Nicolas Miliani
Dare to do what others don’t dare to do,
Dare to be what others are not,
Dare to be yourself so that others can be themselves.
In a musical and artistic landscape that didn’t resonate with me, I wanted, without false modesty, to take a stand and act to defend diverse movements, social backgrounds, and cultural heritage. I sought to free myself from all prejudices and give opportunities to emerging talents, regardless of their age or background. Similarly, I wanted to give myself the chance to thrive in this industry. Indeed, there was nothing in my beginnings to suggest I would one day open a publishing company.
Although a bright student, I didn’t pursue higher education. However, I had the opportunity from a young age to explore a wide range of professions: warehouse work, personal care, first-aid agent, children’s club animator, mover, security guard, host, agricultural laborer, home delivery driver, supermarket employee, independent grocery store clerk, tour guide in Paris, drawing model, and even wrestling coach! If there’s one field where I excelled, it’s undoubtedly this one.
Wrestling allowed me to travel and meet wrestlers from all over the world, spanning every continent. It took me to places as diverse as the Caucasus and New York, exposing me to new worlds. These are worlds I am passionate about sharing, offering enrichment both culturally and financially, thanks to good instincts and a knack for business—qualities I likely inherited from my maternal grandmother, who instilled in me the belief that I could achieve things on my own, regardless of the path.
At 24, after reconnecting with my father—whom I hadn’t seen since he abandoned us when I was four—I decided to venture into the artistic field, starting as a record dealer. Thanks to training provided by the IFD, I had the privilege of being mentored by Bernard de Bosson. Once certified, I worked as a record dealer, overseeing the launch of a Cultura store and managing a music section (international and French variety, classical music, jazz, blues, and world music).

©Studio13005

After working for a distributor, I began a business selling products imported from the United States (rockabilly shirts and dresses) through online sales and at markets and festivals. During this time, I was approached by the American label Hillgrass Bluebilly to represent them in France and Europe, handling the distribution of their records and merchandise.
Following this, I accompanied an American artist on tour as a tour manager and co-released an album of one of his live performances recorded in Texas. I then became his press agent for France and Europe. This marked the beginning of my press agency services and my efforts to develop a label, always with the ultimate goal—following Bernard de Bosson's advice—of establishing a publishing company. That step came a little later, as I began working in the blues scene, notably for the Blues Rules Festival in Switzerland, where I handled both public relations and the management of artists’ merchandising. During this time, I discovered and introduced the Swedish artist Bror Gunnar Jansson to the global audience, and with him, I launched the publishing division of my company in 2014.
This allowed me to take the next step in phonographic production under the label “NormanDeepBlues,” a play on words referencing my Norman roots and my love for the rural blues of North Mississippi. It was under this label that I also discovered, produced, and published the American artist William Z Vilain. At the time, I co-produced with touring organizations like La Prod JV and Radical Production, already aiming for a 360° approach.
In 2018, I rebranded the company as Les Editions Miliani to move beyond the strictly blues label and to highlight a name that held great personal significance for me. I then focused my activities on press relations and developed partnerships with organizations such as Schubert Music Publishing and the production company Via Vox, which specializes in world music. This partnership notably led, in 2024, to the signing of Rocío Márquez, an artist who won a Victoire de la Musique award, under the publishing branch.
Avec Etienne Daho, été 2022
Recently, I also took my first steps into music supervision for the feature film Les Rascals, directed by Jimmy Laporal-Trésor and released in 2024, distributed by The Jokers Films and Agat Films. For this project, I had the privilege of working with the band Delgres on the creation of the original score, while also advising the production team and negotiating the rights for globally renowned artists such as RUN DMC, Georges Brassens, and David Christie.
During the Covid period, I launched a gastronomy division, notably introducing a range of organic calvados from the Cotentin region. This initiative, envisioned more broadly around the art of living, allows us to provide consulting and press relations services for producers, restaurateurs, and hoteliers. It was this interest in rooted music and regional heritage that inspired the recording of the historic Cadets de Bourgogne choir at the Château du Clos de Vougeot.
If I had to define the MILIANI company, I would say it is a family business with international ambitions, flexible and confident in its resilience and capabilities.
Our mission is to make rooted music shine in a world that often trips over itself (without Bernard).
Someone once told me (not Carla), “Never doubt your success.” I haven’t forgotten those words.
You have to seize life and give it your all. MILIANI, guaranteed success—that’s the joke, but shall we bet on it?

Chevalier de Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin