More than 100 companies and 150 delegates participated in the Canada and Quebec Stands, co-sponsored by SOCAN, at the 42^nd annual MIDEM music conference, held Jan. 27-31, 2008, in Cannes, France. SOCAN also hosted several writer and publisher members at a dinner held at the l'Ecrin restaurant on Jan. 27.

More than 500 artists showcased at MIDEM this year, among them SOCAN members Dragonette, a pop-rock band, and Pascale Picard, a Quebec singer-songwriter who recently signed a recording contract with Universal France.

As part of MIDEM, the annual NRJ Music Awards, organized by the French radio network NRJ, were held the night of Jan. 26. Two SOCAN members were honoured: Avril Lavigne, who was feted as the International Female Artist of the Year, and Céline Dion, who won the Prix d'honneur in recognition of her entire career. (Kylie Minogue and Michael Jackson are among the previous recipients of this lifetime achievement award.)

SOCAN's MIDEM delegation included CEO André LeBel, president Pierre-Daniel Rheault, executives Kent Sturgeon, France Lafleur, Joanne Pouliot and Huguette Langlois, and board members Marty Simon, Sébastien Nasra and Earl Rosen.

Among the busy Canadian and Quebecois companies and delegates at MIDEM this year were Blue Water (Brownlee Ferguson, Benom Plumb), True North (Bernie Finkelstein), Déjà Musique (Janie Duquette), Justin Time Records (Jim West), Stony Plain Records (Holger Petersen, Alvin Jahns), Passeport (Marc Racine, Jacinthe Plamondon), Analekta (Mario Labbé), Third Side Music (Patrick Curley), Blue Image (George Cucuzzella), Morning Music (Mark Altman), Linus Entertainment (Geoff Kulawick) and Cookie Jar (Lilian Correia).