Drake may soon have a little more bling to add to his trophy case. The Canadian rapper is in the running for a Cannes Lion.
Drake’s music video for “Hotline Bling” was one of four Canadian entries shortlisted in the Lions Entertainment For Music competition on Thursday at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Creative Soul Toronto, Panic and Bob Toronto and Smith Toronto are all listed on the entry, which was shortlisted in the Excellence in Music Video category.
The musician is no stranger to the ad industry. Aside from appearing in a T-Mobile ad inspired by the “Hotline Bling” video, Drake helped oversee a rebrand of the Toronto Raptors and is a big fan of one of the ad world’s most traditional mediums – out of home.
Three other Canadian entries made the shortlist.
- J. Walter Thompson Canada Toronto, with two entries for Sick Kids “Just Another Day” (Use of licensed music for a brand or campaign and Artist associated stunt or activation in partnership with a brand )
- Leo Burnett Toronto, with Soft Citizen Toronto and Saints Editorial Toronto listed as production partners for Amazon’s “The Magic of Echo” (Use of music technology)
Meta Films Montreal was also listed on the entry for “Hello” for XL Recordings, though the entry is considered American, not Canadian. Sid Lee‘s Paris office also scored a shortlist nod for “Made By Professionals” for PagesJuanes.
The Music competition is new in Cannes this year and was created to “celebrate creative musical collaborations.” It is part of Lions Entertainment, a new two-day stream of the festival.
Most of the categories within the Music competition award either collaborations between brands and musicians or the marketing prowess behind musical acts, but some also award production craft, such as the Music Video category.
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