LONDON, UK (By Matt Glover/ BPI) - The Government's continued support for the UK music industry will be underlined again when
James Purnell MP,
Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism visits Midem on Monday January 23.
In addition to the Government's support for the 'British Music at Midem' village, which hosts the largest international delegation at the fair, UK Trade & Investment is supporting over 30 organisations attending Midem 2006 to exhibit on their own stands. Exhibitors come from all areas of the industry.
Midem, the largest international music trade fair, will welcome over 1,000 UK delegates at this year's event in Cannes from 22nd to 26th January, with over 300 registered to the ‘British Music at Midem' village. The village, now in its third year, will be hosted by AIM, BPI, British Academy of Composers & Songwriters, British Music Rights, MCPS-PRS Alliance, Music Managers Forum, Music Publishers Association, PPL, UK Trade & Investment and the Welsh Music Foundation.
This year we will also be joined for the first time by Scottish Development International in a move that reflects the growing unity and strength of the British music industry.
Creative Industries Minister, James Purnell, said: "Our music industry is one of the most successful in the world - it's been that way for fifty years. And 2005 proved to be the best year in history for the British album with acts such as the Kaiser Chiefs, James Blunt and the Gorillaz, dominating the top of the chart.
"More UK companies than ever before will be represented this year at Midem. I hope it signals the start of another bumper year for the British music industry."
James Purnell MP will attend Midem on Monday January 23 and will begin his visit with a tour of the ‘British Music at Midem' stand where he will meet with some of the delegates, from a wide range of music genres and businesses, who have registered via the group stand. The Minister will then deliver a keynote speech at a private reception to key international delegates and press.
Delegates in the Minister's reception will also have a chance to hear a special acoustic performance from extraordinary breakthrough act, Nizlopi.
Nizlopi will then play again later on in the day at Midem's special 40th anniversary gala showcase. Two-man band Nizlopi, comprising guitarist and vocalist Luke Concannon and bassist John Parker, took Britain by storm in December when their touching debut single ‘JCB Song' went into the Number 1 slot on the UK singles chart a week before Christmas, on their own label FDM Records.
They then took on X-Factor's Shayne in a hotly contested battle for the Christmas Number 1 single slot in what was arguably the most independent effort ever to do so.
Luke Concannon of Nizlopi said: "Nizlopi are really looking forward to rocking France: it's our first French performance! It means a lot to us to represent the strong independent music scene in the UK. All the people who don't fit the narrow confines of what the big labels see as marketable. We are inspired by being a self determining conscious team, who put music and people first, and we hope to inspire others to do the same."
The Minister will then go on to attend a special lunch hosted by representatives of the UK's Music Business Forum (MBF) where he will discuss current issues facing the UK music industry.
The Minister will then conduct a short tour of some of the other British stands at the Palais including record labels Demon Records and Dune Records, publishing company Kobalt Music and new technology company Digimpro. The Minister will complete his visit by attending the ‘British Music at Midem' acoustic showcase at the Martinez Hotel where he will see opening act from Northern Ireland, Foy Vance.
