WIN ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Madrid, 27 January 2025
Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the international network that brings together the global independent music community, held its first board meeting of the year on January 23. Zena White and Maria Amato were confirmed to continue their commendable work as Chair and Treasurer respectively for a third term.
The WIN board set the priorities for the year with an emphasis on protecting and enhancing the value of recorded music and continuing to provide support to its member trade associations. In 2025, the focus on further growing the network will be on previously uncharted territories, while efforts will continue to have an independent trade association in all major music markets.
Ensuring that more value is returned to independent labels and artists is another key objective. The organisation will keep working towards a functional licensing market for artificial intelligence, addressing the growing consolidation and dominance of major music companies and digital services, and promoting an efficient and transparent management of rights by streaming platforms and collecting societies.
Noemí Planas, WIN CEO commented: “WIN fosters collaboration worldwide to strengthen the independent sector’s position in the global music ecosystem and ensure a strong, sustainable future. This year, we will continue our work to ensure that independents can compete for access, visibility and revenues on the best possible terms, while promoting new networks and associations that can help them stay informed and prepared to respond to emerging challenges.”
Zena White, WIN Chair commented: “WIN plays an essential role in connecting the global independent sector to ensure that its players receive and understand timely updates that affect their businesses. I am looking forward to collaborating with Noemí and the board for a third year as the organisation’s Chair.”
The WIN board of directors is renewed annually and consists of representatives from independent music companies and trade associations from around the world, who are appointed by WIN members on a geographical basis. To reflect the diversity of languages, music genres, and cultures within its membership, the board structure is organized into regional blocs: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia.
In 2025, the Board welcomed three new members: Felippe Llerena (ABMI, Brazil) as director, and Cecilia Crespo (ASIAr, Argentina) and Ian Harrison (Hopeless Records, USA) as observers. Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop, USA) stepped up from his previous role as observer. Warm thanks were given to outgoing members Alejandro Varela (S-Music, Argentina), Sandra Rodrigues (ABMI, Brazil) and Garry West (Compass Records, USA) for their continued commitment.
The 20 members of the WIN board for 2025 are:
North America
Gord Dimitrieff (Aporia Records, Canada)
Jason Peterson (GoDigital Media Group, USA)
Richard Burgess (A2IM, USA)
Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop, USA)
Zena White (Partisan Records, USA)
Observer: Ian Harrison (Hopeless Records, USA)
Latin America
Francisca Sandoval (IMICHILE, Chile)
Felippe Llerena (Nikita Music / ABMI, Brazil)
Observer: Cecilia Crespo (ASIAr, Argentina)
Europe
Dario Draštata (Dallas Records, Croatia)
Gee Davy (AIM, UK)
Geert De Blaere (N.E.W.S., Belgium)
Jörg Heidemann (VUT, Germany)
Mark Kitcatt (Everlasting Records, Spain)
Observer: Helen Smith (IMPALA, Europe)
Asia
Marty Ro (Sound Republica / LIAK, South Korea)
Takuya Yamazaki (IMCJ, Japan)
Observer: Sridhar Swaminathan (SIMCA, India)
Australasia
Maria Amato (AIR, Australia)
Observer: Dylan Pellett (IMNZ, New Zealand)
About WIN
The Worldwide Independent Network connects and develops the global independent music community. WIN brings together trade associations representing thousands of independent music businesses around the world. WIN acts as a global coordination and support network for the independent sector, focusing on its long-term development and sustainability. WIN promotes a diverse and vibrant ecosystem with full market access and equal opportunities for all independents, through transparency, innovation and cooperation.
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 IMPAL
