The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity unveils LIONS Creators; a groundbreaking initiative set to debut from June 18 to 20. This dedicated platform promises an amalgam of exclusive learning opportunities. It also promises networking events tailored for creators and professionals immersed in the broader creator economy. In collaboration with Viral Nation, a global leader in social-first marketing, this experience aims to propel the growth of the creator economy within the realm of creative marketing.
LIONS Creators – The Rise of the Creator Economy
In 2023, Goldman Sachs analysts projected the creator economy to be valued at $250 billion with estimates soaring to $480 billion by 2027. Simon Cook, CEO of LIONS, emphasized the Festival’s pivotal role in fostering dialogues among industry stakeholders to harness the immense potential of this burgeoning sector. He stated, “With potential growth of this scale, it’s crucial that the Festival plays a role in bringing together the platforms, the brands, the creators and the agencies, and a wider cross-section of the industry to have the most pressing conversations around how we co-create, collaborate and unlock greater value and progress for the wider industry in this space.”
Embracing the Evolution
Thea Skelton, VP of Events at LIONS, underscored the increasing significance of creators in the marketing landscape. She remarked, “Creators are an increasingly important part of the marketing mix, and their presence at Cannes Lions has been steadily growing for many years. LIONS Creators has been established in collaboration with creators from around the world who all see the value in convening, doing business and learning from each other at the International Festival of Creativity.”
A Strategic Partnership
For its inaugural edition, LIONS Creators has joined forces with Viral Nation, renowned for its expertise in social-first transformation. Skelton expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We’re excited to be launching LIONS Creators in partnership with Viral Nation. Collaborating with a partner that is committed to innovation and excellence in social-first marketing means that we are well placed to bring our collective expertise and knowledge to this exciting launch.”
Pioneering Influence
Joe Gagliese, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Viral Nation, hailed the launch of LIONS Creators as a pivotal moment for the marketing industry. He emphasized the centrality of creators in Viral Nation’s operations and highlighted their commitment to amplifying voices and fostering authentic engagement. Gagliese asserted, “By collaborating with Cannes Lions, we are not only amplifying the voices of creators but also solidifying influencer marketing’s position as a cornerstone of social-first transformation, globally. We are excited to help steward a new era of brand collaboration at the heart of creative marketing in Cannes this June.”
Fostering Dialogue and Collaboration
LIONS Creators will host a series of exclusive LIONS xChange Roundtables. Providing a platform for industry leaders to delve into the challenges and opportunities in the creator marketing economy. These discussions, featuring prominent voices from industry stakeholders, aim to address the evolving landscape of this dynamic sector.
LIONS Creators unfolds alongside the Social & Influencer Lions Awards Show on Wednesday during Cannes Lions. For those eager to be part of this transformative experience, further details on participation can be found HERE.
About LIONS
As The Home of Creativity, LIONS powers the marketing segment of Ascential and is a destination for those in the business of creativity. As the definitive benchmark of creative excellence and with unparalleled access to insight on how it works, LIONS provides those on the journey to creative excellence all they need, at whatever stage they are at and wherever they are. Our annual five-day Festival, Cannes Lions, is the meeting place for the global creative marketing community and a celebration of the world’s most excellent and effective work.
LIONS is part of Ascential
Ascential takes the world’s leading brands to the heart of what’s next for their industries.
We do this through our events, intelligence products and advisory services. Our 700 people serve a global customer base from more than 100 countries in the large and growing Marketing and Financial Technology sectors. Ascential plc is listed on London Stock Exchange (LON: ASCL).
About Viral Nation
Viral Nation unlocks the full power of Social-First marketing to scale brands into the future.Since 2014, Viral Nation has been connecting the dots between Culture, Influence and Technology to drive meaningful results for clients ranging from the world’s biggest brands to the individual influencer. Today, as the leader in social-first transformation, they unite the social ecosystem through our full-service creative agency, a 360° digital talent representation agency and social-first suite of technology solutions.
Named as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America for 2023 by Deloitte, Viral Nation is a global company and home to the largest influencer roster. Their multidisciplinary teams are as diverse as our portfolio, proud to fuel growth for global brands including Audible, Campbell’s, Chegg, The Coca-Cola Company, Disney, A24, Microsoft, Meta, Vivid Seats, Tencent, TJX, and Walmart.