The 45th edition of the International Record and Music Publishing Market (MIDEM) opens this Saturday, January 28, in Cannes. For four days, it is an opportunity for music industry players, start-ups, and new technology representatives from around the world to establish new professional connections.
Due to the record crisis, the 2012 edition of MIDEM will be under the banner of new technologies. As a result, the music industry in the strict sense is overshadowed by innovative start-ups and application providers. In short, all companies that can offer openings to music, even if it is not their primary vocation.
For Bruno Crolot, the new director of MIDEM, it is about “targeting a much broader ecosystem that includes brands, new technologies, and artists. We are not moving away from music. I think we are advancing with the music world in a broader ecosystem where music is the cement and technologies are used by brands, artists, and labels to reconnect more directly with the public.” Consequently, it is no surprise to find companies as diverse and varied as Vivendi, Google, Facebook, YouTube, The Coca-Cola Company, Blackberry, and Air-France.
MIDEM changes
MIDEM 2012 innovates compared to previous years:
-A small novelty: the “Innovation Factor,” sponsored by Vivendi, an exhibition area where live demonstrations of the latest technologies are conducted. Alongside this program, the salon offers various learning programs for start-ups. For example, “The Operational Basics of Start-ups,” organized by Microsoft BizSpark, and “How to Pitch to the Media,” by The Next Web.
-In parallel, the “Visionary Monday” conference day (January 30) is renewed. The themes will revolve around new ways to capture the audience through music. Om Malik, founder of GigaOm, Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio, and Dan Rose, vice president of Facebook, will be the main speakers.
-The third edition of Midemlab, the international competition for start-ups and application developers, should allow the election of the most promising new companies.
-The “midem Hack Day” brings together about thirty international developers, designers, and hackers who, for 48 hours, will develop new applications related to music. These will be exclusively unveiled to midem participants.
-Finally, for the first time, MIDEM offers a “midemblog,” a sort of live video coverage of various salon events.
Musical programming
When we talk about MIDEM, we talk about music. The programming is not lacking this year and will suit all audiences:
- Le Midem Off Three nights of concerts with over 100 artists, starting at 7 PM at the following venues: Hôtel 3.14, Black Pearl, Dadada, FNAC, Morrison’s lounge, Sparkling/l’Appart.
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Le Midem Festival From January 28 to 30, under the Croisette tent, starting at 8:30 PM. Scheduled artists: Selah Sue, Skip the Use, Imany, 2manydjs DJ Set, The Ting Tings, Stuck in the Sound, Shaka Ponk, Brigitte, and Orelsan.
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Made in Taiwan On January 29, at 7 PM, at the Salon des Ambassadeurs with Mayday, Yen-J, and Matzka.
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Classical Night On January 30, at 9 PM, at the Croisette theater. Scheduled performers: Alison Balsom, Behzod Abduraimov, Mari and Hakon Samuelsen, Philippe Bender and the Regional Orchestra of Cannes Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur.
