Stockholm, 13^th March 2025,

IMPALA has awarded its Outstanding Contribution Award to Eva Karman Reinhold, chair of SOM (Swedish Independent Music Producers) and founder and co-chair of IMPALA’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) task force. The board of IMPALA also agreed there is an urgent need for a strong collective message that EDI work is a priority for the music sector in the current climate.

The award was presented to Eva during IMPALA’s spring board-meeting in Stockholm, as part of Manifestgalan, Sweden’s annual independent music conference and awardshow. This award coincides with SOM’s 50th anniversary and honours Eva’s five years as founder and co-chair of IMPALA’s EDI task force. 

Since founding Karman Innovative consulting and Smilodon, a music publisher and record label, in 2004, Eva’s career as a music lawyer and performer has spanned both the legal and creative sides of the industry, shaping her expertise before joining SOM. She began her career in the music industry at STIM, and worked for many years at independent companies, Gazell and MNW. She is also the creative leader in her band MahRoot. 

SOM has been a cornerstone of Sweden’s independent music sector for five decades since it was founded in 1974. Under Eva’s leadership, the association has boosted its advocacy for fair market access, strengthened rights management, and expanded educational initiatives to support and nurture emerging talent. After 50 years and now with over 320 members, SOM continues to represent a broad spectrum of the independent music community in Sweden and beyond.

As a founding member and co-chair of IMPALA’s EDI task force, Eva is dedicated to ensuring that equity, diversity, and inclusion remain at the heart of the music industry, a commitment she discussed during IMPALA’s conversation with her for International Women’s Day 2025. Eva has been pivotal in implementing the task force’s wide a range of initiatives, training programmes and awards. From IMPALA’s EDI charter and sector survey, to the introduction of the Business Case for EDI and the annual Changemaker Award, read more in IMPALA’s latest annual EDI report. 

The IMPALA board thanked Eva Karman Reinhold and Mats Hammerman of SOM, Jonas Sjöström and Rebecka Sjöström of Playground Music, for their hospitality in hosting IMPALA and its members during the board meeting, as well as facilitating key discussions with influential stakeholders in the region.

Helen Smith, Executive Chair of IMPALA commented: “Eva is instrumental in shaping IMPALA’s EDI work and is a key voice for independents across Europe. Her leadership at SOM has strengthened both the Swedish and European independent sector, and we are delighted to recognise her work. Independent music thrives on diversity and innovation, and Eva embodies both.”

Accepting the award, Eva Karman Reinhold, Chair of SOM and founder and co-chair of IMPALA’s EDI task force, said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award from IMPALA, especially as we celebrate SOM’s 50th anniversary. SOM has always stood for the strength and creativity of the independent sector, and I am proud to work alongside IMPALA to ensure that our industry is more inclusive, diverse, and competitive. This is a collective effort, and I share this recognition with all those working to make real change happen in the independent music market.”

Dario Draštata, Chair of IMPALA and President of regional association RUNDA Adria continued: “Associations play a fundamental role in the independent ecosystem and SOM’s record over the years is inspiring, including their approach to regional collaboration. This is similar to RUNDA Adria and we value Eva’s approach as a beacon of light in our community both on an industry level and on diversity, which is equally crucial in today’s market. This IMPALA award is very well deserved, and we look forward to her future contribution in years to come”.

The IMPALA board also underlined the importance of boosting EDI work in an international context where businesses, organisations and governments are deprioritising this area. It was concluded that IMPALA’s task force, co-chaired by Eva and Ben Wynter (Director of Business Development at AIM and co-founder of PowerUp), would step up its work in this area. The board agreed that IMPALA should lead by example and produce new concrete targets for the association to work to. They also underlined how new tools IMPALA is already developing will make it easier for businesses to assess their progress in this area, and access training they may need. 

Helen Smith, Executive Chair of IMPALA commented: “At our board meeting, members decided unanimously to boost IMPALA’s work on EDI. This sends a clear message in a climate of deprioritisation of these vital issues by certain businesses, organisations and governments.”

The question of consolidation and control of the digital market was also high on IMPALA’s agenda at its board meeting, with a particular focus on growing the next generation of big independents. Questions such as access to finance, exit strategies and alternative business structures were discussed to ensure founders and entrepreneurs have options. The board noted how these issues are also linked to IMPALA’s EDI work and as flagged before, IMPALA believes these are responsibilities shared by the whole sector.

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