Do you work in mobile music? Check out midem 2012

If you’re working in mobile music, I strongly recommend taking a look at midem. Most people working in music know all about midem, however it’s not so well known in the mobile sphere.

modem — always written in lowercase — is the world’s largest and most influential music industry event. It takes place each year in Cannes and if you’re looking to connect with senior folk in the music industry, it’s the place to be.

I write this because I know the organisers, Reed Midem, very well. If you’d like a personal connection, please let me know and I’ll introduce you.

Perhaps you’d like to speak, get more details on exhibiting or find out about participating in some of their mini events? For example, I think the midem Innovation Factory could well be highly relevant for some readers.

Here’s their event announcement:

For its 46th edition, midem is undergoing a makeover orchestrated by the music industry market’s new director Bruno Crolot. “We’re keeping the fundamentals, but we’re aware of the need to widen our positioning to encompass a broader range,” he explains. To adapt to the natural evolution in the music market, a number of innovations will be implemented. “We want to reach a bigger ecosystem. midem, which next year will run from Saturday to Tuesday, will bring together technology companies, advertising agencies and brands around artists and traditional music industry players.”

Alongside this new positioning, the tariffs for accreditation have been simplified and revised down: “We are proposing some very attractive prices for artists and start-ups. We’re also offering a special price of €495 until 30 September,” said Bruno Crolot.

Among major innovations for 2012, midem will create a new space, the Direct2fan Camp, where independent artists and labels can meet and where the latest digital tools aimed at developing and enriching the direct relationship with audiences will be showcased. Participants can benefit from advice and training on techniques to optimise their online presence via new technological tools and social networks.

Henceforth, the MidemNet programme will now run concurrently over the four days of the market, with a special day dedicated to major keynotes on what will be known as Visionary Monday. midem 2012 will also see the launch of the Innovation Factory, a space for meeting and discovery where start-ups, major technology players, artists and labels will be able to share their needs, projects and expertise in the field of music.

At the heart of the Innovation Factory, the midemlab, the international competition open to innovative start-ups and developers of applications, which was a great success in 2011, will widen its scope to include companies from all sectors. Candidates should propose innovations and digital solutions aimed at helping executives, artists and brands reach and cement bonds with audiences whilst generating revenues.

For brands, the new-look midem is developing an even more sophisticated programme of content, conferences and workshops, in order to foster interaction with artists, publishers and labels. After the success of Sync Day last year, midem is expanding this event through the addition of a competition, which will bestow awards for the best use of music in a marketing campaign.

Another novelty will be the launch of the midem festival, open to industry executives and for the first time also to the general public. This will comprise three evenings of special concerts in a single dedicated venue, during which upcoming artists and international stars will share the line-up. The Fringe stage, launched last year, has been renamed midem off, and for the forthcoming edition will include musical programming in the heart of the market by day, and live performances in the bars of Cannes by night. “We want the event to be more fun, to put live music at the core of midem, and do all we can so that participants feel more involved than they have in the past,” summarises Bruno Crolot.