Artists to Watch at MidemTalent 2009

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The line-up of the second edition of MidemTalent will once again showcase an array of upcoming artists with strong international potential. Around 20 groups or artists covering pop/rock, electro, folk, world music and jazz, hailing from every continent, will perform in Cannes from 18-21 January in front of an audience of industry executives and the public as part of MIDEM, the world’s music community.

American rock group Blue October; Colombian artist Monica Giraldo, recently nominated in the “Best New Artist” category at the Latin Grammys and South African band The Parlotones, crowned Best Rock Group at the 2006 South African Music Awards, are among the artists due to perform. They will be joined by John Shannon (U.S.), Hogni (Faroe Islands), Charlie Winston (U.K.), Ndidi Onukwulu (Canada), Sliimy (France) and Magnus Lindgren’s Batucada Jazz (Sweden).

Aimed at discovering and developing artists, the MidemTalent event offers four days of concerts and conferences. MidemTalent is sponsored by the world’s leading independent video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. and its Guitar Hero franchise, and by the on-line promotional platform Sonicbids. MidemTalent is organised in association with Billboard, Musikwoche, Pangaea/A&R Worldwide and VIP Booking.

Line-up as of 2 December:

ABHIJIT POHANKAR URBAN RAGAS (Big Music - India)

ANNE PACEO (Laborie Jazz – France)

BLUE OCTOBER (Brando/Universal – U.S.)

CHARLIE WINSTON, U.K. (Atmosphériques, France/Real World, U.K.)

DAVE STAPLETON QUINTET (Westbury Music – UK)

DORANTES (World Music Factory – Spain)

FRØY AAGRE (Pling Music – Norway)

HJALTALIN (Kimi Rec. – Iceland)

HOGNI (Tutl – Faroe Islands)

JOHN SHANNON (ObliqSound Inc. – U.S.)

MAGNIFICO (ARIH D.O.O - Slovenia)

MAGNUS LINDGREN’S BATUCADA JAZZ (Higher Ground - Sweden)

MAMAS GUN (Decca Rec. – U.K.)

MATTHEW ANDRAE (France Music – USA)

MISINTERPROTATO (Jazzhead - Australia)

MONICA GIRALDO, Colombia (Wattsup!/Codiscos - USA & Colombie)

NDIDI ONUKWULU, Canada (Naïve - France)

ROTARY DOWNS (Rookery Records, U.S.)

SCOTT MCKEON BAND (Provogue Records – U.K.)

SLIIMY (Warner - France)

THE GHOST, Faroe Islands (Sunday Best – U.K.)

THE PARLOTONES (Sovereign Ent. – South Africa)

YODELICE (Mercury - France)

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

Note to Editors:

ABOUT REED MIDEM:

Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is a leading organiser of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, and MIPJUNIOR 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 sectors.

Reed MIDEM is a division of Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading events organiser Reed organises a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 500 events serves 47 industry sectors. In 2007 Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organised by 39 fully staffed offices.

For further information about Reed MIDEM visit www.reedmidem.com.