Innovation, diversity, investment and jobs would be enhanced by levelling the playing field for smaller players.

The importance of structures such as labels in the music sector is multifaceted, they bring risk taking, stability, scale, investment, brand, experience, as well the all important “belonging“ or identification with what a label stands for and how that adds huge value to creators. 

The label role is totally unique and IMPALA members are inundated more today than ever before with requests from artists who want to work with a label.

It is vital that the role of label structures is reinforced. We need a new regulatory, competition, social and fiscal environment. 

Europe must grow its “missing middle” by creating the best possible conditions for smaller cultural actors who contribute the most in terms of jobs and innovation, and by opposing further concentration in the cultural markets. In the music sector for example over 80% of all new releases in Europe are on SME and also micro labels and they need the right market and financial conditions to grow.   

· Recognise the importance of smaller cultural actors and reinforce their role.

· Design a new regulatory environment, together with a new competition approach

· Adopt a new social and fiscal status for cultural actors and artists. 

· Adopt new rules prohibiting unfair trading practices against SMEs. 

· Prioritise SMEs in the financial measures recommended below. 

· Oppose further concentration in music (the music market has three majors controlling 80% of the wider market, and 90% to 95% of the top 100 airplay and downloads).