Creativity thrives on Spotify. It’s what makes our world go round, and the reason that our platform has over 100M songs as well as 5M podcasts and audiobooks for fans to stream—whenever, wherever, and however they want.

The culture-defining creators behind this work build personal connections with fans, which in turn fuels further creativity. Take podcast Q&As, for instance—an increasingly popular method of obtaining direct feedback from listeners to help podcasters create content they know is in demand.

For brands with their own audiences to engage, this constant cycle opens up a rich world of creative opportunity—in fact, 87% of advertisers we asked agree that Spotify allows them to be more creative than any other platform.¹

Here are three key takeaways from our daylist-themed daytime panels at Cannes Lions 2024, to help you find and fuel that creative spark.

1. How to build your brand with authenticity and creative spirit

In 2024, being ‘authentic’ as a brand is par for the marketing course. Stay true to yourself, and your audience will respect you for it—veer off path with an insincere tone or message, and you’ll pay a heavy price.

However, demonstrating that authenticity in an impactful way is often where the challenge lies. And taking a creative, collaborative and thoughtful approach is often the solution—as several of our guest speakers at Spotify Beach could attest to.

Spotify’s ads manager helps you build creative campaigns with ease. Create digital audio ads from scratch using our free ad creation tools—or repurpose existing video assets to maximize your time and resources. Learn more here.

2. How to create community and stand out from the crowd

Without fans, the creative flywheel stops spinning. Any artist—or indeed any brand—knows that listening to fans’ feedback and delivering what they want is the key to success. Enable that feedback loop in a way that invites open dialogue and builds trust, and you’re actively creating a community.

There are many ways for brands to create and grow a community on Spotify, from working closely with creators to leverage their influence and fandoms, to creating themed and branded playlists that fans can add songs to.

3. How to leverage tech like AI to grow your brand or business

On Wednesday, Xavier "X" Jernigan—the voice behind Spotify’s AI-powered DJ—joined Spotify’s Global Head of Music Partnerships & Audience, Joe Hadley for a deep dive into the ever-evolving landscape of creativity and authenticity in the era of artificial intelligence.

Spotify’s AI-driven features like DJ create a deeply personalized experience for every user through a blend of cutting-edge technology and human editorial expertise. This is how AI can be a real game changer for brands—leveraging tech that’s AI-driven and authentically reflects the current cultural landscape, while connecting fans more deeply with what they love, be that an artist, a seasonal moment, or even a particular brand.

With that, we’ll soon be launching ‘Quick Audio’, a Generative AI tool available exclusively in Spotify Ads Manager, which will enable self-serve advertisers to create scripts and voiceovers with ease, speed, and at scale. Watch this space!