Epic Records’ Chairman and CEO, L.A. Reid and Natalia Nastaskin , CEO, The Agency Group USA, have joined the Artistic Committee of the first edition of the Midem Artist Accelerator talent programme at Midem 2015.
In partnership with Pepsi and Deezer, the Midem Artist Accelerator is designed to fast-track budding musical talent into the global spotlight with both industry and international audiences. 470 artists and groups have already submitted entries to the programme, with 50 countries represented.
Submissions for the inaugural edition have come from management companies including Ignition, Logan Media Entertainment, Red Light and ATC; indie and major labels, including Sub Pop, Ninja Tune, WARP, Sony Music, Universal Music, GUM, Because Music and Transgressive; booking agencies, including CAA, WME, The Agency Group, , Windish Agency, Primary Talent International, ATC Live, Pitch&Smith, Live Nation, Four Artists, Coda, Breakout and Alias Production; and indie and major publishing bodies, including Sony ATV, Warner Chapell, BMI and Kobalt.
Organised by Reed MIDEM, Midem takes place in Cannes, France, from June 5-8 in 2015.
The 12 artists/groups picked by the Artistic Committee will be announced at the end of March and will all get to play live on Midem’s main open-air stage in Cannes, as well as benefit from a tailored professional programme onsite, which includes entry to selected conferences, coaching sessions with industry mentors and networking opportunities with key players from the international Midem community.
“L.A Reid is one of the most talented producers, songwriters and label executives in the industry with an innate sense of major talent and has some of the best ears in the music business. Natalia Nastaskin is well known for her amazing career in discovering and representing talent,” said Bruno Crolot, Director of Music Markets, Reed MIDEM.
The quality of the Artistic Committee jury members, associated with the support of such major global brands as Pepsi and Deezer, gives this new initiative an incredible launching pad. For its inaugural edition, I am delighted with the number, geographic diversity and quality of submissions we received for the programme.”
Since taking the helm at Epic in 2011, Antonio “L.A.” Reid has led a successful spell for the historic label, with an artist roster that includes Sade, Michael Jackson, Outkast, Kongos, Fiona Apple, Future, Modest Mouse, Sara Bareilles, Tamar Braxton, Avril Lavigne, Ciara, Fifth Harmony, A Great Big World, Janelle Monae’s “Wondaland Records” and Meghan Trainor.
As the former head of Island Def Jam Music Group and before that Arista, he has helped to nurture the careers of numerous global superstars, including Mariah Carey, Kanye West, JAY-Z, Rihanna, Bon Jovi, Usher, the Killers, Ludacris, Fall Out Boy, Ne-Yo, Pink, OutKast, Avril Lavigne, and Justin Bieber.
Natalia Nastaskin (pictured) heads leading booking agency The Agency Group USA and is currently the only female CEO at the top of a global talent agency.
The Agency Group has more than 2,200 artists on its books, including many of the most recognizable, trailblazing names in the entertainment industry across all musical genres, such as The Black Keys, Guns N’ Roses, Muse, Moby, Dolly Parton, and Stromae.
Under Nastaskin’s leadership, The Agency Group has established strategic alliances with companies like Bandsintown and PledgeMusic, founded a brand integration division, a dedicated college booking division, and a global corporate and events division.
Other members of the Artistic Committee include producer and promoter Harvey Goldsmith; promoter and Robomagic founder Rob Hallett, Will Botwin, President & CEO of Red Light Management and ATO Records; Christopher Kaskie, President and Founder of the Pitchfork stable; Mathieu Jaton, CEO of the Montreux Jazz Festival; Fruzsina Szép, Director of Festival Coordination & Public Affairs at Hörstmann Unternehmensgruppe; Frank Cooper III, Chief Marketing Officer of co-sponsor PepsiCo Global Beverages Group; and Delphine Ferré, VP International Artist Marketing at co-sponsor Deezer.
Music Business Worldwide
