18th January 2012

A global collective manifesto for independent music entrepreneurs and organisations will be debated and agreed at Midem, at a meeting led by the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) and the European indie music association Impala.

Trade associations and individual labels from the most active music markets around the world are meeting on Sunday January 29th to establish a collective viewpoint about the future of the music industry and the independents’ place in it. The goal is to establish a 10-point manifesto which can be adopted and applied nationally and globally.

The manifesto will be launched at a press conference after the WIN meeting on Monday 30th January, and the discussion points on the agenda are confidential until then.

Speakers already confirmed for this crucial Manifesto debate include Beggars Group Chairman Martin Mills, AIM CEO and WIN Chairman Alison Wenham, Impala Executive Chair Helen Smith, A2IM President Rich Bengloff and VUT Chairman Mark Chung. Participants registered so far include Stuart Johnston, President of CIMA, Canada; David Vodicka and Nick O’Byrne of AIR, Australia; Michael Lambot, Co-President of PIAS Entertainment Group and Co-President of Impala; Larry Bringsjord of FONO, Norway; Kees van Weijen of the recently-formed indie association STOMP in the Netherlands and representatives of organisations and labels from Germany, Italy, France, USA, Switzerland and Belgium.

They will tackle a wide range of urgent issues facing the music industry – and independents in particular – at a time when new business models are emerging which challenge small copyright owners’ ability to monetise their creative enterprises, and when the independent music community believes it is essential that it is seen, heard and acknowledged globally as the most important, influential and successful music sector.

WIN and Impala are urging all eligible indies – members of Impala (membership can be checked via the links page on the website www.impalamusic.org) or of any indie trade association –  who want to attend to register promptly via the WIN Secretariat at terri.anderson@bigredkitecomms.com to get confirmation that they have secured one of the limited number of places.

PRESS CONFERENCE – on Monday 30th January in Auditorium H, Palais des Festivals, Cannes at 10.45am.

Accredited media please RSVP to Terri Anderson (terri.anderson@bigredkitecomms.com) or Didier Gosset (dgosset@impalamusic.org)