MIDEM ANNOUNCES EPIC RECORDS CHAIRWOMAN & CEO SYLVIA RHONE TO KEYNOTE AND RECEIVE 2019 HALL OF F

Midem, the home of the global music community, today announces the powerhouse pairing of keynote Sylvia Rhone with Dina LaPolt at the 53rd annual industry conference and that Sylvia Rhone will receive the Midem 2019 Hall of Fame Award in association with Billboard, during a dedicated event on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

In her first ever keynote address, Sylvia Rhone, Chairwoman & CEO, Epic Records (USA), will be interviewed by Dina LaPolt, Owner, LaPolt Law. P.C. (USA), in a truly unique conversation between two of the most powerful female influences in today’s music business on Wednesday, at June 5, 2019. The first African-American woman to lead a major record label, Sylvia Rhone will share insights from her illustrious career with the equally impressive Dina LaPolt, named one of Billboard’s ‘Executives of the Year in 2018’, in recognition of her contribution to the Music Modernization Act. Midem Director, Alexandre Deniot comments, “Sylvia Rhone is at the helm of one of the most exciting and dynamic labels in today’s ever-evolving music ecosystem. The Midem 2019 Hall of Fame Award in association with Billboard, recognizes her outstanding contribution to the international music business and her ability to build such an artist-driven label culture. Both she and Dina are two of the most inspiring and essential music executives on the global stage. As the artist and creativity are at the very heart of Midem, so Sylvia and Dina never cease in their efforts to protect creativity and generate the best environment possible for artists to thrive. So there is a great synergy between us and we can’t wait to hear what promises to be a hugely charismatic and enlightening conversation.” Taking on the position of President at Epic in 2017 and newly named Chairman & CEO, Sylvia Rhone has reshuffled the executive ranks and diversified the label’s roster, with signings including Tyla Yaweh, Peruvian singer A. CHAL, pop singer-songwriter AJ Mitchell and rapper G Herbo. An advocate of equality and promoting women in music, she drives a label with an incredible stable of artists, from Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, 21 Savage, and Zara Larsson to Future, DJ Khaled, Meghan Trainor, French Montana and Sara Bareilles. Sylvia’s interviewer, Dina LaPolt, is one of the most prominent music lawyers in the business, representing many of the biggest names in music. In addition, Dina is a fierce advocate for music creators and was not only a catalyst for the creation of the Songwriters of North America (SONA), but currently serves as the group’s attorney advisor. Sylvia and Dina’s keynote discussion will explore the ways in which artists and labels can navigate today’s complex music ecosystem. Paying special attention to the protection of artists and creativity, from two relevant and important viewpoints - Sylvia as a label exec, representing the recording side of the business, and Dina, representing the artist’s voice from a legal point of view. The speakers will look at the implications of the perpetual rise in tech and streaming and the corresponding potential to break geographical barriers and create a truly global music marketplace. Further, the speakers will discuss how these elements and other factors will influence the future shape of the industry. Both Sylvia and Dina are looking forward to sharing their insights at Midem. Sylvia says, “It will be great to speak to the music community gathered at Midem about the ongoing challenges and opportunities we all address together in this industry. There are so many breakthroughs revolutionising how we do business; we need to ensure our artists are always ahead of the curve.” Dina adds, “Midem is the perfect forum to map the current landscape of the industry and define where we need to go next to help artists and creators continue to succeed. In an ever-evolving sector, we have a responsibility to both protect our artists and to equip them with the tools to take full advantage of all the advances being made in the business.” Notes To Editors: About Sylvia Rhone, President, Epic Records (USA) In 1994, Sylvia Rhone became the first African-American woman to lead a major record company when she was appointed chairman/CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group. Rhone was widely credited as changing the label’s culture for the better. She oversaw a broad roster, ranging from Metallica, AC/DC, Staind and Pantera to Björk, Tracy Chapman, Jason Mraz, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Yolanda Adams. Her staff, she says, “was just as diverse as our roster.” Ten years later, Sylvia was named president of Universal Motown Records and Executive VP at Universal Records in 2004. She stepped across to Epic Records in 2012 with her own Vested in Culture imprint before being named president in 2014. She has since been heading the label’s operations. About Epic Records Epic Records was established in 1953, predominantly as a jazz and classical music label. It later expanded its scope to include diverse genres including pop, R&B, rock and hip hop. Over the years, the label has housed popular acts such as Boston, Celine Dion, Dave Clark Five, Fiona Apple, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Jackson, Pearl Jam, Sade, Shakira and Sly & the Family Stone. Today, Epic Records continues to host an extensive and diverse roster of incomparable talent ranging from established artists like Judas Priest, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Outkast, Sade, and DJ Khaled; to new talent such as 21 Savage, A Great Big World, Future, Jidenna, Meghan Trainor, Camila Cabello, Travis Scott and Zara Larsson. Epic is part of the Sony Music Group. About Dina LaPolt, President, LaPolt Law (USA) Dina LaPolt, Esq. is the owner of LaPolt Law, P.C., a boutique transactional entertainment law firm in Los Angeles that specializes in representing music creators, many of whom tour all over the world. She is an expert at strategizing and solving complex and sophisticated legal and business issues relating to contracts, copyrights, trademarks, publicity rights and litigation. LaPolt’s accolades include being named in Billboard’s Power 100, Women in Music, and Music’s Most Powerful Attorneys; the Hollywood Reporter’s Top Music Business Attorneys; and Variety’s Legal Impact Report and Women’s Impact Report. Notably, Dina earned recognition for her work on the MMA as MIDEM’s as 2018 Top Lawyer, one the 2018 Executives of the Year for Billboard’s Women in Music, and the Recording Academy’s 2019 Entertainment Law Initiative’s Service Award recipient.

Look out for further announcements detailing programming and keynotes coming soon. The Midem 2019 At A Glance Program can be downloaded here.

About Midem Home of the Global Music Community, Midem is the world’s leading music event which brings together, connects, serves and supports the global music community to exchange, create, play, forge relationships and shape the future of music. With a rich 4-day program of conferences, competitions, networking events and live performances, music makers, cutting-edge technology companies, brands & talent come together to enrich the passionate relationship between people & music, transform audience engagement and form new business connections. Midem is part of Reed MIDEM, a global leader in the organization of international professional markets in music, television and digital content industries (MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, MIPJUNIOR, MIP China and MIP Cancun) and real estate sectors (MIPIM, MIPIM PropTech and MAPIC). About Reed Exhibitions Reed MIDEM is a subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions, the world's leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 39 countries. In 2017 Reed brought together over seven million event participants 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 38 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers

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