Five months ago, it looked as if Midem would likely be gone for good.
The 55-year-old music trade expo’s then-owner, Reed Midem, confirmed in December that it would no longer be operating the event, which had historically been held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France.
But now, a new twist in the tale: MBW has confirmed that Midem will be back in Q1 2023… with a brand new owner.
MBW understands that, after a year of negotiation, RX France – the owner of subsidiary Reed Midem – recently sold the Midem brand to the City of Cannes Municipality.
Confirming the return of the event, the City of Cannes announced (translated) that it is taking over the Midem brand – under the leadership of Cannes Mayor David Lisnard – to give it “a second wind”.
In a statement, the org added that Midem is now “reborn to adapt to changes in the recording industry”.
City of Cannes says that it has consulted with “several professionals” representing the French and global musical businesses, including the majors, independent labels, organizers of live shows, streaming platforms, professional authors’ associations and more.
It says it has done so “in order to offer a qualitative program [for Midem] that is as close as possible to the realities and developments in the [music] sector”.
The municipality claims further that the new Midem “will give pride of place to technological innovations” and will “strive to strengthen the cultural dimension” of the event – via the organization of music concerts at future Midems for Cannes residents and visitors.
Midem’s attendance figure in 2019 was up on 2018 (4,800) and 2017 (4,400), but significantly down on previous years. A delegation of 10,000 visitors attended in 2001, for example.
According to the City of Cannes, the event had been “impacted by digital-related changes”, since the beginning of the 2010s, “marked by the rise of online platforms [and] streaming”.
The city’s municipality adds that “the health crisis, as well as the reorganization of the activity of the RX company led [the firm] to give up the organization of Midem”.
The City of Cannes says that its aim for Midem is for it to become the “unmissable global meeting place” for the music business, which it promises “will be accessible to as many people as possible thanks to affordable accreditation prices”.
Midem went entirely digital due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021.
“In order to rediscover this emblematic event on the Cannes calendar, the City of Cannes is taking over the Midem so that it once again becomes the essential meeting place for music professionals from all over the world.”
David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes
Confirming the event’s rebirth, David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes, said (translated): “Organized since 1967 in Cannes, the International Market for Records and Music Publishing [MIDEM] was the largest annual global event devoted to the music scene.
“In order to rediscover this emblematic event on the Cannes calendar, the City of Cannes is taking over the Midem so that it once again becomes the essential meeting place for music professionals from all over the world.
“Maintaining this show in Cannes represents an economic challenge for local employment and attractiveness for the destination.”
MBW broke the news in December that Midem’s then owner Reed Midem had decided to scrap the event.
In an email sent to former delegates the following day (December 14), and signed off by Midem Director Alexandre Deniot, Midem’s previous organizers noted that “due to the lasting pandemic and following a review of its activity, RX France has decided to no longer organize the Midem events”.
Deniot added: “It is with regret therefore that we are cancelling the Midem 2022 edition, scheduled in Cannes from June 7 to 10 2022.”Music Business Worldwide
