Midem & MidemNet Unite With Expanded Program

International music industry conference MIDEM ,held each January in Cannes is expanding its MidemNet digital music gathering and merging it into the main MIDEM event. For the first time, registration to MIDEM will also include access to MidemNet

In 2010, MidemNet will continue special digital music programming January 23-24 and then extend the digital conference theme throughout the larger MIDEM gaterthing January 24-27.

A new dedicated MidemNet area is being created on the main MIDEM exhibition floor. There a new MidemNet Lab will showcase 15 innovative companies operating in the digital music sector chosen by a network of industry insiders. Throughout the week, these companies will offer presentations of their activities and business models, as well as, one-on-one meetings with potential partners. The new area will also host  MidemNet Academy, a series of digital education workshops covering a broad range of subjects from “An introduction to digital marketing” to “How to market your artist on Twitter?”

“When we launched MidemNet in 2000, digital was an up-and-coming segment of the music industry. Now that digital is an integral part of the business, it is logical that we unite MidemNet into the main MIDEM event,” says Dominique Leguern, Director of MIDEM. “This means that we are now able, throughout the duration of MIDEM, to offer conferences on digital developments as well as all other aspects of the industry and introduce an exciting new exhibition zone devoted to truly ground-breaking companies working in digital.”

As a member of the MidemNet Visonary Chair Committee, I'll be working with my fellow committee members and the MidemNet staff to make MIDEM, MIdemNet, the MidemNet Lab and all of the new programs as exciting and relevent as possible. Stay tuned for details as they develop. And as always your feedback and suggestions are encouraged. – Bruce Houghton