News

 

IMPALA REACTS TO UMG’s ACQUISITION OF [PIAS] – LEAVES HUGE HOLE IN THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR, FLAGS REGULATORY CONCERNS AS WELL AS NEW OPPORTUNITIES

One of the founders of IMPALA, the loss of [PIAS] to the independent sector will be felt in many different ways, discussed IMPALA’s executive committee following the news this week that UMG had bought 100% of the shares of the leading independent company. As [PIAS] is no longer an independent entity, the company is leaving IMPALA and stepping down from the board.

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FOLLOWING VALUE GAP CONCERNS RAISED EARLIER THIS YEAR, IMPALA OPPOSES TIKTOK’S ATTEMPT TO BOYCOTT MERLIN, FLAGS IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTIVE DEALS FOR DIVERSITY AND CONSUMER CHOICE

IMPALA’s members have raised the alarm about TikTok who is trying to boycott renewing a collective deal with Merlin, the licensing agency for independent music companies. This is a concern as Merlin plays a crucial role collaborating with services, providing efficiencies, diversity and consumer choice. audiences worldwide.

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IMPALA PUSHES AHEAD WITH STRATEGIC CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN WORK AND SETS OUT NEW PRIORITIES AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN BUCHAREST HOSTED BY INDIERO, MASTERING THE MUSIC BUSINESS CONFERENCE

Last Thursday at Mastering the Music Business international music business conference and showcase festival in Romania, IMPALA held its AGM in collaboration with INDIERO as part of its mission to shine a light on key markets in Central and Eastern Europe and agree priorities, including new projects as a recognised European network.

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WIN ANNUAL REPORT CELEBRATES YEAR OF COLLABORATION

With a new board structure, the global network now spans 43 territories.
Independent sector’s collective position strengthened with renewed set of values, and principles for Generative AI.
Supporters program launched for companies that want to champion and collaborate with the global independent sector.

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TAKING SUSTAINABILITY ACTION IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS: FIRST SURVEY BY IMPALA ON THE BUSINESS CASE FOR IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN THE EUROPEAN INDEPENDENT MUSIC SECTOR

IMPALA is releasing the results of a first qualitative survey in the independent music sector looking at the economic benefits of taking sustainability action. The business case provides an overview of the impact this work has on European independent music companies who have started sustainability work.

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INDEPENDENT MUSIC LABELS UNITE TO LAUNCH ORGANIZATION FOR RECORDED CULTURE AND ARTS (ORCA), A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND THINK TANKS

Today, Organization for Recorded Culture and Arts (ORCA) has officially launched, marking the beginning of a groundbreaking think tank, a first for the music ecosystem, composed of leading independent music labels from around the world. ORCA’s mission is to develop and promote research, data, and qualitative and quantitative evidence that underscore the significant economic, social, and cultural value of music. The initiative is coordinated through the Center for Music Ecosystems.

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IMPALA AND A2IM LAUNCH CARBON CALCULATOR PROJECT FOR THE USA, SUPPORTED BY MERLIN

Independent trade associations, A2IM (USA) and IMPALA (Europe) in partnership with Julie’s Bicycle are launching a free one-year pilot project of IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator in the USA with the support of Merlin. This is the first step towards rolling out the tool in the world’s biggest music market, so the sector can measure and reduce carbon footprints in as coordinated a way as possible.

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AHEAD OF EUROPEAN ELECTIONS, ARTISTS AND LABELS URGE EC TO “GET ITS HOUSE IN ORDER” ON BROADCAST AND PERFORMANCE MONIES BEING TRANSFERRED AWAY FROM EUROPE  

With only two months to go before the European elections, artists and labels from across Europe are joining forces again and calling on the European Commission to come forward with a clear proposal to address the consequences of the EU “RAAP” case regarding terrestrial broadcast and public performance rights.

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IMPALA’s LANDMARK 10-POINT PLAN TO REFORM STREAMING NOW AVAILABLE IN 6 LANGUAGES

IMPALA, the European organisation for independent music companies and national associations, launched its groundbreaking 10-point plan to reform streaming in March 2021 and subsequently updated it in 2023. Originally published in English, WIN is now making this strategic document available in 5 additional languages (Spanish, French, Portuguese, Japanese and Korean) so that countries around the world can continue to be inspired by this initiative and keep advocating for the implementation of regulations and policies that prioritize fair compensation for artists, promote diversity and transparency, and ensure copyright protection.

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WIN UNVEILS NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the organization that brings together independent music trade associations around the world and acts as a global coordination and support body for the sector, has announced five new board members, while ratifying the reappointment of its Chair and Treasurer.

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EU AI ACT JOINT STATEMENT FROM EUROPEAN CREATORS AND RIGHTSHOLDERS

We represent a broad coalition of over two hundred organisations in Europe’s creative and cultural sectors, encompassing authors from multiple sectors including music, visual, audiovisual, and literary; book and press publishers of newspapers, magazines and specialised publications, music, scientific and technical publishers; recorded music, film and audiovisual producers; publishers of films and audiovisual content online and offline; distributors and photo agencies.

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IMPALA PARTNERS MIDEM CONFERENCE IN CANNES

IMPALA is pleased to partner MIDEM
in Cannes, the leading international music conference kicks off from the 24th – 27th January with a full schedule of discussion & networking opportunities. Come connect with industry leaders, artists, & innovators worldwide.

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MUSIC MOVES EUROPE 2024 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT ESNS

The prestigious MME Grand Jury Award and the MME Public Choice Award were handed out to Zaho de Sagazan from France during the exclusive and vibrant awards ceremony, held on 18 January in Groningen, The Netherlands. Once again, the MME Awards ceremony showcased the diversity and creativity that define the European musical landscape. The other five MME Awards 2024 winners are Bulgarian Cartrader from Bulgaria, Giift from Denmark, yunè pinku from Ireland, freekind. from Slovenia and Ralphie Choo from Spain.

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MERLIN ANNOUNCES ITS NEW 2024 BOARD AND WELCOMES SIX NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Merlin, the independents’ digital music licensing partner, kicks off 2024 by announcing its new Board. The new Board lineup brings leaders from the independent music industry in 12 different countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Oceania. The Merlin Board is elected from and by its membership, which represents tens of thousands of independent record labels, distributors, and rightsholders from around the world.

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SPOTIFY’S PROPOSAL TO REFORM STREAMING – THE VIEW FROM IMPALA MEMBERS AND THE QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED

Gathering views from members in 32 countries across the whole European music market including the EU, EFTA, UK and beyond, the IMPALA executive board has put forward a list of questions for Spotify on their plans for reforming the streaming market. IMPALA’s aim is to assist Spotify in reforming its system, in a way that benefits the independent community, including the artists of today and tomorrow.

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AI ACT – AHEAD OF KEY POLITICAL MEETING, IMPALA CALLS ON EU TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE TRANSPARENCY OBLIGATIONS

A key meeting is taking place on Wednesday 6th December, where EU policymakers will try to reach a final agreement on the AI Act, the EU’s landmark proposal to regulate AI. Ahead of this meeting, the European association of independent music companies IMPALA, representing close to 6,000 music SMEs across 32 European markets, is calling on the EU institutions to support effective transparency and record keeping obligations on AI models.

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WHY ‘EQUITABLE REMUNERATION’ IS NOT EQUITABLE: WIN REACTS TO THE NEW URUGUAY LAW

This month, a new right to ‘Equitable Remuneration’ for performers on streaming was introduced in the Ley de Rendición de Cuentas y Balance de Ejecución Presupuestal (Accountability and Budget Execution Law) passed by the Uruguayan Parliament. Independent record labels and self-releasing artists are deeply concerned about the consequences of such a model for the economy of the local indie sector.

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IMPALA ONE STEP AHEAD WITH CMU – AI TRENDS REPORT WEBINAR – 29/11 – 3PM CET

Our new IMPALA One Step Ahead report putting the spotlight on the latest AI trends will be released very soon. This report is an update from our report entitled ‘AI And The Music Industry‘, released earlier this year. As usual, this report will be accompanied by a webinar, which will take place at 3pm CET on Wednesday 29th November. During the webinar, CMU will present the report’s main findings step by step and summarise key developments, innovations and debates that have occurred around music AI since the publication of our previous report on the topic.

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IMPALA DIGITAL HOUR WITH CMU – QUICK FIRE WEBINAR – 31/10 – 3PM CET

Our monthly quick-fire webinar on the One Step Ahead project will take place on 31st October at 3pm CET. The quick-fire editions of IMPALA’s Digital Hour with CMU are all about speedy updates on recent and upcoming One Step Ahead reports. It’s also the opportunity for members to ask questions and share ideas that will inform and influence our future research.

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SONOSUITE JOINS THE FRIENDS OF IMPALA PROGRAMME

SonoSuite joins the Friends of IMPALA programme to strengthen its commitment to empower independent music businesses. 
 
SonoSuite, the white-label SaaS digital technology provider for the music industry, is proud to announce its new membership in IMPALA (Independent Music Companies Association) as a Friends member. 

For years, SonoSuite has been at the forefront of the music technology landscape, dedicated to providing innovative solutions tailored for independent music businesses. The constant relationship between music and technology has been a driving force in the industry’s evolution, and SonoSuite has consistently backed the cause of independent music businesses.
 

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MORE DEBATE NEEDED – IMPALA RESPONDS TO DEEZER AND UMG’s PROPOSAL ON STREAMING AND POINTS TO OWN PLAN TO BOOST DIVERSITY AND IMPROVE REVENUES FOR ALL ARTISTS

Last week, Deezer and UMG announced their proposal to reform the streaming market through a so-called “artist-centric” model which seeks to change the way streaming royalties are allocated. At the same time, IMPALA held its AGM in Vienna, where streaming reform and maximising revenue for artists were flagged as key priorities.

Efforts to grow the debate about how to reform the streaming market are welcomed by IMPALA. It is encouraging that certain aspects of the recent proposals from Deezer and UMG chime with IMPALA’s own ten steps to make the most of streaming. IMPALA’s proposals were initially published over two years ago and revisited earlier this year

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REPRTOIR WEBINAR FOR IMPALA MEMBERS THURSDAY 14th SEPTEMBER AT 3:00pm (CET)

We are pleased to announce the upcoming webinar hosted by our recent Friend of IMPALA REPRTOIR that will take place virtually on September 14th, 2023 at 3pm CET.
This event is designed exclusively for IMPALA members and will provide you with valuable insights and information about Reprtoir :
– how to get on board with Reprtoir ?
– how to get the most out of it ?

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EUROPEAN CREATORS AND RIGHT HOLDERS CALL FOR MEANINGFUL TRANSPARENCY OBLIGATIONS ON AI SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THE LAWFUL USE OF COPYRIGHT-PROTECTED CONTENT

IMPALA is a signatory of the following statement published today in the framework of the ongoing trilogue negotiations on the EU AI Act, calling for meaningful transparency obligations on AI systems to ensure the lawful use of copyright-protected works and welcoming the European Parliament proposal as a step in the right direction.

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IMPALA DIGITAL HOUR WITH CMU – QUICK FIRE WEBINAR – 26/06 – 3PM CET

Our monthly quick-fire webinar on the One Step Ahead project will take place on 20th June at 3pm CET. The quick-fire editions of IMPALA’s Digital Hour with CMU are all about speedy updates on recent and upcoming One Step Ahead reports. It’s also the opportunity for members to ask questions and share ideas that will inform and influence our future research.

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WOMEN IN CTRL SCOOPS IMPALA’S CHANGEMAKER AWARD FOR THEIR INSPIRING WORK ON EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC SECTOR

For the second edition of its Changemaker award, IMPALA honours the UK not-for-profit organisation Women in CTRL, 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 on its mission to advance gender equality in the music industry.

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IMPALA DIGITAL HOUR WITH CMU – QUICK FIRE WEBINAR – 25/05 – 3PM CET

Our monthly quick-fire webinar on the One Step Ahead project will take place on 25th May at 3pm CET. The quick-fire editions of IMPALA’s Digital Hour with CMU are all about speedy updates on recent and upcoming One Step Ahead reports. It’s also the opportunity for members to ask questions and share ideas that will inform and influence our future research.

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IMPALA DIGITAL HOUR WITH CMU – QUICK FIRE WEBINAR – 03/05 – 3PM CET

Our monthly quick-fire webinar on the One Step Ahead project will take place on 3rd May at 3pm CET. The quick-fire editions of IMPALA’s Digital Hour with CMU are all about speedy updates on recent and upcoming One Step Ahead reports. It’s also the opportunity for members to ask questions and share ideas that will inform and influence our future research.

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STREAMING REFORM REVISITED – IMPALA CALLS FOR INCREASED SUBSCRIPTION PRICES, BESPOKE DEALS FOR FANS, AND A REVALUATION OF THE SHARE FOR MASTER RIGHTS (FOR LABELS AND ARTISTS), AMONG OTHER PROPOSALS FOR A FAIRER, MORE DYNAMIC MARKET

Following a month-long review process launched on the two-year anniversary of IMPALA’s ten-point streaming plan, the independent sector has issued a new call to action. It builds on IMPALA’s initial recommendations to make streaming fairer and provide a dynamic, compelling, and responsible future for creators and fans.

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IMPALA RELEASES REPORT ON CLIMATE STANDARDS

Over the last ten months, IMPALA has organised and run activities related to its Climate Training and Standards project – IMPACTS. This EU funded project was created with the aim of building new climate literacy capacity for independent music companies across Europe to help them lower their carbon footprint and promoting best-practice examples.

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HUMAN ARTISTRY CAMPAIGN ADDS 25+ NEW MEMBERS

IMPALA and other organisations were officially announced as having joined the Human Artistry Campaign. Below is the press release announcing the latest signatures as the coalition cements itself as the preeminent creative community voice in the fast-moving AI debate.

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TIME TO WAKE UP – THE EU SLEEPWALKING INTO A FINANCIAL AND CULTURAL DISASTER FOR EUROPE’S MUSIC SECTOR.

Two and a half years have now passed since the decision of the European Court of Justice in the “RAAP” case (Case C-265/19). This decision has created an anomaly. The principle of reciprocity as enshrined under international copyright has basically been suspended as a result. If allowed to stand, this will have a massive impact on the livelihoods of thousands of European music artists and independent music businesses and on cultural diversity.

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IMPALA’S DIGITAL HOUR WITH CMU – QUICK FIRE WEBINAR – 28/02 – 3PM CET

Our monthly quick-fire webinar on the One Step Ahead project will take place on 28th February at 3pm CET. The quick-fire editions of IMPALA’s Digital Hour with CMU are all about speedy updates on recent and upcoming One Step Ahead reports. It’s also the opportunity for members to ask questions and share ideas that will inform and influence our future research.

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IMPALA’S DIGITAL HOUR WITH CMU – QUICK FIRE WEBINAR – 31/01 – 3PM CET

Our monthly quick-fire webinar on the One Step Ahead project will take place on 31st January at 3pm CET. The quick-fire editions of IMPALA’s Digital Hour with CMU are all about speedy updates on recent and upcoming One Step Ahead reports. It’s also the opportunity for members to ask questions and share ideas that will inform and influence our future research.

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IMPALA IS LOOKING FOR A MEMBERSHIP AND PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR

IMPALA is looking for a membership and projects co-ordinator to help its Brussels-based team on membership, administration and finance work (including budgets management, daily accountancy, website etc) as well as with relevant projects (such as Friends programme, our equity, diversity inclusion work, EU projects, etc), liaising with IMPALA members and building relations.

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IMPALA AND CMU PARTNER FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF KEEPING INDEPENDENTS ONE STEP AHEAD IN THE DIGITAL MARKET

One Step Ahead – the data and insights initiative for the independent music community from IMPALA has been renewed for another year. The continuation of One Step Ahead builds on the success of the project’s pilot phase which saw the publication of six in-depth reports and a series of 20 webinars. During the next phase of One Step Ahead, IMPALA members will have access to even more support.

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IMPALA’S DIGITAL HOUR WITH CMU – QUICK FIRE WEBINAR – 13/12 – 3PM CET

Our monthly quick-fire webinar on the One Step Ahead project will take place on 13th November at 3pm CET. The quick-fire editions of IMPALA’s Digital Hour with CMU are all about speedy updates on recent and upcoming One Step Ahead reports. It’s also the opportunity for members to ask questions and share ideas that will inform and influence our future research.

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IMPALA’S DIGITAL HOUR WITH CMU – QUICK FIRE WEBINAR – 23/11 – 2PM CET

Our monthly quick-fire webinar on the One Step Ahead project will take place on 23rd November at 2pm CET. The quick-fire editions of IMPALA’s Digital Hour with CMU are all about speedy updates on recent and upcoming One Step Ahead reports. It’s also the opportunity for members to ask questions and share ideas that will inform and influence our future research.

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JOIN THE IMPALA-AIM WEBINAR ON “THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE METAVERSE” – 14/11 – 3pm CET

In the future we will all live in Metaverses! OK, that might not be the near future for many of us, but there’s truth behind the hype and music is already making waves within metaverses, finding new fans and engaging in exciting new ways with existing ones, with growing number of gigs, releases, merch and more inside games and other types of ‘virtual world’. Like any new opportunity, you will want to go in with your eyes open and as much knowledge as possible as well as making sure you avoid any problems or legal hazards.

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IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association

Rue des Deux Eglises 37-39, 1000, Brussels, BELGIUM

+32 2 503 31 38

info@impalamusic.org