Features
MIDEM Partners With Live Nation To Put ‘Live Music Back At The Heart Of Music Industry’s Priorities’
Live Nation, Mairie de Cannes (Cannes City Hall), and its Palais des Festivals et des Congrès join forces and expertise for MIDEM 2025, taking place in Cannes, South of France, Jan. 29-31.
“With a solid background in music, entertainment and cultural event management, Live Nation and the City of Cannes are fully aware of the contemporary challenges facing the music industry. Together, they intend to meet these challenges while reinventing the MIDEM experience,” the press release announcing the partnership states.
The ambition is to make MIDEM “the global crossroads of the music industry” once again, a platform for “exchanging ideas, collaborating and exploring new trends.”
Hot topics on the agenda include putting live music back at the heart of the music industry’s priorities; a commitment to skills development and inclusion; accelerating the transition to a low-carbon industry with a strong ecological commitment; making MIDEM vibrant with modern, ongoing communications; gathering on an international scale for mutual sharing and inspiration; renewing and diversifying the music industry in a post-crisis context; offering unique and unforgettable experiences, accessible only at MIDEM; federating a collective vision for a sustainable and equitable future.
To achieve this, MIDEM 25 “will bring together major industry players, internationally renowned artists and visionary innovators to shape the future of music.” The festival and conference promises to “be more than just a trade event, it will be a true celebration of music and entertainment in all its forms, offering an immersive and creative experience to all participants,” according to the press release.
Daytime professional accreditations are handed out by reservation. MIDEM days will be reserved exclusively for accredited professionals to network, learn, and exchange. The day-time program offers conferences, masterclasses and strategic meetings. The single rate is €100 ($112) per day.
Tickets for the music festival in the evening are also available to the public. “Internationally renowned artists and emerging talents will come together to deliver unforgettable performances” during MIDEM LIVE, according to the press release.
Live Nation, Mairie de Cannes and its Palais des Festivals et des Congrès are committed to working with social partners, governments and international organizations to move the music industry towards a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future.
Angelo Gopee, Managing Director of Live Nation France, commented, “Live performance now occupies a central place in the music industry, constituting both a challenge and an opportunity. To ensure the prosperity of this sector, it is essential to support key structures such as concert producers, venues, theaters and festivals. These players, at the heart of the cultural scene, face major challenges such as parity, inclusion, diversity, parenthood and the transmission of knowledge.
“At Live Nation, we’re convinced that to meet these challenges, it’s essential to give a voice to those working in the field, and to encourage skills development within these structures. With this in mind, we are committed to offering training that leads to qualifications, tailored to the needs of each individual, and to encouraging a culture of continuous improvement.
“In addition, environmental issues, particularly decarbonization, are unavoidable. Our commitment to a sustainable, environmentally-friendly approach is at the heart of our strategy. The values espoused by MIDEM 2025, such as sustainability and innovation, are deeply rooted in our DNA, and it is our responsibility to embody and promote them.”
MIDEM 2025 will be built around 4 major pillars :
MIDEM AGORA, “a unique space dedicated to business, exchanges and influence in the music industry. MIDEM AGORA brings together professionals from all backgrounds and musical genres to share experiences, connect and shape the future of the industry. Take advantage of networking spaces, attend round tables, listen to inspiring testimonials and take part in captivating keynotes. A truly international marketplace where music in all its forms finds expression.”
MIDEM LIVE, offering “exceptional performances, where emerging and established artists share the stage in a unique atmosphere. Open to the public, these concerts offer immersive and innovative artistic experiences, combining creativity and emotion. Extend the magic with official aftershows that will keep you rocking until the end of the night.”
MIDEM ACADEMY, “a space dedicated to students, young artists and professionals for training, exchange and meeting new challenges. The MIDEM ACADEMY offers a rich and diversified program of master classes, round tables, testimonials and workshops focusing on the challenges of training and employment in the music industry. In addition to emphasizing corporate social responsibility (CSR), this space encourages the sharing of best practices and innovations to prepare the talents of tomorrow.”
MIDEM CONNECT, “the place to discover the latest brand activations and attend conferences and keynotes by influential industry leaders. Take advantage of unique networking opportunities with our “Connection Hub” sessions, designed to optimize your professional exchanges. Exhibition areas also give brands and companies the opportunity to showcase their innovations. MIDEM CONNECT is the place where brands meet, connect and create new synergies.”
David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes, said, “MIDEM, a high-quality and popular international event, returns to Cannes in 2025 to bring together music professionals and music lovers. For this third edition, the event is going from strength to strength. It promises rich debates through a wide selection of conferences and round tables, as well as qualifying training courses for young professionals and students alike. Concerts, accessible to the widest possible audience, will form a major part of the event. Thanks to the synergy between established professionals, young artists and students from the Méliès campus around MIDEM, Cannes is cultivating cross-fertilization and pursuing its “Cannes On Air” strategy to remain the global crossroads of creativity.”
Jean-Michel Arnaud, President of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes, added, “The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes is proud to host this new edition of MIDEM, which has established itself as the world’s musical epicenter, in perfect harmony with our raison d’être: Sustainably Welcoming the World. This major cultural event fully reflects our three pillars (connect, reveal and care) and plays a key role in Cannes’ winter appeal, attracting an international audience of professionals and artists. In 2025, we will make MIDEM a crossroads of exchange, innovation and discovery, while embodying responsible and sustainable practices, essential for the future of the music industry.”