UK AND EU MUSIC INDUSTRY CHIEFS JOIN FORCES TO URGE POLITICAL LEADERS TO TEAR DOWN BARRIERS TO TOURING IN THE EU
Musicians and industry leaders from the UK and Europe have joined forces to demand urgent action to remove the barriers to touring across the EU.
IMPALA announces the launch of new Artist Camp project as part of EU network programme
IMPALA is proud to announce the launch of its new Artist Camp project, co-funded by the European Union as part of IMPALA’s 2025–2028 network programme.
IMPALA welcomes European Commission’s scrutiny of acquisition of Downtown by Universal Music Group
IMPALA, the European association of independent music companies, welcomes the European Commission’s decision to investigate the proposed merger between Universal Music Group (UMG) and Downtown Music Holdings, home to companies such as Fuga, CD Baby, Songtrust, Curve, AdvRev, as well as other businesses in the music sector.
IMPALA engages with Commissioner Glenn Micallef on the future of Europe’s cultural sectors and the key role of music
This week, IMPALA exchanged with European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, for an in-depth discussion on the future of Europe’s cultural sectors and how music has a key role within it.
Ruth Barlow of AIM and Beggars Group on UMG, Downtown and why she believes ‘regulators must act’
The following MBW op/ed comes from Ruth Barlow, Chair of the UK’s Association of Independent Music (AIM) and Director of Live Licensing at the Beggars Group. Barlow’s career in music spans 25+ years, with experience across radio, live music strategy and licensing, and she is a long-term champion for the rights of independent labels, artists, and their partners. Barlow also serves on the board of UK Music and is a board observer for Earth Agency and BPI Council.
UMG/Downtown – Influential EU parliamentarian questions European Commission
Following formal requests by national competition authorities to the European regulator to open an investigation into UMG/Downtown, an influential European parliamentarian, Aurore Lalucq (chair of the economic affairs committee) has also raised concerns in a written question.
IMPALA’S STRATEGIC PRIMER #8 (PANDORA) NOW OUT
IMPALA’s Strategic Primers’ project with Music Ally is all about maximising streaming opportunities for independents. Our Primer #8 on PANDORA is now out.
UMG’S JUGGERNAUT STRATEGY RAGES ON – 8BALL MUSIC ACQUIRED IN THE NETHERLANDS AND DISPROPORTIONATE STREAMING 2.0 PUSH FROM AMAZON
As we warned in our statement last week, UMG’s juggernaut strategy of rapid acquisitions continues, with 8Ball Music, a Dutch independent label and IMPALA member, being the latest independent to be bought.
ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, IMPALA’S EDI TASK FORCE FOUNDER AND CO-CHAIR TALKS ABOUT HER WORK FIVE YEARS ON
As the IMPALA EDI task force marks its fifth anniversary, along with the launch of the EDI Charter, we sat down with Eva Karman Reinhold, co-chair of the EDI task force, for a conversation on International Women’s Day. With this year’s theme, Accelerate Action, emphasising the urgency of advancing gender equality, she reflects on the journey so far, sharing insights into IMPALA’s achievements, the challenges faced, key lessons learned, and her vision for the future of IMPALA’s EDI task force.
MUSIC LOVERS AND ARTISTS WILL SUFFER IF UNIVERSAL MUSIC IS ALLOWED TO BUY UP CRUCIAL DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES, EUROPEAN MUSIC INDIES WARN
IMPALA, the voice of Europe’s independent records labels, is warning that music industry giant Universal Music Group (UMG) could increase its stranglehold over the music market if it is allowed to buy up key distribution companies and other services labels and artists need to reach fans.