AN EPIC HONOR FOR RHONE IN CANNES 

After a casual breakfast of foie gras, escargots and jamon, Sylvia Rhone accepted a Midem Hall of Fame Award from (l-r) Midem Director Alexandre Deniot, attorney Dina LaPolt and Midem Chief Exec Paul Zilk.

Epic Chairman and CEO Sylvia Rhone accepted a Midem Hall of Fame Award today at a breakfast in Cannes, where she called for the global music biz to ensure that freedom of expression is protected, streaming is valued and albums continue to exist.

Top lawyer Dina LaPolt welcomed Rhone to the stage on the beach today, describing the exec, whose career spans more than three decades, as a “legend and trendsetter” and an inspiration for women in music.

“Sylvia has become legendary worldwide as a woman and a woman of color, which tells other women that we can do this,” she said. “That I think is the most important thing about who she is and where she’s come to in her career.”

Rhone, who bowed out of a keynote interview Wednesday due to sickness, said: “The world is changing at a rapid pace, and it's more important than ever that we become the change that we want to see. So that's why I'm here, I'm a hardcore music fan, ride or die. It's all I ever wanted to do, it's all I'm trained to do, and I'm honored to be amongst my peers who love discovering new talent, who empower artists and who are at the cutting edge of technology and fair pay for artists."

Discussing the future of the industry, she continued: “As our business is flourishing now because of streaming, it’s really our responsibility to maintain a creative environment where freedom of expression is always protected. An environment where artists get paid fairly, an environment where we work together to secure the relationship between artist, partners, labels and fans.

“And we must never forget the tremendous effect of streaming because it has created a world where everyone has the opportunity to hear music from every small place in the world. We also must be reminded that there will always be great artists, there will always be great music and there still will always be great albums.”

Zara Larsson, who paid tribute via video, added: “You are such a pioneer and inspiration; I have never in my life met anyone cooler than you. I wish that when I grow up, I have a tiny amount of the sauce that you have, because you are out of this world.”