One of our primary objectives this year is sensitization and Inclusion. We aim to increase participation in LAIF from more AAAN member agencies in 2023.   We are determined to create a different kind of event this year. Our goal is to craft a credible and inclusive event that not only celebrates our industry from within but also positions us better externally. We are introducing a category for Marketing Directors/Departments on the client's side, with the long-term aim of increasing participation as we all know that our clients give us the platform to exhibit our genius.   We believe being nominated in Laif is no easy feat hence we will rewarding Agencies that are nominated moving forward with the prestigious Laif STAR Badge. This creates a win-win situation for all participants, reinforcing our commitment to celebrating all great works and efforts in the industry. We are also expanding the LAIF&DIRECT fireside chats to herald the LAIF Festival, focusing on the clear issues that affect the advertising sector.   Whilst We are setting our sights on not just national recognition but also regional and global appeal, In the year 2024, we envision Spreading LAIF, where we will actively pursue West African inclusion, inviting more of our west African brothers and sisters to share the platform with us making our mark on a broader stage.   In 2025, we plan to ensure a seamless Passing of LAIF, symbolizing the ease of passing the torch to future generations, ensuring that our legacy continues to inspire and flourish. As we move forward, let us remember that LAIF is not just an award; it's a community of creatives, a platform for innovation, a celebration of talent and a culture that is us . Together, we will rise to new heights and extend our impact beyond the shores of this great country, telling the African story in the best way we know how to.   Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your unwavering support. Here's to an exciting journey ahead, where creativity knows no bounds, and LAIF continually opens new doors to all of us.

Cannes In Cairns has come to a close! Known as the “Antipodean Festival of Creativity,” the Cannes in Cairns Festival has established itself as one of the premier industry events in Australia. Supported by several partners, including News Corp Australia, some of our News Xtend team had the privilege of participating in this special four-day event. With over 100 speakers and 10 fantastic networking events, the festival brought together experts in advertising, media, marketing, tech, and more. Here were some of the key takeaways: 1. Accessibility in #advertising: Advertisers are potentially missing out on $13 trillion globally by not making ads accessible. Adding captions or using easy-to-read fonts can help businesses engage with a wider audience. 2. "One way in, one way out" approach: Hushidar Kharas, Head of Prime Video Australia and New Zealand, shared this innovative strategy. It involves testing new ideas in teams with calculated risks and quickly moving on if they don't work. Hushidar emphasised that some of Prime Video’s/Amazon’s most significant successes have come from this approach fostering a culture of continuous improvement and minimising resource waste. 3. Inclusivity, diversity, and responsibility: There is a strong emphasis on these values in advertising. It’s important to think about where your brand or business can make the most impact and focus on providing solutions. We can’t wait to attend next year. Thanks, #CannesinCairns for having us! #NewsXtend #NewsCorpAustralia #CannesinCairns2024 Belinda MacPherson Karen Gill Matt Paine Edgardo (Jed) Tallada Amelia Faulkner Lisa Gillman Medha Mittal Mady Mitsoulas Anthony Christian Jacob Hoskins Sophie Madden Tristan Paul C. Andy Reeves Hannah Myers Emily Walker James Comino

I counted the Cannes Lions entries so you don't have to! 😉 Total entries are down 1.1% from last year. But don't cry for Cannes; they still pulled in an estimated $36M on entry fees, alone. The Mobile category was retired and a new Luxury & Lifestyle category was added. Beyond those category changes, it's interesting to see the entry trends—what attracted more entries and what fell? Innovation, Social & Influencer, and Creative Commerce are ⬆️. Pharma, Entertainment for Gaming, and Creative B2B are ⬇️. ADWEEK reports that total entries are down 38% from the high-water mark of of 2016. But attendance and revenue are up; the festival generated $129M in 2023. Click through the report below to see the numbers. #CannesLions #FestivalOfCreativity #FestivalOfMoney

🌟 Maximize Your Cannes Lions Investment! 🚀 Hurray, the dust has settled after the intense Cannes Lions submission process. You've invested heavily in creating standout case films and presentation boards. But what happens to these assets now? Their usefulness shouldn't stop there! 📝 I've just shared a new blog post detailing how you can repurpose your Cannes Lions campaign assets to continue gaining value from them throughout the year. From leveraging them for case studies to entering them into upcoming award shows like the The Gerety Awards, The Drum Awards, Festival of Media's M&M Global Awards and more, there are numerous ways to extend their lifespan and effectiveness. 🏆 Plus, a resource that can’t be missed: Our Ultimate, Always Up-to-Date Marketing, Media, and Advertising Awards Show Directory. This comprehensive guide is your gateway to over 40 relevant award shows and preparing your entries to maximize their potential. 🔗 Read the full blog here https://lnkd.in/dFxgk8pz and discover how to keep your campaign assets working hard for you! 💬 Interested in the Awards Show Directory? DM us "Access" for a special introductory offer! Let's ensure your creative work continues to receive the accolades it deserves. #CannesLions #Marketing #Advertising #AwardShows #CreativeIndustry

Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is around the corner and I’m excited to see what the industry’s greats will be roaring about this year! Here are the hot topics that I’ll be adding my own voice to: 📢🦁 The U.S. General Election is coming with heightened brand safety concerns – I’m interested in talking about how digital advertising providers like us can mitigate them. 📢🦁 The cookieless advertising era – deprecation from Chrome has been delayed, but I think the best marketers are stepping up well before the deadline. Which brings me to… 📢🦁 Attention measurement – it’s not a quick fix for cookie deprecation, but it’s an essential part of the post-cookie deprecation arsenal. It’s also something now available for… 📢🦁 CTV advertising, along with other innovations – it’s an exciting time with the rise of FAST channels, sports coverage moving to streaming, and new technologies. This is just a snippet of what’ll be a whirlwind several days. If you’re going, let me know what you’re excited to see, hear, and discuss! 👇 #CannesLions2024 #Cannes2024 #digitalmarketing #ShowHeroesGroup

Having let the train take the strain, Stuart Button, our Executive Creative Director, shares his first impressions of Cannes 2024: “Cannes is here again . . . as adland's hopefuls descend on southern #France for some much-needed vitamin D. “The commercialisation of this 70 year old creative festival continues with more brands showing up than ever before. “Judging by the fringe event talks, AI is still top of the agenda - only this time, it's less: 'We're all doomed!' and more 'we're all going to be rich!'. “As well as AI and D&I, sports is sticking its hand in the air for some much-needed attention (Stagwell's awesome sports beach by Cheerful Twentyfirst is now double the size). “What with the #Euros and #Olympics coming to #France (although you wouldn't know it - it's pretty mute from what I've seen), they’re even parading the old torch thingy down La Croisette tomorrow. “The other topic that's still going strong, is that dirty word 'effectiveness'. The thing that all clients want and creatives struggle to care about. “With stuff like ‘advertising value chain’, ‘digital waste’ and ‘closed-loop attribution’ being thrown around . . . If I didn't know any better, I'd say marketeers were making up stuff just to sell more things. Sneaky little buggers. “Is it any wonder that advertising has only just dropped off the top spot of the UK's LEAST trusted industry for the first time in a decade. “According to Simon Stone, of LoopMe GM International: ‘There is no point in creating the next Guinness Surfer if fragmented viewing habits, skippable ads, and decreasing attention spans prevent it from being seen. Creative remains essential to branding, but only when supercharged with data-driven media placement.' “I mean, I'd love to write the next Guinness Surfer ad - effectiveness be damned! “But then, what's the point in doing what we're doing if absolutely no one cares? And, according to Mark Ritson, no one does. “Hey ho - off to my first event I go.” #cannes2024 #canneslions #events #festivalofcreativity

Cannes Lions has its own ‘walled garden’ – but is it a bug or a feature? In my final column covering this year’s festival, I ask why there is still a (very physical) disconnect between the creative and media industries here in Cannes - and why creativity isn't just a realm for the ‘big ideas’ visionaries. With even the Lions judges themselves saying that the standard of some entries “just wasn’t exceptional” and with creatively awarded ads now performing ‘average’ compared to previous years, do we need a rethink on what modern marketing creativity actually is? And is this a way to build a more joined up festival next year? Read my full column in the comments below, FREE TO READ today alongside my five daily travelogue articles written on the ground in Cannes Lions 2024. Just login or create a free account for early bird access to all 6 articles. Thank you to... Hugh Stevens, LiveRamp, Orlando Wood, System1, Sir John Hegarty, The Garage Soho, Charlotte Rawlings, Campaign UK, Andrew Tindall, System1 ...for their input and/or inspiration in writing this article. Joseph Arthur Jyoti Rambhai Reem Makari Celine Yaseen Samantha Johnston Jess MacDermot #performancemarketing #canneslions #marketing #creativity

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.