MiCannes Awards 2023

The MiCANNES Committee comprises over 20 International music and entertainment Entrepreneurs who jointly created the MiCANNES Awards in 2023. Encouraging excellence in the international music scene and inspiring a future echelon of talented creators, the awards aim to also promote creative and business people networking together.

The founders commissioned a young and upcoming sculptor to create a distinctive award - starting with a set of stunning cheetah head trophies. Sculpted by Knox Field, an emergent British sculptor who specialises in sculpting birds and animals.

Knox sculpted the award personally and says: “It’s been an absolute honour to be chosen to sculpt these cheetah heads for the MiCANNES Awards winners. I hope the recipients get as much pleasure from receiving one of these sculptures as their Award as I got from making it”

MiCANNES Award sculpted by Knox Field

2023 Award Winners

MiCANNES Lifetime Achievement in Music Award

Malcolm Dunbar

MiCANNES decided to present the very first MiCANNES Achievement in Music Award posthumously to highly rated A&R executive Malcolm Dunbar, who sadly passed away in London on Saturday, May 6, 2023 after a short illness, aged 67. Malcolm was part of the founding Committee of MiCANNES, so it was decided to also honour him by naming the MiCANNES A&R award after him.

MiCANNES board member Ian Penman presented Malcolm’s award to his widow Sophy in London on the day before the MiCANNES Awards in 2023.

In an A&R career spanning over 30 years, with positions at three majors, two leading independents, and career sales in excess of 40 million records, Dunbar had also been a consultant for a variety of funds, most recently MusicCapital, advising on the purchase of artist catalogues.

Dunbar began his illustrious talent-spotting career as an A&R manager at Polydor in 1984, where he signed Lloyd Cole And The Commotions, and Orange Juice, amongst many others.

From there, Dunbar quickly graduated to head of A&R at Island Records, enjoying huge success with The Christians and Julian Cope, before, in 1989, taking on the role as A&R director at the Warners/East West imprint, where his run of success continued with artists including Tanita Tikaram and Ian McCulloch.

Another successful run as MD of Mother Records, nurturing the careers of artists like Bjork and Longpigs, was followed by further success in the noughties at V2 (Liberty X and Estelle) and then Sanctuary Records (The Cranberries/Marc Almond).

In 2008, Dunbar moved away from frontline label work to pioneer a series of start-up music funds, including Power Amp and PledgeMusic, and had most recently been working for US company MusicCapital.

Artist of the Year

Wet Leg

Female fronted indie rock band Wet Leg from the Isle of Wight, released their first single “Chaise Longue” less than 2 years ago, have blown a trail around the world, through cracking indie rock, fun videos, thrilling gigs from supports to Festivals to headlines in 20+ countries, conquering the world.

A Debut No.1 album, 2 US Grammies, 2 Brits and an Ivor for Songwriters of the year attest to their meteoric rise and they are now on tour doing Stadiums with Harry Styles including 4 nights at Wembley.

Artist Manager of the Year

Martin Hall

Martin Hall, longtime Manic Street Preachers Manager, has guided Wet Leg’s management and helped create possibly the best set up worldwide of the last few years to a new band’s career. In praise of Martin, Laurence Bell, head of Wet Leg’s label Domino Records sent this message to the MiCANNES Awards: “Excuse me if I pinch one of your better backstage one liners but ‘look busy - the record label is here!’ Many congratulations on this well deserved award. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you on the first Wet Leg album and it’s been a fun and fruitful campaign. Your ambition and vision and energy and enthusiasm for the tasks at hand help us all do our best work. We are all thrilled that their music has travelled so far in such a short period of time and we look forward to many more years of good times with you and the band.”

‘Malcolm Dunbar’ A&R Award

sponsored by New Media Law LLP

Korda Marshall

Korda Marshall, an iconic A&R presence since 1983, boasts an impressive legacy, having signed notable acts such as The Blow Monkeys, Take That, Muse, and more. His influence extends beyond music, mentoring key industry figures like Stuart Camp (Ed Sheeran's manager) and Max Lousada of Warner. Wez from Full Time Hobby fondly reminisces about their time at Infectious, where success with acts like Garbage and Muse was accompanied by a dynamic and enjoyable working environment under Korda's maverick leadership.

Accepting the MiCANNES award, presented at the Awards Lunch in Cannes by Music Mogul Nigel Elderton, Korda expressed gratitude to the organizers and shared a touching connection with the award's namesake, Malcolm Dunbar. Dunbar had provided Korda's first studio time during his early days as a drummer, kickstarting his music industry career. Their enduring friendship symbolizes the essence of the award and underscores Korda's heartfelt appreciation for the recognition.

Music Book of The Year

Tony King: The Tastemaker

The Greatest British promo person of all time? Yes. Worldwide? Almost certainly...From record store assistant, to plugger for The Ronettes and Roy Orbison, to A&R at Apple Records working for The Beatles, to working with Allen Klein and John Lennon, to The Rolling Stones, Elton John (who he knew whilst still Reg Dwight), and many more...Tony’s book, The Tastemaker outlines his gradual rise to working with the top artists in the history of music, but always in a fun way.. This is a terrific read and a great document of music history.

Tony accepted his award at a meeting in Primrose Hill, where it was presented to him by MiCANNES Commitee members, David Stark, Eddie Levy, Christian Ulf-Hansen and Ian Penman.

Music Documentary of the Year

Blitzed

Coincidentally screening at MiCANNES ‘23 featuring a Q&A with legendary DJ, Artist and former Rich Kid Rusty Egan, this feature length documentary commissioned by Sky Arts in the UK accurately and imaginatively conjures up the period when, to cut a long story short, London and wherever Rusty laid his slipmat, became the epicentre of Music, Fashion and Culture, centred around the legendary London club Blitz...

The award was presented by Lionel Lodge of sponsor Synclodge to Producer Andy Woodford, Executive Producer Ian Penman and the legendary artist and DJ - Rusty Egan.

Music Mogul of The Year

Nigel Elderton

From joining EMI Music Publishing at 17 years of age, quickly rising to plugger, to helping start and build the first publishing Sync department, moving to MCA then Polygram and then a long successful career as MD and later European head of indie publishing legends Peer Music, alongside his brilliant six year tenure as PRS for Music Chairman, Nigel Elderton deserves to be called a Mogul...

And MiCannes secured this special message from Ralph Peer II, Executive Chair of Peer Music: I can’t think of a better inaugural recipient of this award, particularly being that it is focused in Cannes. I can remember so many occasions on the Croisette and elsewhere in town during which you have struck friendships, professional contacts and deals. Your extraordinary global network of relationships has led to many many benefits for our whole international music community. This award spotlights your gift for helping people across borders. And that is not mentioning your significant contributions to PRS which have benefited us all. Congratulations Mr. Mogul!

Young Mogul of the Year

Yungblud

From releasing his first EP in January 2018, a song about sexual assault against girls to highlight how young men should behave, Dominic Harrison, also known as Yungblud, has not shied away from controversy and even more, hard work. Constant touring, building a phenomenal online rapport with his fans, US tours, live Eps and a live album within his first year; recording with featured artists including Halsey, Travis Barker and more; sync action including recording covers of other artists songs, traditional and online press; more touring, merch and fan events… every part of Yungblud’s meteoric rise to No.1 album status has been a lesson in a young artist ripping up the rule book and making their world work on their own terms. NME awards, Brit nominations, MTV and Silver Clef awards indicate that that it’s not just MiCANNES that are wowed by Yungblud’s dynamism. Unfortunately, he’s in Germany on tour, with a new song out and album imminent, but his manager Tommas Arnby says he is delighted to win this and hopes to help us inspire future music moguls and will be doing a video for us & his huge fanbase…

Songwriter of The Year

Ren

Welsh singer-songwriter Ren started performing at the age of 13 and a 2010 record deal with Sony, faltered largely because of his bad health and success seemed far away. It wasn’t until 2017 that his music started to light a fire with people, online word of mouth and press driving this, and his ongoing health problems were highlighted in his honest lyrics and videos. For his honest and exciting Songwriting talent that we award Ren with Songwriter of the Year. Unfortunately, Ren is currently in Canada receiving treatment for his illness, but his publisher Other Songs say that he’s delighted to get this and will record a special message when he is well enough...

Ren was presented his award by MiCANNES Commitee members Ben Steadman and Dave Loader from Notting Hill Music, who also sponsored the award.

Special Music Project of the Year

Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert

50 songs and 6 hours of show. Guest musicians included Liam Gallagher, Chrissie Hynde, Nile Rodgers, Supergrass, Them Crooked Vultures, Brian May, Brian Johnson, Lars Ulrich, McCartney and of course Mr Grohl and some more Foos...For it’s bold yet crushingly honest celebration of a musician’s life in all of its glory we give this award to a mammoth event that was clearly made with love ...Whilst the producers of the show couldn’t make it to Cannes, some of them will be presented with the award soon at a special MiCANNES event in London [date TBC].

Classical Artist of The Year

Lone Madsen

Danish-born British clarinetist and composer Lone Madsen, a Juilliard School graduate under Charles Neidich, has performed globally, collaborating with music legends from Alfred Brendel to Andrea Bocelli. She's graced prestigious venues, from New York's Lincoln Center to London's Royal Albert Hall, and participated in renowned festivals like Pavarotti and Friends in Modena and the Aldeburgh Festival. Madsen, a prolific recording artist, has released top-selling albums, premiered new works, and contributed to film scores, including for Mike Figgis. Her all-female ensemble, OPUS X, featured with The Tenors in Las Vegas, is set to release the album 'Enchantress.' Currently, Madsen is working on her solo project 'Scandinoir.' Alongside her musical career, she's an accomplished theatre and screen actress, appearing in Ang Lee's Oscar-winning film "Sense and Sensibility”, and is currently sidelining as an author with an illustrated children's book in development for a TV series.