MIDEM(Net) Blog

Gerd Leonhard: Selling Music - the 2.0 way (presentation)

Just a quick reminder: Selling Music (or really, selling anything) is drastically changing - and yes, there'll be plenty of revenues. Stay tuned.

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Bruce Houghton: Why Susan Boyle Is A Hit And What The Music Industry Can Learn From Her

How did a plain and dowdy 40 year old virgin become an overnight sensation?  Many would say talent that launched Boyle and it is true that she has an extraordinary vocal chords.  But talent, as anyone in the music industry knows, only goes so far.

No, Susan Boyle is a hit because she is every man or woman who ever sang in the shower or in front of a mirror momentarily dreaming that they were on stage receiving the adulation of thousands as they belted out a heartfelt ballad. For just a few moments our collective extra pounds and bad hair didn't matter.  The crowd reacted; and we felt it in our bones.

Susan Boyle is a hit because of her story - or the more precisely her amazing lack of one. "Out of nowhere" is a briefer, more touching and far more broadly meaningful story than "out of Compton", "from Nigeria by way of Paris" or "formerly of" will ever be.  And the producers of the show alongside a cadre of amateur video editors eager for their own 15 minutes of fame knew just how to package this short and effective story for YouTube and the viral web.

What can the music industry learn from Susan Boyle?  Even in the internet age, people still deeply need to connect emotionally and music can sometimes fill that void. Susan Boyle is a hit because she is authentic. The music industry can't manufacture authenticity and should stop trying. But as great executives did when they signed Joplin, Hendrix and Dylan, the industry can learn to recognize, support and celebrate it.  - Bruce Houghton

Legal Insight: Louis-Bernard Buchman on Licensing

Music law expert Louis-Bernard Buchman, partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse, gave this handy presentation on the ins and outs of music licensing today, at MidemNet 2009. Says Buchman, "licensing is at the heart of the Music Business, and this probably explains why the IAEL Licensing Workshop has been a fixture of the last editions of MidemNet. I have been presenting these workshops for three or four years now, the two last editions with the able participation of Paul Czech, who brings to the table his angle and wide experience as a US litigator."

For any questions, please feel free to contact lbbuchman@ffw.com

MidemNet 2009 video: Futurist Scenarios: David Smith & Mark Earls

What does tomorrow hold?  Two music scenarios of the future were presented at MidemNet 2009. This video features Mark Earls, Branding Guru and Author of "Herd" (see herd.typepad.com) and David Smith, CEO of thegff.com. The session is moderated by Media Futurist & MidemNet Blog contributor Gerd Leonhard.

MidemNet 2009 video: MySpace Music CEO Courtney Holt

MySpace Music's newly-appointed CEO gave a much-anticipated address at MidemNet 2009. Moderator: Bill Werde, Editor in Chief, Billboard.

MIDEM 2009 video: Ralph Peer & Imagem's André de Raaf talk publishing

In this world-first MIDEM 2009 session, two successful independent publishers - a long term leader and a fast growing force in the market - shared their views on how publishers can best succeed in todays fast-evolving music environment and what is the right music publishing model moving forwards.

MidemNet 2009 video: Artists & fans share experiences, the chat!

This unique panel saw artists and fans come face-to-face to exchange views on how they can foster their relationship. Speakers included: Mark Kelly, UK rock band Marillion's keyboard player; and singer/songwriter Jill Sobule. Moderator: Ralph Simon, Mobile Entertainment Forum Americas.