Brussels, 28th May 2025,

IMPALA is pleased to announce the 2025 recipient of its revamped Changemaker Award: MEWEM, a pioneering mentoring programme that supports women and gender minorities, including female, trans, and non-binary talents, encouraging them to become entrepreneurs and to increase representation within the music industry. The programme is currently operated through two national branches, MEWEM Germany, organised by VUT and Initiative Musik, and MEWEM France.

Originally founded in Berlin in 2015 by VUT under a different name, MEWEM was launched by FÉLIN in 2018, creating a network that connects emerging professionals with experienced mentors across all areas of the music industry. The programme addresses the challenges of diversity and underrepresentation in leadership roles, while also tackling structural precarity by fostering sustainable careers and long-term professional and personal development. 

The project expanded across Europe between 2020 and 2022 with MEWEM Europa, a transnational mentoring programme that built on MEWEM’s successes in France and Germany. It created synergies and brought together partners including MIM – Mujeres de la Industria de la Música in Spain (a fellow 2025 Changemaker nominee), WBI – Wallonie-Burxelles International (Belgium), MICA – Music Austria and Raw Music (Romania). MEWEM Europa supported aspiring women entrepreneurs in the music industry through online training platforms and cross-border collaboration. 

Dr Birte Wiemann, VUT Chairwoman of the Board commented: “Receiving the IMPALA Changemaker Award is a truly meaningful acknowledgement of MEWEM’s dedication to breaking down barriers for women and gender minorities in the music industry. Our journey to becoming a cross-European movement shows how collaboration and mentorship can drive real systemic change.”

Hélène Larrouturou, Director General of MEWEM France added: “This award recognises not only MEWEM’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion but also the shared vision of our European partners. Through mentoring and training, we are empowering the next generation of industry leaders to shape a more inclusive and sustainable music ecosystem.”

Nastasja Prévost, IMPALA EDI Taskforce Coordinator concluded: “MEWEM exemplifies the kind of transformative impact our Changemaker Award was created to celebrate. By connecting professionals across the sector and opening new pathways to leadership roles in music, MEWEM is leading the way in building a fairer and more representative industry.”

Find more info here about MEWEM Germany and MEWEM France.

More about IMPALA’s Changemaker Award
The Changemaker Award is included in a broader revamp of IMPALA’s awards programme, introduced this year as part of a new EU-funded support scheme aimed at boosting sector-led initiatives. The scheme awards €1,000 to the winner and in parallel, IMPALA will launch dedicated social media campaigns highlighting key resources, best practices, and reinforcing the role of Europe’s independent music sector in social transformation. Launched in May 2022, the Changemaker award runs yearly during European Diversity Month. Projects are nominated by IMPALA members, and the equity, diversity and inclusion task force vote the winner. Check our Changemakers webpage with previous  winners and other projects, to get inspired and take action. See more info on all of IMPALA’s awards here. 

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