Dave Haynes

I’ve been going to sunny Cannes for Midem since the first ever MidemNet back in 2001. This first trip was with my brother (whom I had just started a record label with) and our music lawyer who recommended the trip in the first place. I was still at University and thought that MidemNet would be the perfect place to get some quotes for the dissertation I was writing at the time on MP3 and the Music Industry.  Funnily enough, the dissertation ended up getting quite a bad mark. My tutor at the time said that MP3’s would never take off commercially!

I clearly remember my first dinner in Cannes, sitting round the table with the head of Vital (now PIAS Distribution), Russell Coultart and Tony from Recordstore.co.uk (now Digitalstores), the guys from New State, our lawyer and the label boss of Platipus Records (who’s name escapes me). I felt a little out of place but very excited and determined to make my own mark in the music industry. I also remember sharing some free beers with Frukt Music’s Dom Hodge (who I’ve recently been working with) on an overly-lavish yacht which had been laid on by AIM.  Maybe that was the following year… but my point is I’ve had some great experiences, met some great people and look forward to going every year.

But this year as part of a new startup, SoundCloud, I wasn’t 100% sure if we’d be able to make it out. Tickets are expensive and the budget can be hard to justify sometimes. Luckily however, we found out several weeks ago that SoundCloud was one of the winners put forward for the MidemNet/MusicAlly new business showcase. The showcase, now in its second year, “focuses on the most enterprising, innovative and inspiring business ideas which will help create value and move the music industry forward in the 21st century.” We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to present SoundClound to the gathered industry delegates and it means we’ll get a free ticket and hotel room for a night. We’ll be in Cannes from Saturday morning until Tuesday evening.

We’ll still be keeping a tight eye on the budget though! We have just one pass so I’ll be doing Midem guerilla-style and hanging out in Cafe Roma over the road from the Palais which specialises in slightly aggressive waiters. It’s a departure from the free champagne and concierge of the Penthouse Riviera Suites I’ve somehow managed to find myself in for the last two Midems but to be honest I think that’s a good thing! I can’t wait to get back to the hustle and bustle of meeting familiar faces with an overpriced beer or two. And I’m also excited to hear that Topspin will be putting on an informal, no thrills, start-up friendly ‘meetup’ on the Saturday night. If you’re going to Midem make sure you come by and say hello! Or if you want to talk shop then feel free to drop me a msg and arrange a meeting.