The CEO of French giant Vivendi, Jean-Bernard Lévy will deliver a keynote speech at the MidemNet Forum, the international conference on the latest in new technologies and new economic models in the music industry, which takes place 26-27 January 2008 as part of MIDEM.

At the head of a group that owns the world’s leading music major, Universal Music, and which is a shareholder in SFR and Neuf Cegetel, respectively France’s second mobile operator and second Internet service provider, Jean-Bernard Lévy is a key actor in Vivendi’s strategy of music/web/mobile convergence.

The Vivendi group, and notably its subsidiary Universal Music, has delivered exceptional financial results. In a music sector undergoing profound restructuring, the group has chosen the winning strategy of double migration – from the physical disc towards dematerialised music (music available without DRM, mobile music via SFR, etc); and from music as a product to music as a service (diversification of activities within Universal Music, illustrated by the acquisition of UK record label and artist management company Sanctuary, the launch of an unlimited subscriber music service Neuf Music, etc).

“Vivendi is currently testing numerous new economic models with success within its activities linked to music. The group is at the forefront in terms of convergence and utilisation of technologies,” notes Dominique Leguern, Director of MIDEM.

MIDEM, the world’s music market, will take place at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, from 27 to 31 January.

For more information on MIDEM, http://www.midem.com/

To download a photo of Jean-Bernard Lévy, please go to:
http://www.reedmidem.com/v3/Press/DownloadZone/en

Notes:

Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is a leading organizer of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPTV featuring MILIA, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, and MIPCOM JUNIOR for the television and digital content industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia, MIPIM HORIZONS and MAPIC for the property and retail real estate sector, GLOBAL ASSET for asset management professionals and GLOBAL CITY for urban management specialists.

Reed MIDEM is a division of Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading organiser of exhibitions and conferences delivering over 460 events in 34 countries and serving 52 industries worldwide. For further information about Reed MIDEM visit http://www.reedmidem.com/

Press Department – Paris, France:
Jane GARTON, Press Manager – Tel: +33 (0)1 41 90 44 39
mailto:jane.garton@reedmidem.com
Mélanie AIGLE, Press Officer - Tel: +33 (0)1 41 90 49 95
mailto:melanie.aigle@reedmidem.com
Fax: +33 (0)1 41 90 67 24
http://www.midem.com/