| MUMBAI:
The increasing collaboration between the music industry and brands will be a key
theme at the Music for Images conference at Midem 2007. Launched in 2004,
Music for Images explores how music is being used in film, video games, TV and
advertising. The fourth edition of “Music for Images” will take place
at Midem on 22 January. The 41st edition of Midem will be held in Cannes, France,
from 21-25 January. Music for Images 2007 comprises
three dedicated panels focusing on video games, film/TV and advertising/branding.
Once again this year panellists will include major representatives in each field
and the entire programme will be chaired by US music industry figure Glassnote
Records (US) president Daniel Glass. Returning for the third consecutive year
at Music for Images will be the ever-popular listening sessions. A total of three
separate listening sessions will once again provide companies with the opportunity
to submit and play their tracks in front of international music supervisors who
are actively looking for music to place in video games, adverts and film scores. The first panel to kick
off the conference is called Video Games: The Latest Challenge for Labels and
Composers?. Headlining the session is the music visionary/producer and founding
member of legendary funk outfit Chic, Nile Rodgers. The music producer, associated
with an impressive array of artists from Madonna to David Bowie, is also the founder
of one of the world’s leading labels for licensing and distributing videogame
soundtracks, Sumthing Else Music Works. As such he will be giving his insight
into the new opportunities for artists and leading talent in this newly emerging
musical genre. Other speakers include Nick Wiswell, audio manager, Bizarre
Creations (“Project Gotham Racing”); Richard Jacques, composer for titles
such as “Jet Set Radio” and “Headhunter” and Eckhardt Consulting’s
Randy Eckhardt, in charge of music licensing for Guitar Hero, one of the most
critically-acclaimed music games to date. The New Role of Music in Feature
Film Marketing will be the second dedicated focus and presents an exclusive
look at how music has become a key element in the feature-film business. The session
is organised with Hollywood sync agency Zync and features Drew Sherrod, music
supervisor for Open Road Entertainment and Niki Gascon, director of music for
Warner Brothers Pictures. The third and final panel poses the question
Are Brands Shaping the New Music Economy? While the music industry is looking
for new revenue streams, brands are searching to build deeper connections with
consumers. The promising but complex mix between music and brands ranges from
the simple sponsorship deal to innovative partnerships. Expert representatives
from each side will be looking at how best each can work with the other. Speakers
for this panel include McDonald’s (Germany) VP marketing and communications
West Region Johan Jervoe, Volkswagen (Germany) head of services/sponsoring Cornelia
Schneider and Sony BMG Entertainment (UK) VP Futures Duncan Bird. On 22
January, Sony Computer heads up the first listening session in which the winner
will have his music placed in a video game and also be offered a work experience
session with Richard Jacques, the award winning composer. The second listening
session will offer contestants the opportunity to submit music for the series
Grey’s Anatomy. The US music supervision agency Zync will ask contestants
to compose or propose tracks for a specific set of scenes from the series. One
or several winners will be retained by The Chop Shop’s Alex Patsavas, music
supervisor for Grey’s Anatomy and other US shows. The third
listening session will offer the winner a placement in a forthcoming Activision
video game. The “Music for Images” conference is organised in association
with: Frukt (UK), music strategy and communications agency; Music4games (US),
music for video games; Zync Music (US), music marketing company specialised in
ad, film and TV placement and entertainment magazine Hollywood Reporter. | 
