After a busy period for the cultural and creative sectors, we’re looking forward to the summer break. Yet we’re well aware that some people in Brussels will still be hard at work, putting the final touches to the Commission’s plans for its second package of copyright-related proposals.

As the European Commission reaches a key stage in its investigation into Sony’s buy out of the Michael Jackson estate’s shares in Sony/ATV, independent music companies renew their call for a tough stance to be taken.

This is the final edition of the FIVEUNDERFIFTEEN campaign showcasing top labels 15 years young or younger. Since the beginning of the campaign in March, each month five European young labels are featured in The Independent Echo but this month’s selection is unique because it includes an additional label from the United States.

Over 1,000 artists (update: new signatories have been added, the list now numbers almost 1,300 artists) have written to EU President Juncker asking him to close what is known as the “value gap” (see letter and list of artists here). Artists across the world are increasingly vocal about YouTube and other platforms “siphoning value”.

Change is on the way that’s for sure, but one thing is clear. The UK music sector will remain a fundamental player in Europe, which of course goes beyond the EU and we will continue to work hard to ensure that Brexit doesn’t interfere with the ability of European citizens to continue to enjoy UK music and vice versa. Breaking borders is what our labels do with their artists on a daily basis and that will continue.

58 MEPs have signed a letter addressed to President Juncker calling on the European Commission to clarify the status of online services providing access to creative works.

16th June, New York: – Speaking at A2IM’s Annual Meeting, Charles Caldas, CEO Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the independent label sector, has announced the results of Merlin’s 2016 member survey.

IMPALA’s Young Label Spotlight FIVEUNDERFIFTEEN is now in its third edition. In partnership with The Independent Echo and Midem, this feature continues the story of Europe’s most inspiring young labels.

For the first time ever, the independent music sector has its own global report on market share.

As the EU sets out its next steps towards a Digital Single Market, independent music companies comment the EU’s plans to boost e-commerce and improve the online trading environment.

With over a hundred registrations or award upgrades totalling just under 10 million units, IMPALA’s latest Sales Awards is one of the biggest ever and includes artists from across Europe like Caro Emerald (The Netherlands), Christine and The Queens (France), SSIO (Germany), Oscar and the Wolf (Belgium), Jamie XX (United Kingdom), Els Pets (Spain), Raubtier (Sweden) etc.

Following the launch of IMPALA’s Young Label Spotlight in March, the FIVEUNDERFIFTEEN campaign continues with a new set of five labels. This second edition is announced in partnership with Midem and The Independent Echo.

With Sony’s buy out of the late Michael Jackson estate’s shares in Sony/ATV finalised this week, IMPALA has confirmed that it has serious concerns over the impact of the deal on Sony’s market power.

As part of its fifteenth anniversary, IMPALA is launching a new monthly feature to put the spotlight on young independent music companies across Europe. The project will shine a light on the work of a set of unique labels 15 years young or younger.

IMPALA’s Independent Album of the Year Award goes to Swedish singer-songwriter José González for “Vestiges & Claws”. This year’s shortlist put the spotlight on labels founded within the past 15 years, as part of IMPALA’s 15th anniversary. Released in February 2015 by Stockholm-based Imperial Recordings, “Vestiges & Claws” is González’s third solo album. The artist and the label have been working together since 2002 when Imperial Recordings was launched. José González is also the frontman of folk rock band Junip.

The Merlin Board has approved a further significant reduction in Merlin’s Administration Fee.

With IMPALA turning fifteen, this year’s European independent Album of the Year Award comes with a special touch. All records up for the award were released by labels under fifteen, showcasing the musical talent and diversity of releases by young independent music companies across Europe.

Eurosonic Noorderslag is the latest winner of independent label organisation IMPALA’s Outstanding Contribution Award to independent music

As the EC sets out its agenda on the future of copyright, IMPALA shares the perspective of thousands of European independent music companies.

Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the world’s independent label sector, has today announced results of its biennial board election and the 15 executives who will oversee the organisation’s strategy until 2017.

On the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the UNESCO convention on cultural diversity, independent music companies urge the EU to take the lead with concrete implementation.

IMPALA welcomes the move in France to adopt a memorandum for the fair development of online music.

IMPALA held its annual general meeting this Thursday at Reeperbahn Festival, electing 26 members to its Board for the next two years. The meeting also marked the start of a year of initiatives for IMPALA’s 15th anniversary.

Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the independent label sector, has today published results of its 2015 member survey.

IMPALA welcomes Apple’s confirmation earlier this week that it intends to address concerns over its terms for independent labels and its commitment to the independent music sector

With the EU’s Digital Assembly in Riga concluding, the independent music sector calls for a level playing field to promote Europe’s digital future.

Independent music companies welcomed the announcement yesterday by the European Commission that it will introduce a series of measures to improve Europe’s online environment.

Last night MEP Sabine Verheyen hosted IMPALA’s exchange with EU officials and the owner-managers of key independent labels from all over Europe.

Starting from robust copyright rules, Europe needs to forge a level playing field for smaller European actors who work everyday to deliver a diversified cultural offer in the digital market.

“Our Love”, by Canadian artist Daniel Victor « Dan » Snaith, also known as CARIBOU, has won the annual European music prize organised by IMPALA for the best independent album in Europe.

With 2014 an exceptional year for independent music, IMPALA has now revealed its shortlist of nominees for the fifth edition of the IMPALA Album of the Year Award.

Independent music companies launched a unique Digital Action Plan today, calling for a new European industrial policy to drive the digital market through the cultural and creative sectors, which account for 4,2% of EU GDP and 7.1 million EU jobs.

A new study published by EY (formerly Ernst & Young) and presented today to Commissioner Oettinger, Commissioner Navracsics and Vice-President Ansip shows that cultural and creative industries (CCIs) are among the EU’s biggest employers and have experienced sustained growth even through recession.

IMPALA welcomes the news that YouTube’s new subscription service, Music Key will include a comprehensive offering of independent labels and their artists, following the reports that the service has struck an agreement with Merlin, the global rights organisation for the independent sector, whose membership includes many IMPALA members.

The latest IMPALA Sales Awards announcement is the biggest ever, with no less than 142 registrations or awards upgrades from independent artists including Arctic Monkeys (UK), Moderat (Germany), M83 (France), Racoon (Netherlands), Tarja (Finland), Fazil Say (Turkey), Melanie De Biasio (Belgium) and Civil War (Sweden)…

“Europe needs a societal paradigm shift – in fact, nothing short of a ‘New Renaissance’”. This is part of the New Narrative for Europe, as set out in the Declaration “The Mind and Body of Europe” drafted by the project’s cultural committee.

Cultural and creative industries are ready for a new Europe

On behalf of hundreds of thousands of authors, performers, producers, publishers and distributors of musical, audiovisual, new media, literary, professional content and visual art works, we would first like to congratulate you on your election as President of the European Commission.

Merlin, the global rights agency for the independent label sector, and Pandora (NYSE:P), the leading internet radio service, today announced a comprehensive partnership designed to help independent labels and artists grow the audiences they reach and the royalties they receive.

The Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the organisation that represents the interests of the global independent music community, has announced a major new initiative, ‘The Fair Digital Deals Declaration,’ which will be launched with a Worldwide Declaration Signing Day on July 16th.

Amidst ongoing concerns about the conduct of YouTube towards the independent label community, IMPALA the independents’ organisation based in Brussels, confirmed today that the formal process in Brussels has now started, with a detailed complaint lodged with the European Commission earlier this week.

The Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the organisation that represents the interests of the global independent music community, has issued a new statement further questioning the actions of YouTube as the Google owned company presses ahead with plans to block and “cull” the content of independent labels that do not sign up to a new music streaming agreement.

Last night in Madrid at UFI’s Independent Music Awards, Guadalupe Plata won four awards: “Best Artist”, “Album of the Year”, “Best Live”, and “Best Photography”. They also played at the ceremony after receiving the European Album of the Year Award from IMPALA’s Executive Chair Helen Smith.

In Madrid last night, at the UFi awards ceremony for independent music, the Mario Pacheco Award for outstanding contribution to independent music in Spain went for the first time to two international organisations.

The ongoing dispute between The Worldwide Independent Network, (WIN), which represents the global independent music community, and YouTube has further escalated, with the Google-owned company refusing to withdraw its threats to labels unwilling to sign up to its new music streaming service on what WIN has previously called “highly unfavourable terms.”

IMPALA (Independent Music Companies Association) joins WIN (the Worldwide Independent Network) and the worldwide independent community in objecting to news that YouTube intends to block the content of members who do not sign a new music streaming agreement describing it as ‘unnecessary and indefensible’.

Cultural diversity is at the heart of what the EU is: a union of different cultures, different languages, different lifestyles. Culture is one of Europe’s main assets – a social asset through its inherent value, but also an economic asset through its contribution to jobs, growth and trade. The cultural and creative sectors are crucial to the European economy, producing faster than average growth and accounting for 4,5% of the EU’s GDP and 8,5 million jobs. They are also a key element of the EU’s soft power on the international stage.

Beggars Group Founder & Chairman Martin Mills speaking at the Canadian Music Week.

The European Competition Day event is a great opportunity to take stock of Europe’s competition policy. It gives policy makers and citizens food for thought as Europe enters a new critical stage where the digital market, led by music and other cultural sectors, will be the principal vector of economic and social power.

Spanish band Guadalupe Plata’s self-titled album has won the annual European ‘Mercury-style’ music prize organised by IMPALA for the best independent album in Europe.

In this interview originally published in Music Week, IMPALA met with Spanish record label Everlasting Records founder Mark Kitcatt to discuss Guadalupe Plata winning the IMPALA European Album of the Year award, what’s in store for Everlasting Records and what it is like to run an indie label in Spain nowadays.

Creativity Works! welcomes the closure today of the European Commission’s consultation on the review of EU copyright rules. Amongst the thousands of responses received by the Commission in recent weeks are those from industries within the creative sector representing thousands of companies and millions of creators and workers from across the EU, whose businesses and livelihoods depend upon copyright and its effective protection.

Following its successful launch three years ago, the IMPALA European Independent Album of the Year Award is back for its fourth edition.

Leading independent dance label Armada Music and its founder DJ Armin van Buuren honoured by IMPALA Outstanding Contribution Award

Merlin’s CEO Charles Caldas on Indies, Streaming and the Market Share Issue (Op-Ed)

With four weeks to go until Europe closes a public consultation on the relationship between copyright and the digital age, independent music companies call on everyone involved with music to make their voice heard.

Cultural and creative organisations, grouped under the ‘Creativity Works!’ banner, welcome the publication today of an EU study1 that shows that citizens view intellectual property and its social and economic contribution positively.

Merlin, the global rights agency for the independent label sector, has announced the results of its biennial board election.
The vote attracted the highest ever number of candidates, with Merlin members determining the make-up of the 15-seat board.

Hypothetically, digital music fans should currently be living through a golden era. But short-sighted interests could be leading us into a dysfunctional new era of the music business instead.

Like-minded organisations, federations and associations from the European cultural and creative sectors have formed a coalition: Creativity Works!.

Merlin, the global rights agency for the independent label sector, has hired former Warner Music Group executive Roger Gold.