Midem Shapes Up For Powerhouse Edition

– Sylvia Rhone & Dina LaPolt
Epic Records Chairman & CEO Sylvia Rhone will be interviewed by LaPolt Law owner Dina LaPolt at Midem on June 5.

The first African-American woman to lead a major record label, Rhone will share insights from her career with LaPolt, who is widely recognized for her work dedicated to fighting for the rights of artists and songwriters, including suing the U.S. Department of Justice. The conversation will look at the ways in which artists and labels can navigate today’s complex music ecosystem, with special attention to the protection of artists and creativity.  

Other speakers at the June 4-7 event at the Palais des Festivals include Combs Enterprises President Dia Simms, who will talk about her branding activities within Combs Enterprise. The company’s portfolio includes record label Bad Boy Entertainment, which boasts album sales of over 500 million; Combs Wine & Spirits; and Revolt Media.

Simms said Midem is “a unique opportunity for new artists, legacy artists, innovators, business executives and beyond to connect and build on the ecosystem of music.” 

It’s an ecosystem that includes the thriving worldwide live sector. Built in association with Pollstar, the second edition of the Live Summit will tackle the current challenges and opportunities of today’s live industry.

Panels featuring promoters, agents, managers, some veterans of the game, as well as the next generation of live business executives, will tackle topics including the current geopolitical issues on the worldwide touring marketplace and partnerships between brands and live events.  The event will also offer exclusive insight into the operation of some of the world’s best-known festivals and tours.

Ray Waddell, president of the Media & Conferences division of Oak View Group, Pollstar’s parent company, said he was “thrilled to continue this mutually beneficial association with Midem.”

– Pollstar
will again be at Midem, hosting the second edition of the Live Summit in association with Midem and Oak View Group.

For the first time in its history, Midem will celebrate regional and international artist success stories with the Midem Music Awards, which promises to be the “first truly data-driven music prize.”

The choice of winners will be informed by data gathered in partnership with music data platform Soundcharts, which collects and qualifies data from a variety of digital platforms, including audio and video streaming, audio identification platforms, social media, and live music activities.

Midem director Alexandre Deniot said the show, produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment, would differ from traditional award show formats.

With other keynotes by Chinese music licensing pioneer Mathew Daniel, and music mogul Troy Carter, who will talk exclusively about his newly formed partnership with UTA, Midem once again caters to a worldwide and diverse music community.

Midem’s Midemlab competition returns, promising to produce the next Soundcloud, Songkick, Kickstarter or The Echo Nest, which were all once Midemlab finalists and winners.

Midem’s organizers are currently on their second tour of Africa, visiting three key African music cities – Dakar, Douala and Lagos. The second edition of the African Forum will culminate in a dedicated day on June 5 in Cannes.

Deniot sees such great potential that he announced the launch of a dedicated Midem Africa in an interview with Pollstar last summer. Midem’s director said, “I love Africa, so it was great to really work with them and feel the energy and creativity.”