INDEPENDENT MUSIC COMPANY CEOS AROUND THE WORLD CALL FOR END TO FURTHER ANTI-COMPETITIVE, CONSOLIDATION ATTEMPTS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

A coalition of leading European and international independent music companies and trade associations have issued an open letter to Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera at the European Commission, urging the Commission to conduct a deep investigation of Universal Music Group’s (UMG) proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings. This follows a Financial Times exclusive this morning, available here.

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“INDEPENDENT MUSIC COMPANIES AND THE ARTISTS THEY WORK WITH AROUND THE WORLD RELY ON EUROPE’S AMBITION TO LEAD THE WAY AND INSPIRE US” – OPEN LETTER FROM WIN CEO TO EUROPEAN COMMISSION VICE-PRESIDENT TERESA RIBERA ON UMG/DOWNTOWN DEAL

In an open letter sent to the European Commission’s Vice-President and Commissioner for Competition Teresa Ribera, WIN CEO Noemí Planas adds her voice to that of WIN’s sister organization IMPALA in Europe and our Spanish member UFi in calling for a detailed investigation into the UMG/Downtown acquisition. The eyes of the independent music community worldwide are on the EC for leadership to set the standard globally and block this acquisition outright.

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“UNIMAGINABLE IN ANY OTHER SECTOR” – IMPALA’S HELEN SMITH ON PLANNED DOWNTOWN ACQUISITION

Op-ed by IMPALA’s Executive Chair Helen Smith originally released on Music Ally on 25 June 2025.

“Unimaginable in any other sector”

All markets need big companies.

And the world’s biggest music company is more than that. UMG is innovative and bullish. And a great collaborator on so many issues.

The only question is whether there is a point at which big becomes too big?

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IMPALA is the European organisation for independent music companies and national associations. The sector is made up of micro, small, medium businesses and self-releasing artists. They are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists. Independents account for more than 80% of all new releases in Europe and 80% of the sector’s jobs. More info…

IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association

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