CANNES: Midem, a trade event for the global music industry is around the corner. The event starts in Cannes from Sunday, 23 January.
This year the event will focus on the growing business of synchronisation in a series of conferences to be held during the event (23-27 January).
The Indian Music Industry (IMI) president Vijay Lazarus along with Times Music and Sa Re Ga Ma will represent India at the event.
For the second year, the Music for Images events will bring together leading experts from all sides of the business. It will provide a behind-the scenes look at how the collaboration between music, film, TV and video games has become a key element for all the industries involved.
A session on Music for Video Games sees three games publishers talking about their music acquisition and placement strategies. Another conference on Music for Advertising, will, among other issues, be looking at the importance of music for the sector and how the quirkiest of tunes can often set advertising campaigns apart.
The third debate will examine the crucial relationship between music and television and film. Fox Music president Robert Kraft is one of the speakers. There will also be two hands-on events that demonstrate the relevance of synchronisation for the music industry.
Video games publisher, Electronic Arts, will host a listening-session on 24 January. During the session, Midem participants will be able to put forward music tracks for selection. The chosen tracks will be included on the next edition of the publisher’s international best-selling game Fifa 2006.
There will also be live concerts with renowned international stars and emerging young artists. For its 39th edition Midem will have 60 groups from all over the world, covering a wide array of musical styles from pop, rock, electronic, urban and world music. The concerts will take place in a number of venues in Cannes and are not only open to Midem participants, but for the general public, free of charge. This year over 10,000 concert tickets will be distributed to non-Midem participants.
The Urban Night on 24 January sees a hip-hop outfit The Pharcyde playing with newcomer female singer Ayo and the French rap act TTC. The Master of Ceremony of this show will be Chuck D who founded the rap group Public Enemy.
Two world music concerts promise to transport their audience to exotic lands on 25 January. Brazilian Music and Arts (BM&A) will present an evening which will display the country's wealth of music. Three musical sets will make up the show. One of them will be the singer, composer and actor Seu Jorge.
A number of pop-rock concerts are also on the agenda, under the initiative The British at Midem. The shows will feature some of the most cutting-edge acts in the UK today, including former Skunk Anansie front-woman Skin, electro-tainted rock group The Infadels, the explosive new wave, rock quartet Grand National and the soulful rock-jazz of Rob Reynolds.
From 23-26 January the traditional Electronic Happy Hours will take place at the Noga Hilton Hotel bar and present some of the most creative international artists and labels attending Midem.
As a preview to kickstart the event Midem will also showcase the sixth edition of the NRJ Music Awards. The glamorous star- studded evening will be held in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals tomorrow 22 January. Stars who will be climbing the red carpet stairs of the Palais for the show this year will include U2, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys and the Black Eyed Peas.
