The latest edition of MIDƐM+ has just taken place in Cannes. Bringing together industry professionals and festival-goers from all over the world once again this year, the event has established itself as the benchmark meeting place for the music industry. It featured four days of intense exchanges, punctuated by conferences, talks, masterclasses, screenings, film concerts and workshops to discuss the challenges of tomorrow’s music, and vibrate in unison at concerts by established and emerging international artists open to the general public.
A total of 10,000 festival-goers attended this year’s event, including almost 400 students and young professionals, joined by nearly 500 international music industry professionals (60% from international territories, and 40% from France). They attended 15 concerts and 10 DJ sets by 25 international artists, 2 documentary screenings, 1 film-concert and 1 young artists’ springboard.
This year’s ambassadors were Nigerian singer-songwriter Yemi Alade, and American musician and composer Stewart Copeland, the legendary drummer with The Police. Electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre renewed his support for MIDƐM+ as “honorary sponsor”. By bringing together one of the world’s best drummers, the Afro-pop icon and the most visionary of musicians, MIDƐM+24 showcased the diversity and innovation that characterize contemporary creation and the music industry.
“We have rethought MIDƐM+ with the ambition of putting it at the service of all international music players to integrate the challenges of digital, CSR and new business models. Our project is to bring together artists, labels and live players, as well as all the cultural industries, to support the transformation of this sector. Together with Panda / All Over, the Town Hall and the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes, Hopscotch Groupe is proud to take up the challenge of relaunching this legendary event,” explains Benoît Desveaux, Managing Director of Hopscotch Groupe.
“MIDƐM+, a popular event for the general public, is successfully pursuing its incubation strategy. Over 10,000 festival-goers and 500 professionals from the global music industry were welcomed for this second edition. The event is going from strength to strength, with numerous conferences and debates led by renowned speakers at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, as well as off-site at the Campus Georges Méliès. The high-quality musical program demonstrated the richness and variety of international creativity. In light of market changes, the challenge is to constantly renew and adapt the event with all the professionals involved, in order to shape the future of music. Ultimately, the city’s aim is to confirm Cannes as the crossroads of creation, imagination, distribution, dissemination and marketing of artistic expression, of which music is the universal vibration,” adds David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes.
Highlights included discussions on the latest trends in music investment with global experts such as Fred Davis, Partner of Raine Advisors Ltd, Mark Miller, CEO of Labelcoin, Per Sundin, CEO of Pophouse Entertainment and Scott Cohen, CEO of JXBX, discussions on how to make the transition from DJ to artist and music producer with Joachim Garraud, who shared his experience, performances by Madame Monsieur, Clara Ysé/Black Star and De La Soul, screenings of David Bowie’s Moonage Daydream directed by Brett Morgen, and a masterclass on knowledge transfer with electronic music legend Jean-Michel Jarre, to name but a few. Designed for students, MIDƐM+ Academy events created a sensation with masterclasses and encounters, such as with Steve Lyon, Depeche Mode’s legendary producer and sound engineer.
A new feature of this MIDƐM+24 edition: a political summit was held on Friday January 26, in the presence of numerous MEPs and parliamentarians active in the field of culture. In addition to the Mayor of Cannes, Mr. David LISNARD, who opened the B2B debates, Ms. Monica SEMEDO (Luxembourg MEP, Groupe Renouveau Europe), Mr. Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO (Spanish MEP, Groupe Socialiste et Démocrate), Mr. István UJHELYI (Hungarian MEP, Socialist and Democrat Group) and Mr. Claude KERN (Senator for Bas-Rhin) spoke on the issues of value sharing, industry financing, and the European Union’s necessary support for the sector, notably through the Europe Creative program.
The live program orchestrated by the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, with the support of All Over, captured the hearts of the audience. Festival-goers were transported by fiery performances, including the electro-pop/new French touch lives of Kid Francescoli & French 79, and the spellbinding flow of Soolking, played to full houses. For the launch, the Orchestre national de Cannes presented an original composition by Hugues Dufourt, in his presence. The evening then moved on to the British rock energy of Baxter Dury, sharing the stage with Sweden’s supercharged Royal Republic. The legendary rap group De La Soul, accompanied by Black Star icons Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, made their first appearance on the Grand Auditorium stage, bringing together historic rap fans and younger audiences alike. Afro-pop star Yemi Alade had the Grand Auditorium audience on their feet and dancing under her spell. A total of 15 concerts thrilled the Palais, while the Ensemble Alicantus filled the church of Notre Dame de Bon Voyage with a spellbinding spirituality. The evenings also went well into the night, with DJ sets by renowned electro artists such as Pedro Winter and Joachim Garraud at the MIDEM+ Bar.
