As performance metrics grow murky and traditional advertising falters, proximity is becoming the new proxy for value. We talk through the bloated conference circuit, the rise of curated events, the logic behind Cannes as a marketplace, and why some publishers are pulling back while others double down. Along the way, we debate the wisdom of Newsweek buying an ad tech company, the challenge of turning creator reach into enterprise value, and the case of a $3 million newsletter business with 90% margins that stands in contrast to the deconstruction of legacy media models.

Join us in Cannes for a live recording of People vs Algorithms from the Dotdash Meredith villa on Thursday, June 20, at 3:30pm. Troy and Brian will be joined by Dotdash Meredith CEO Neil Vogel and Axios media correspondent Sara Fischer. We'll have drinks and mingling immediately following the recording. Register here.

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Chapters:

* 00:00 Welcome

* 01:39 NY Tech Week

* 06:29 Cannes - A Carnival Of Capitalism

* 12:00 Creator Events

* 17:58 AI Creative

* 29:12 Newsletter: Great Business

* 37:33 Newsweek Buying Ad Prime

* 45:03 Good Product

* 46:32 Outro

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com