Hunkering down in music's rough seas: confab a chance to brainstorm as the business continues to morph.(MIDEM'S SAFE HARBOR)

As the music biz continues to struggle with declining CD sales and changing business paradigms--all exacerbated by the global economic downturn--veteran and emerging players will be gathering in late January at Midem in Cannes to take stock. make deals and try to figure we out how to survive the coming year.

While many companies will reduce their presence, key constituents are still planning to attend. For many industryites across the board, slashed budgets and fallen business models have made the trip to Midem even more important than five or 10 year's ago.

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"It's a global platform that brings artists and people from all parts of the world who are serious about doing business," says Rob Stone, CEO and founder of New York-based Cornerstone Promotion, which specializes in the merging of brands and music. "Even if the market has changed, some folks are still ready to write …