Brussels, London, New York, 22 April, 2025

This Earth Day, Merlin is proud to support the launch of the Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund. The fund is a new, multi-year joint initiative between Merlin and IMPALA, designed to accelerate the independent music community’s transition toward a more sustainable future.

The fund honours the legacy of Horst Weidenmüller, the visionary founder of !K7 Music, a long-standing Board Member of both Merlin and IMPALA, as well as a co-founder of Merlin. Horst was always a passionate advocate for climate action within the music industry. He played a central role in shaping IMPALA’s Sustainability Programme in 2021, including its pioneering Carbon Calculator, which launched in 2022 and helps labels measure and reduce their environmental footprint. The Calculator is powered by Julie’s Bicycle and was initially funded by a group of IMPALA members, including !K7, and over the years received support from Merlin, EU funding, and the climate charity, Murmur.

IMPALA is a leading advocate on sustainability in the music sector, building a strong track record that includes the first-ever Climate Charter for the industry as well as the Business Case for Taking Sustainability Action. This new joint initiative reinforces Merlin’s commitment to equipping independent rightsholders with forward-looking strategies that address emerging industry challenges. By supporting tools like IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator (the world’s first bespoke calculator designed for independent record labels) and investing in scalable infrastructure, the fund reinforces how sustainability is a source of resilience, innovation, and long-term value creation.

With the launch of the Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund, Merlin supports the most essential of tools labels need to measure their impact and drive change in the sector in a standardised way. The fund will provide the resources needed to develop the Carbon Calculator, provide guidance for labels and carry out market assessments to make it more globally available. Additionally, the fund will support IMPALA’s ability to offer strategic advice and training to independent labels and distributors that use the Carbon Calculator.

The fund will also facilitate significant enhancements to the tool and generally support the work of the IMPALA task force which Horst set up in 2020.

“Horst was not only a fierce advocate for independent music, but also for our planet” said Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin. “He believed in driving real and sustaining change—through leadership, innovation, and action. We all have a role to play in the preservation of our planet and a more sustainable future. Merlin is proud to launch the Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund and to help meet our commitment through the incredible work of IMPALA.”

Helen Smith, Executive Chair of IMPALA commented: “We are delighted to partner with Merlin on the launch of the Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund. This continues our strategic relationship with Merlin as a key driver of the sector’s sustainability work. Horst was a true visionary. He believed in the power of collective initiatives as well as the business case for individual action. This fund honours Horst’s profound impact across the whole industry.”

Marie Clausen, Managing Director of Ninja Tune North America added: “Horst Weidenmüller envisioned a music industry where sustainability is deeply embedded in every aspect of the business. Realizing that vision requires more than good intentions—it demands tangible action and investment in the infrastructure that enables independent labels to thrive sustainably. The Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund is created to provide exactly that kind of support and stands as a powerful tribute to his life’s work.” 

Tom Nieuweboer, CEO of !K7, said: “Horst was my companion, mentor, and friend for decades. His passion for music always went hand in hand with a deep sense of responsibility for our planet which was becoming part of the DNA of !K7. Horst was a true role model – for me personally, and for many across the music industry. The launch of the Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund is not only a tribute to his commitment but also a call to the industry to follow in his footsteps. This fund ensures that his vision will not only be remembered but actively carried forward with real impact.”

Together, Merlin and IMPALA are reaffirming their shared commitment to environmental responsibility, equity, and innovation —values that Horst championed throughout his life.

About IMPALA

IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents over 6000 independent music companies in Europe. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. 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. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. IMPALA works on a range of key issues for its members and started a new co-funded work programme as an EU cultural network in 2025. IMPALA runs various award schemes and has a programme aimed at businesses who want to develop a strategic relationship with the European independent sector – Friends of IMPALA

About Merlin

Merlin is the independent’s digital music licensing partner. We’ve negotiated premium deals with Apple, Canva, Meta, Spotify, YouTube, and 40 other innovative platforms around the world. Our global membership is from 70+ countries around the world, representing 15% of the recorded music market. We are independent record labels, distributors, label services companies, and other rightsholders. Merlin operates for the benefit of its members, without investors looking for an exit, and is funded entirely by our low 1.5% admin fee. Merlin helps the world’s leading independents to own their digital business through world-class deals and white-glove support.

Merlin’s membership includes independents such as !K7, anjunabeats, Armada Music Group, AudioSalad, Because Music, Beggars Group, Better Noise, Cinq Music Group, Crypton Future Media, Curb Records, Domino, Epitaph Records, Exceleration Music, Freeme Digital, Hopeless Records, IDOL, Kompakt, Kontor New Media, Lex Records, Mad Decent, MNRK Music Group, Mom & Pop Music, Mushroom Music, Nettwerk, Ninja Tune, ONErpm, Polyvinyl Records, Pony Canyon, Redeye, Reservoir Media, Secret City, Secretly, Stones Throw, Sub Pop, Vydia, Wagram Music, Warp Records, Zebralution, and hundreds more.

Media inquiries:

IMPALA
Rory Brown
rbrown@impalamusic.org

Merlin
Crystal Henderson
crystal@thepresshouse.com