Although most people are too young to remember (or even know) this, MIDEM is pretty much the grandaddy of music trade fairs.
Originally created in 1967, it started out as a way to get music biz people attending Italy’s San Remo festival to Cannes to talk business with their French counterparts. It was only a distance of about 70 kms, or about two hours by car.
It grew to reflet the brashness of the music industry through the seventies and eighties, and began a painful decline in the 2000s. The founder, Reed/MIDEM, eventually closed it, before the town of Cannes bought the name and re-started the show with various partners that now include Live Nation.
MIDEM 2026: unrecognizable
There is no room for nostalgia in music biz. The business done in the sixties would be unrecognizable to today’s players that will meet February 4 to 6, 2026 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. The big chunk missing from the equation is actual physical sales. Today, things are… different.
Recognizing this, MIDEM is again putting the emphasis on the new faces in the music business through a space dedicated to the startups and young companies that are reinventing music and entertainment. What do they mean?
- Music & Tech: AI, machine learning, next-generation streaming, augmented live experiences
- Fan Engagement: smart ticketing, Web3, augmented reality, artist-public interaction
- Sustainable & inclusive industry: eco-responsible solutions, accessibility, social impact
If you are part of this new musictech, remember that Spotify, Soundcloud and countless other apps and services got their first breaks at Midem.
To find out more visit MIDEM. If you have never attended a major music fair yet, I recommend the Cannes Starter Guide to get you going (disclosure: I wrote it after attending for ten years or so!).
(Michael Leahy. Photo courtesy of MIDEM)