Two leading industry figures will take part in the first International Manager Summit to be held on 28 and 29 January at MIDEM. Paul McGuinness, who has managed U2 since the group formed 30 years ago, as well as managing PJ Harvey and The Rapture, will deliver a keynote speech; and Bertis Downs, manager of REM, will participate in the panels. The international MIDEM music market will be held in Cannes from 27 to 31 January 2008.

 “The role of the manager has never been as important as it is today, serving to support artists and defend their interests in an industry undergoing total transformation,” said Dominique Leguern, Director of MIDEM. “As a major international event for the music industry, MIDEM offers a perfect opportunity to evaluate the development of the role of the manager, to hear the opinions of such leading lights as Paul McGuinness and Bertis Downs, and to better understand the stakes and the new needs that are being generated by the current proliferation of contracts and players.”

Conferences and workshops at this first International Manager Summit will tackle fundamental issues such as the new functions of the manager in the era of 360° contracts and “artist-branding”, the evolution of the relationship with the artist and the role of the manager in the launch and follow-up of artists’ careers, and the development of so-called ‘niche’ artists.

The International Manager Summit is organized in association with IMMF / MMF, The International Managers’ Forum, and IAMA, The International Artist Managers’ Association.

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

Photos of Paul McGuinness and Bertis Downs are available for download from:
http://www.reedmidem.com/v3/Press/DownloadZone/en

Note to Editors

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, AMAZIA devoted to the creation and distribution of entertainment content, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia, MIPIM HORIZONS and MAPIC for the property and retail real estate sectors.

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 www.reedmidem.com.

For more information please contact:
Reed MIDEM
Jane GARTON, Press Manager
Tel: +33 (0)1 41 90 44 39, Email: jane.garton@reedmidem.com
Mélanie AIGLE, Press Officer
Tel : +33 (0)1 41 90 49 95, Email: melanie.aigle@reedmidem.com
Philippe LE GALL, Press Events Coordinator
Tel : +33 (0)1 41 90 46 48, Email: philippe.legall@reedmidem.com
Fax: +33 (0)1 41 90 67 24
http://www.midem.com/