Episode 179: The Good Vibe(s) at Cannes, Plus UTA's Michael Burke on the Creator and Influencer Takeover

Set against the backdrop of UTA Beach at Cannes Lions, Ari Paparo sits down with Michael Burke, Principal at UTA and MediaLink, to discuss creator-led marketing, cultural relevance, AI adoption, brand discovery, and why human relationships matter more than ever in the AI era. Takeaways Culture and creators are becoming core media channels for brands. AI success depends on strong data, processes, and infrastructure. Brand discovery in AI is driven by reputation, reviews, and open web presence. Human relationships become more valuable as AI automates workflows. Curiosity and adaptability are critical skills for future marketing leaders. Chapters00:00 Welcome from UTA Beach at Cannes Lions 01:14 Why UTA invests heavily in Cannes 02:23 The creator, media, and brand triangle 03:06 How brands should approach influencer strategy 04:05 The role of data and technology in culture marketing 05:30 Why cultural relevance is every marketer's priority 06:29 AI's biggest impact: workflow and discovery 07:16 Why AI requires better data foundations 08:07 GEO, AEO, and the future of brand discovery 10:09 Marketers' interest in OpenAI advertising 10:55 Publicis and LiveRamp industry implications 12:28 Why AI won't replace Cannes networking 13:10 The human skills that matter in an AI era 15:19 What Michael Burke is most excited about at Cannes Guests: Ari Paparo, Michael Burke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices