Full of losers but way down in attendance - Music Week (about to fold) say 200 fewer - we regulars reckoned 1,500 less.

Majestic closed for renovation (would have ruined your stay JK); Martinez very quiet, Carlton crowded but mainly nonentities.

Ames, Grainge, Kennedy but very little excitement and hardly any faces.

Question - which executive spent more time talking about his Christmas in Barbados than music?

Opinion is - no Midem next year (or a very slimmed down version).

I heard no exciting music at all.

QTrax brazened it out with shares collapsing and awful press but banners everywhere.

They may even have the last laugh as the industry as we knew it dies.

It was probably my best one yet in terms of direct results and contacts, some of which were totally unplanned. There are still enough international labels and distributors that really need the face-to-face meetings. So it kinda depends on your expectations and situation, I suppose. The dates for 2009 have already been set, by the way, so I can't see them pulling the plug for some time yet. They will also be involved in Amazia in Hong Kong later in the year. So although the western music scene has lost some of its panache, they are going where the buzz (and new money) is.

I can't tell you all how jealous I am. Would have loved to have gone to Midem this year. Oh well When is Amazia in Hong Kong ? This is round my neck of the woods.

Here's the link;

www.amaziacontent.com/

The Midem News mag has lots of bits and pieces that could be of interest.

www.midem.com/en-gb/about/midem-publications.cfm

For Amazia, visit www.amaziacontent.com/

The Ozzie stand was buy again this year, btw.


M