France – Reed’s four-day music market, Midem 2010, is putting South African music centre stage, both by paying tribute to artists who forged a musical path for the country, and by showcasing those who are currently flying the South African flag at home and abroad.
Next year’s market, held on 24-27 January in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes, features a music industry conference that will put South African issues under the spotlight, ensuring the attention and input of music industry players from around the globe.
“Being named country of honour at the world’s biggest music market gives us a unique opportunity to open-up new markets for South African music content on a global scale, for South African musicians, producers and promoters to partner with the international world and taking our music to a broader audience,” said the director of cultural development for the department of arts and culture, South Africa, Glenn Masokoane.
“It is with this in mind that we have carefully planned a full programme of events that will take advantage of these opportunities as well as giving Midem 2010 delegates an intimate and wonderful experience of live South African music.”
There will be a South African pavilion in the main exhibition area of the Palais des Festivals, offering increased presence for South African companies and greater opportunities for business with outside partners. Included in this contingent will be South Africa’s ‘indies’, under the auspices of the Association of Independent Recording Companies of South Africa (AIRCO) and Moshito.
“South Africa has an extremely rich and diverse musical heritage,” comments the director of Midem, Dominique Leguern,. “Midem 2010 offers the international music industry a unique springboard into the Southern African market.”
