Changemakers

This is where we highlight the projects that promote equity, diversity and inclusion in the independent music sector. Discover our list of inspiring initiatives that are reshaping the industry by clicking here and get motivated to take action yourself.

Changemaker Award

As part of our commitment to fostering positive change, we proudly present the Changemaker Award, an initiative launched in 2022 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the independent music sector. This award is part of the impactful work initiated by IMPALA’s equity, diversity, and inclusion task force, find out more here.

Winner 2025 – MEWEM

MEWEM is the winner of the revamped IMPALA Changemaker Award 2025. The award recognises MEWEM for its pioneering mentoring programme that supports women and gender minorities, including female, trans, and non-binary talents. The programme addresses structural precarity and representation by encourages sustainable careers and professional and personal development. It is operated through two national branches, MEWEM Germany, which is organised by VUT and Initiative Musik, and MEWEM France.Founded in Berlin in 2015 by VUT under a different name, MEWEM was launched by FÉLIN (France) in 2018, creating a network that connects emerging professionals with experienced mentors across all areas of the music industry.

Read the statement here. Find more info here about MEWEM Germany and MEWEM France.

Changemaker award winners from previous years

Winner 2024 – Black & Irish

The second recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker award was Black & Irish. The award recognises Black & Irish’s commitment to advocating for the black community in Ireland, building connections within Irish society and championing an anti-racist ethos. Black & Irish was founded in 2020 by Leon Diop, Femi Bakole and Pierre Yimbog and works to promote equity and inclusion for Black and mixed-raced people across the country. Black & Irish aims to improve the lives of Black and Irish people by working with strategic partners in the areas of advocacy, community engagement and education.

Read the statement here and find out more about Black & Irish here.

Winner 2023 – Women in CTRL

The second recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker award was the UK, not-for-profit organisation Women in CTRL. Recognised for their work developing and supporting music creators and music professionals from under-represented groups. Women in CTRL was founded by Nadia Khan and has been very active in its mission to advance gender equality in the music industry. The organisation was set up to empower and inspire women in the entertainment, creative and business sectors of the music industry and encourage women and non-binary persons to find their strengths, develop their own personal brand and build the tools and confidence to become leaders.

Read the statement here and find out more about Women in CTRL here.

Winner 2022 – POWER UP

The first recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker award was POWER UP, which addresses anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector, and supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives. Co-founded by PRS Foundation and Ben Wynter and managed by PRS Foundation in partnership with YouTube Music, Beggars Group, Spotify and the Black Music Coalition, the initiative was launched in January 2021 and has already powered up award-winning talent that is dominating playlists and line-ups, as well as taking up senior roles and Board positions across the industry.

Read the Changemaker Award statement here and find out more about POWER UP here.

Changemaker Award nominees 2025

Musik Für Alle promotes gender equality and diversity in the Austrian music industry. Musik Für Alle supports underrepresented groups, empowering them through skill development, networking, and career advancement. Focused on equality and inclusion across musical genres, it highlights role models and inspires others to achieve success in the industry.

SoAlive Music Conference is Southeast Europe’s fastest-growing music event, committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. It champions LGBTQ+, Roma, and women’s representation, maintains gender balance, and fosters regional collaboration and cooperation. With initiatives like “Bridging Balkan Borders” and a focus on emerging artists, SoAlive is reshaping the future of the European music industry.

Foreningen Musikbevægelsen af 2019 is an association for women, transgender people and non-binary people working in the Danish music industry. They are a broad association that spans all genres, professions and roles in the music industry. The association originated from the Facebook group “Musikbevægelsen af 2019” which managed to facilitate a unique online networking community, their overall vision is to create equal access and equal conditions for all genders in the music industry, through networking events.

Mimmi Label, launched in 2025, is a Finnish record company that is focused on promoting the careers and well-being of women in the music industry. It offers artist services, networking opportunities, and support for a diverse range of music creators. With values of courage, equality, and responsibility, Mimmi Label helps artists grow, evolve, and succeed in a safe, empowering environment.

Finesse Foreva empowers young people from low socio-economic backgrounds with access to music industry knowledge and contacts. They give young people opportunities through their free event management courses and showcase new talent on their “Fresh Finds” playlist.

Black Lives in Music is an organisation advocating for equality in the music industry. In 2001, they released the report “Being Black in the UK Music Industry.” and in 2023, the report “Unseen. Unheard.”

Come Play With Me is a UK-based non-profit supporting marginalised communities in music. They promote diversity and inclusion through events, a label, mentoring, podcasts, a magazine, and workshops. Awarded the 2022 Music Week Diversity In The Workplace award, they also published the first LGBTQ+ Musicians Insights report and 12 recommendations to make the music industry more inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals.

White Hut Studios in Education (WHSE) is dedicated to empowering young people in Croydon and its surrounding areas through music education and mentorship. With tailored programmes focusing on songwriting, vocal recording, and music production, they provide hands-on experiences that foster creativity and skill development. They are committed to shaping the next generation of musical talent.

Black Funding Network has already helped to significantly move the dial, creating a community of philanthropists and donors who want to give back. They’ve helped to launch or build a range of really viable, black-led creative businesses as well as a creating a deeply inclusive network.

The Midi Music Company (MMC) is an innovative music education and talent development charity, based in Deptford, South London. They champion excellence through educational programmes that nurture the musical talent of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged 11-30, empowering them with the skills and confidence to seek careers in music and the creative industries.

Saffron is a music tech initiative taking an intersectional approach to redressing the gender imbalance in the industry. Saffron is laying the blueprint for a music industry where underrepresented creatives thrive, harnessing technology as a tool for full self-expression, disrupting power structures, and leading culture forward.

MIM – (Mujeres de la Industria de la Música) is a platform advocating for gender equality in the music industry. Founded in 2016, it highlights the underrepresentation of women, especially in leadership and technical roles. With over 400 members, MIM works to connect, empower, and support women in music, aiming for equal treatment, opportunities, and pay for all professionals, regardless of gender.

Small Green Shoots is a youth-led charity offering an alternative to the conventional system for education, training and entry into the jobs market. We help young people facing difficult life circumstances gain access to the entertainment and creative industries through paid classroom learning, vocational training, internships and access to creative grants. This allows our young workers (the “Shoots”) to build a career, rather than just seek a job.

Ezra Collective Foundation offers a real life career entry and development opportunity for five young black women – a demographic that is significantly underrepresented in the field of behind the scenes music roles. The opportunity provides mentoring network across five very distinct roles, including music management, live sound, tour management and band leadership.

A powerful recording and cultural project led by Spanish classical guitarist Rafael Serrallet. El canto de todas is a groundbreaking album recorded in the midst of the war in Ukraine, in collaboration with the Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring works exclusively by Latin American women composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. This project not only brings visibility to a traditionally overlooked repertoire, but does so by merging it with a deeply symbolic act of cross-border artistic solidarity.

SheCanPlay is a Danish music community where young women and gender minorities can develop their musical talent, seek good advice and meet like-minded people. Once a year, a camp is organised for members, where they receive inspiration and education from some of the music industry’s most talented professional performers and producers.

“My City, My Voice” is an artist development project by Kreşendo for women musicians who are at the early stages in their career. The project aims to empower women to express their interpretations of the cities they live in through music, encourage change in the fields of music and technology through unique musical experiences, and support their potential for producing their own music.

Another Life is an award-winning non-profit association working to increase representation and improve conditions for minoritised individuals and women in the Danish music and cultural industry. Through their reports and research projects, they create data and knowledge that shed light on representation, mental health and discrimination from different perspectives. The collected data is used as the basis for their various activities and projects.

La Gustav is a project by the Academy for Contemporary Music Switzerland, dedicated to fostering young musical talent. It offers professional coaching, rehearsals and performance opportunities in a collaborative and inclusive setting – all free of charge. The project promotes artistic and personal growth, gender equality and linguistic exchange. La Gustav builds bridges to the professional cultural scene through networking, mentorship, and insights into contemporary pop music, empowering the next generation of musicians to shape the cultural landscape of tomorrow.

More important initiatives, podcasts & reports (alphabetical order):

IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association

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