Managers lined up for MIDEM debate

U2 manager Paul McGuinness and REM manager Bertis Downs have been confirmed as speakers for next year's MIDEM which, as previously reported, takes place in Cannes from 27-31 Jan. The trade convention's Director, Dominique Leguern, told reporters: "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. 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".