Today European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) and several networks launch a campaign for a new European vision for touring that reduces the time-consuming and costly barriers for touring artists produced by withholding taxes. Highlighting that US artists benefit from generous exemptions when touring Europe, creating an unfair playing field.

IMPALA’s outstanding contribution award goes to Horst Weidenmüller, CEO and founder of !K7 Music and founder of IMPALA’s Sustainability task force, for his outstanding contribution to the European independent music sector.

IMPALA’s One Step Ahead is back with a report (to be released very soon) and webinar on the latest trends in music rights and consumption.

With COP29 drawing to a close, IMPALA encourages members to assess their environmental impact, recognise the associated business benefits, as outlined in the Business Case for Sustainability released earlier this year and support initiatives such as the Global Call to Action to Put Culture At the Heart of Climate Policy.

The EDI Taskforce is delighted to invite you to an online panel discussion with Leon Diop, IMPALA Changemaker Award winner and founder of Black & Irish.

Calling for a meaningful implementation of the AI Act to enable creators and rightholders to exercise and enforce their rights when it comes to ingesting and copying copyright- protected works for training by AI models.

IMPALA’s Strategic Primers’ project with Music Ally is all about maximising streaming opportunities for independents. Our Primer #4 on Youtube is now out.

On TikTok’s imposed deadline day for labels to sign direct terms to boycott Merlin, IMPALA publishes an open letter calling for collaboration and specific action points to achieve a strong, cooperative partnership without strong-arm tactics.

IMPALA has released its fourth Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Report, providing insights into its ongoing efforts in this area. Published on the week of the anniversary of the organisation’s EDI Charter, the report is the result of work by IMPALA’s taskforce, led by Eva Karman Reinhold and supported by advisor Keith Harris OBE.

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.

TikTok’s decision to disintermediate Merlin and walk away from negotiations to renew its current license has sparked widespread concern across the global music industry. The platform is contacting independent music companies directly to try to reach individual deals. Many fear that with this move TikTok intends to pay less for music.

The .MUSIC registry announces the global launch of the community-based .MUSIC top-level domain name extension and its verified MusicID.

Murmur are proud to share the recipients of Murmur funding for 2024, which is made up of funds contributed by our partners in 2023. Over £240,000 donated by art and music organisations is being given to groundbreaking projects which drive and inspire change in the art and music industries and across the wider world.

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.

The highly anticipated Music Moves Europe Awards 2025 is thrilled to unveil the fifteen remarkable artists who have been nominated for these prestigious awards. Celebrating the extraordinary talents emerging from the European music landscape, these nominees are set to take centre stage and captivate
audiences worldwide.

The raison d’être of record labels is to partner with artists, help maximise their revenues and bring new music to fans. The independent sector has put forward a range of proposals to help achieve that. This is important because independent labels in Europe account for 80% of all new music releases.

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.

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.

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.

Bandcamp, Marauder and Random Sounds join new initiative. WIN’s Programme offers a unique connection with the global independent music community

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.

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.

IMPALA announces the recipient of its Changemaker Award 2024: Black & Irish, an Irish not-for-profit organisation advocating for the black community in Ireland, fostering connections within Irish society and championing an anti-racist ethos.

WIN presents guidance around key principles promoting safety, transparency, respect for copyright, a human-centered approach, ethics, and cross border consistency.

Ahead of Europe Day, held every year on the 9th of May to celebrate peace and unity across the region, IMPALA welcomes its first member from Ukraine Pomitni.

The IMPALA EDI taskforce is delighted to invite members to the IMPALA online webinar on “Harmonising Diversity: Empowering Equity and Inclusion in the Music Industry” on Tuesday 28th May from 3-4:30pm CET/ 2-3:30pm GMT.

IMPALA’s Strategic Primers’ project with Music Ally is all about maximising streaming opportunities for independents. Our Primer #3 on Apple Music is now out.

Ahead of Earth Day 2024 and two years after launching its Carbon Calculator, powered by Julie’s Bicycle and supported by Merlin, IMPALA highlights practical examples in the music industry to tackle climate change, releasing its updated sustainability guidance for members and organising a free webinar on April 22nd.

The Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the organization that connects and develops the global independent music community, proudly announces a renewed set of values as part of its ongoing work to promote the collective position of the sector in today’s evolving music landscape.

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.

Over the past few weeks IMPALA has been consulting members on the question of value with “moment economy” services like TikTok, as well as the impact of recent reforms proposed by Deezer, Spotify and Apple, with the key goal of fixing existing value gaps and ensuring that no new ones are created.

For the third year in a row, IMPALA returns with its highly anticipated 100 Artists to Watch 2024 edition in collaboration with YouTube. This year, we’re excited to showcase a vibrant selection of emerging talent from across the European independent music sector.

We welcome the approval of the EU AI Act by the European Parliament, and we thank Members of the European Parliament for the essential role they have played in supporting creators and rightsholders throughout the legislative process.

As part of this year’s International Women’s Day, IMPALA reflects on how the association is attempting to boost inclusion through two practical programmes designed to bring more members to the table.

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.

Over the last few weeks, IMPALA has been gathering views on Apple’s proposal to apply a 10% stream rate uplift for music available in spatial audio, in a move which will have negative consequences for parts of the industry, particularly for independent labels and their artists.

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.

IMPALA, the European association of independent music companies, welcomes the endorsement of the AI Act by EU member states’ ambassadors.

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.

IMPALA’s Strategic Primers’ project with Music Ally is all about maximising streaming opportunities for independents. Our Primer #2 on Amazon Music is now out.

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.

ESNS and Soundcharts proudly announce EMERGE, a ground-breaking AI project for the European music industry. The project was publicly announced today at the annual music conference and showcase festival ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), the platform for emerging European music talent.

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.

IMPALA, the European association of independent music companies, welcomes the adoption today by the European Parliament of MEP Iban García del Blanco’s report on “cultural diversity and the conditions for authors in the European music streaming market.”

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.

IMPALA welcomes the provisional agreement found on the EU AI Act, which requires general purpose AI models to respect EU copyright law and imposes meaningful transparency obligations on these same models.

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.

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.

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.

COP28 UN Climate Conference, which will take place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023, is set to focus on advocating for a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition, examining climate finance, putting nature, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action.

Key artists and label groups from major European music markets have come together today to ask the EU to come up urgently with a legislative solution to address the consequences of a court ruling which risks costing European artists and labels millions of euros each year.

beatBread is a pioneering music and finance company that provides funding to labels and musicians while ensuring clients have transparency and customisation to choose their partners and retain complete ownership. Joining IMPALA’s Friend scheme under a two year deal underlines their long term dedication to championing the independent sector.

IMPALA’s Strategic Primers’ project with Music Ally is all about maximising streaming opportunities for independents. Our Primer #2 on Amazon Music is now out.

IMPALA, the independent music companies association, representing over 6000 independent music companies and national associations across Europe, is currently canvassing member views on the proposed changes. The proposal will also be discussed at our upcoming board meeting which will take place next week on 30th November.

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.

The highly anticipated Music Moves Europe Awards 2024 is thrilled to unveil the fifteen remarkable artists who have been nominated for these prestigious awards. Celebrating the extraordinary talents emerging from the European music landscape, these nominees are set to take center stage and captivate audiences worldwide.

Last week marked the inaugural SoAlive Music Conference (SAMC), successfully convening over 400 industry delegates, showcasing dozens of vibrant bands, and captivating thousands of live music fans over three unforgettable days.

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.

Today IMPALA publishes its third Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Report, reflecting on the organisation’s ongoing work in this area.

Our new One Step Ahead report looking at the impacts of AI is out and will be discussed during our next quick-fire webinar with CMU taking place on 12th October at 3pm CET. Members can contact their national associations to register.

Deezer’s “artist-centric” idea adds to the streaming debate but other proposals could move the needle without thresholds that are bad for smaller acts – and musical diversity. An op-ed by IMPALA’s Helen Smith for Billboard.

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.
 

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

Our new One Step Ahead report looking at Rights and Consumptions is out and will be discussed during our next pre-recorded quick-fire webinar with CMU, available for members on 15th September. Members can contact their national associations to register.

ANMIP, the Association of Independent Music Publishers and Producers in Bulgaria, has joined IMPALA, the association for independent music businesses across Europe. ANMIP participated in IMPALA’s AGM and board meeting last week in Vienna at the WAVES conference. IMPALA’s members welcomed ANMIP as they brainstormed future priorities for both organisations.

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 ?

This Thursday at the Vienna WAVES Festival and Conference, IMPALA elected a new board for a term of two years and reviewed the priorities of the association in the coming year. These include AI opportunities, streaming reform, fiscal support, growing the network in Central Eastern Europe and boosting sustainability and inclusion work.

IMPALA is a signatory of the following letter addressed by a group of 70 European cultural and creative networks and organisations, urging member states to reconsider proposed cuts to the 2024 budget of the EU’s only programme fully dedicated to culture, Creative Europe.

Our new One Step Ahead report looking at the impacts of AI is out and will be discussed during our next quick-fire webinar with CMU taking place on 5th September at 3pm CET. Members can contact their national associations to register.

Our next equity, diversity and inclusion training session for members will take place online on Tuesday 25 April from 10am to 1pm CET. This session with our trainer Vick Bain will focus on “EDI Communications- Strengthening EDI practices and embedding EDI messages in music companies’ internal and external communications”.

The Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the international body bringing together the independent recorded music sector, has published its 2022/23 Annual Report declaring a landmark year for independent music.

IMPALA joins other European music organisations in calling for EU member states to launch a dialogue with the sector around the topic of mobility as a vital component of competitiveness within the sector, taking into account the consequences of the pandemic and the cost of living increase.

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.

Our new One Step Ahead report looking at the impacts of AI is out and will be discussed during our next quick-fire webinar with CMU taking place on 20th July at 3pm CET. Members can contact their national associations to register.

IMPALA’s Strategic Primers’ project with Music Ally is all about maximising streaming opportunities for independents. The first Primer on Spotify is now out.

International independent pioneers Michel Lambot and Kenny Gates receive IMPALA’s coveted Outstanding Contribution award to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the [PIAS] group.

Reprtoir and IMPALA are proud to announce their partnership under the Independent Music Companies Association’s Friends of IMPALA programme.

IMPALA is proud to announce the launch of IMPALA’s Strategic Primers, a new project in partnership with Music Ally, a leading UK-based music consultancy renowned for delivering cutting-edge knowledge and expertise in the music industry.

Following this year’s EU Green Week Conference, IMPALA is releasing its first membership Carbon Calculator report. Read the statement to discover key insights from the report.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our next equity, diversity and inclusion training session for members will take place online on Tuesday 25 April from 10am to 1pm CET. This session with our trainer Vick Bain will cover “Inclusive Employment with a focus on disability and neurodiversity; how to provide adjustments, access riders, and implement flexible working for all.”

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.

IMPALA presented our views on the Creative Europe 2021 -2027 Implementation Report. In this stakeholders’ meeting, IMPALA’s Karla Rogožar called to develop a real strategy for music with increased funding available for music-specific projects now and ahead of the next programme.

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.

This weekend, IMPALA’s Outstanding Contribution Award was dedicated to the late Tony Duckworth during MENT festival and conference in Ljubljana to recognise his remarkable career in music and his dedication to network development in the Central and Eastern European region for independent music companies.

After initiating our largest-ever artist showcase award programme last Spring, IMPALA’s 100 Artists to Watch in partnership with YouTube returns in 2023 with a bright selection of emerging talent from across the European independent music sector.

IMPALA’s One Step Ahead Data Playbook, the latest report as part of our One Step Ahead project will be out this week, with a webinar for members taking place on 23 March at 3pm CET.

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.

Merlin, the independents’ digital music licensing partner, is thrilled to announce 2023 as “15 Years of Merlin” to celebrate its 15th anniversary.

This year, IMPALA dedicates International Women’s Day to Juliana Koranteng, journalist and media specialist, a prominent voice in the music sector who sadly passed away last month after a short illness.

A new US proposal for change on immigration rules would impact heavily the European cultural sector and jeopardise the EU-US cultural relations. IMPALA is one of the 192 co-signatories of the PEARLE’s letter to the European Commission.

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.

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.

The prestigious Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Sans Soucis (Italy) and the Public Choice award was won by Jerry Heil (Ukraine). Schmyt (Germany), July Jones (Slovenia), Oska (Austria), Kids Return (France), and Queralt Lahoz (Spain) are the winners of the Music Moves Europe Awards 2023.

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.