Brussels, 14th February 2018

[THE LETTER WAS UPDATED WITH MORE SIGNATORIES ON 26/02]

IMPALA and other organisations from across the music sector welcome a new pilot programme for music in Europe and urge the EU to support a full European Music Programme in its future budget.

Gathered today in Brussels at the invitation of the European Commission, representatives of the sector marked the launch of the “Music Moves Europe” pilot project.

Promoted by Parliamentarians of various political hues, and coordinated by the European Commission, “Music Moves Europe” will help test ideas which could be replicated in a fully-fledged music programme that would start in 2021 as part of the next generation of EU programmes.

IMPALA and other organisations seized the momentum and addressed an open letter (Joint letter in support of a EU music programme.pdf) to the European Commission, European Parliament and Member States. The letter welcomes “Music Moves Europe” as a huge step forward and calls for the creation of a programme proportionate to the music sector’s economic, social and cultural contribution.

“Building on the Commission and Parliament’s ground-breaking work so far, a music programme would fill a gap in the current European cultural framework” commented Matthieu Philibert, IMPALA’s Public Affairs Manager.

Drawing inspiration from other EU success stories, such as the MEDIA programme designed for the audio-visual sector, IMPALA and other music organisations feel the time is ripe for such a programme. Signatories of the letter believe that a fully-fledged music programme will help trigger more investment, promote diversity and increase the mobility of artists and repertoire across borders. 

“Such a programme would be a strategic move to boost music, which is one of Europe’s key economic sectors. It would be a first and would help the sector to continue to shape and adapt to a fast-changing environment”, added Matthieu Philibert.

The music sector also joined other cultural organisations in calling for a doubling of the overall European budget for culture. 

You can download the letter : Joint letter in support of a EU music programme.pdf

Signatories

AEC (Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen) – Stefan Gies, CEO
AER (Association of European Radios) – Julia Maier-Hauff, AER Secretary General
ARTY FARTY – Vincent Carry, CEO
Assomusica – Vincenzo Spera, President
DME (Digital Music Europe) – Olivia Regnier, Chair
Europavox – François Missonnier, Founder & CEO
EJN (Europe Jazz Network) – Ros Rigby, President; Giambattista Tofoni, Network Manager
EBU (European Broadcasting Union) – Nicola Frank, Head of European Affairs
ECA-EC (European Choral Association – Europa Cantat) – Sonja Greiner, Secretary General
ECSA (European Composer and Songwriter Alliance) – Patrick Ager, Secretary General
ECHO (European Concert Hall Organisation) – Louwrens Langevoort, President; Andrew Manning, Secretary General
EFA (European Festival Association) – Kathrin Deventer, Secretary General
ELMA (European Live Music Association) – Vincenzo Spera (Assomusica) President, Prof. Jens Michow (BDV) Vice-President
EMC (European Music Council) – Ruth Jakobi, Secretary General
EMEE (European Music Exporters Exchange) – Corinne Sadki (Bureau Export), President; Virgo Sillamaa (Music Estonia), Secretary General; Peter Smidt (Buma Cultuur), Vice-President
EMU (European Music Schools Union) – Timo Klemettinen, Managing Director
Eurosonic Noorderslag – Peter Smidt, Creative Director
FIM (International Federation of Musicians) – Benoît Machuel, General Secretary
GESAC (European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers) – Véronique Desbrosses, General Manager
IMPALA (Independent Music Companies Association) – Helen Smith, Executive Chair
IMPF (Independent Music Publisher Forum) – Pierre Mossiat, President
IAMIC (International Association of Music Information Centres) – Kostas Moschos, President
IAO (International Artist Organisation) – Nacho García Vega, President
ICMP (International Confederation of Music Publishers) – Coco Carmona, Director General
IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) – Lodovico Benvenuti, Director European Office
IMMF (International Music Manager Forum) – Volker May, Chairman
INES (Innovation Network of European Showcases) – Magdalena Zschunke, Project Coordinator
JMI (Jeunesses Musicales International) – Blasko Smilevski, Executive Director
Live DMA (European network for music venues and festivals) – Audrey Guerre, Coordinator
Liveurope – Elise Phamgia, Project Coordinator
Midem (Marché International du Disque et de l’Édition Musicale) – Alexandre Deniot, CEO
Pearle* (Live Performance Europe) – Anita Debaere, Director
PRS Foundation – Vanessa Reed, Chief Executive
REMA (Early Music in Europe) – Xavier Vandamme, President
SHAPE (Sound Heterogeneous Art and Performance in Europe) – Michal Brenner, Coordinator
Yourope – Christof Huber, General Secretary

About IMPALA

IMPALA was established in April 2000 to represent independent music companies. 99% of Europe’s music companies are SMEs. Known as the “independents”, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs (for more information, see the features of independents). IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector, return more value to artists, promote cultural diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access and modernise perceptions of the music sector. See the organisation’s key achievements in IMPALA’s first 15 years in milestones.