PRESS RELEASE

WYCLEF JEAN JOINS MIDEM ARTIST ACCELERATOR AS AMBASSADOR

THE GLOBAL SUPERSTAR TO PERFORM LIVE ON THE BEACH AT CANNES

Paris, 23 March 2017 – Legendary hip-hop musician, producer, and composer has joined the Midem Artist Accelerator rising talent programme as Ambassador and Mentor, and will also perform live during Midem.

The Midem Artist Accelerator (MAA) is the only international career booster for emerging musical talent, and is part of the Midem music industry event that takes place in Cannes, France from 6-9 June 2017. Jean’s performance is scheduled for Wednesday 7 June on the Midem By Night main stage.

A global superstar, Jean has sold over 100 million albums and 20 million singles worldwide. The recipient of three Grammy Awards, Jean formed the iconic hip-hop group the in the 1990s. He has since produced award winning hits for artists such as Shakira, Carlos Santana and Whitney Houston. In 2014, Jean collaborated with Santana, and Alexandre Pires to release their 2014 FIFA World Cup official anthem “Dar Um Jeito,” and partnered with Coca-Cola’s Red campaign to release his single “Divine Sorrow” featuring Avicii. Signed to New York City-based independent label Heads Music, he is currently working on his seventh studio album entitled “Carnival lll,” due for release on June 23.

“I am excited about the MAA programme because I have spent my entire career producing, writing for, and collaborating with amazing young artists. The youth are the future. It’s a blessing to help mould the musicians of tomorrow,” said Jean, who will hold an exclusive conversation with the finalists, during which he will share his expertise. Jean will also perform on Midem By Night main stage on Wednesday 7 June.

Jean joins Latin superstar Daddy Yankee, pioneer of the Reggaeton genre and founder of Puerto Rico’s El Cartel Records, as one of this year’s MAA Ambassadors. The upcoming international artist finalists, who will be selected to participate by an Artistic Committee made up of leading industry experts, will be announced early April.

The finalists will benefit from a 360° programme featuring a range of curated networking opportunities, as well as learning and coaching sessions from some leading industry figures. They will also have the opportunity to play a live set on the Midem By Night main stage and have their song featured across Midem’s promotional material, as well as on the official Midem 2017 vinyl compilation.

“We’re delighted to welcome Wyclef Jean as Ambassador for this year’s Midem Artist Accelerator, where his track record as a hit producer will be of immense value to the upcoming talent. And to cap his presence in Cannes with a live performance is obviously the icing on the cake that everyone at Midem will look forward to,” said Alexandre Deniot, Director of Midem.

About Reed MIDEM - Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is an organiser of professional, international markets that are essential business platforms for key players in the sectors concerned. These sectors are MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, MIP CANCUN and MIPJUNIOR for the television and digital content industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia, MIPIM UK, and MIPIM Japan for the real estate industry and MAPIC, Retail Real Estate Market brought by MAPIC in Shanghai and MAPIC Italy for the retail real estate sector. www.reedmidem.com

About Reed Exhibitions - Reed MIDEM is a division of Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading event organiser, with over 500 events in 43 countries. In 2015 Reed brought together over seven million active professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully-staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of the RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. www.reedexpo.com

REED MIDEM PRESS CONTACTS Jane GARTON, Entertainment Press Director: +33 1 79 71 94 39 > [email protected] Philippe LE GALL, Press Manager: +33 1 79 71 96 48 > [email protected] Yassia FEKIR, PR: +33 1 79 71 95 82 > [email protected] Edith YAHIAOUI, Press Officer: +33 1 79 71 94 34 > [email protected]