AIR issues Midem call out to Victorian indies

Indies, take note. With Midem fast approaching, the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) is putting the call out for expressions of interest from Victorian indies to get amongst it at this year’s industry summit. But there’s no time for mucking about.

AIR will tap four established label representatives and two emerging label rep for fully-funded conference registration at Midem, Europe’s leading music industry gathering which, this year, will take place June 4-7 in Cannes.

Naturally, there are conditions. Any established label that gets the nod must agree to mentor an emerging label for the duration of Midem, which combines a day-time conference element with evening showcases.

It's nearly time for Midem, again

It’s a particularly sweet deal for the emerging label recipients, who must have logged less than three years in business, have a minimum of two artists signed to their roster or have three releases on the books. The lucky emerging class will also receive free return economy airfares to Nice -- a shuttle-bus ride to Midem’s longtime home at the Palais des Festivals -- plus five nights accommodation and travel insurance.

Any labels keen for a chance must fill out a survey by March 31, details for which can be found here for emerging and here for established labels.

Midem is much more than an excuse for summer sun on the French Rivera. It’s Continental Europe's longest running and, arguably, most important annual gathering of music industry professionals. Certainly, it’s an essential meeting point for music publishers. And for anyone with a good head for navigating chaos, it’s a place to get business done and set up the year ahead.

Australia is typically represented by a small but feisty presence at Midem, which in its heyday drew almost 15,000 delegates though numbers declined during the noughts as the recording industry suffered its very own crisis.

In recent years, conference organizer Reed Midem shook things up by moving Midem from January to the warmer June. Many agree the move has been a successful one.