IMPALA LAUNCHES NEW STORYTELLING CAMPAIGN, FACES OF THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR, TO CELEBRATE ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

The Faces of the Independent Sector campaign will offer insights into the inner workings of an industry known for its creativity and diversity. The project is co-funded by the European Union under IMPALA’s network programme.

IMPALA WELCOMES THE EC’S FINDINGS SO FAR THAT UMG’S PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF DOWNTOWN HAS RISKS FOR EUROPE’S DIGITAL MARKET – ISSUES REMINDER THAT CONCERNS GO BEYOND DATA

In response to today’s press release from the European Commission, IMPALA has issued the following statement:

WIN BOARD IN TORONTO: CELEBRATING CIMA’s 50th ANNIVERSARY AT MAKE IT MUSIC

The WIN board and secretariat traveled to Toronto from November 3-5 to hold an in-person meeting and take part in a series of activities hosted around Make It Music and the celebration of CIMA’s 50th anniversary.

IMPALA WELCOMES NEW UKRAINIAN TRADE ASSOCIATION MEMBER NEW CAPACITY-BUILDING SCHEME FOR YOUNG ASSOCIATIONS LAUNCHED

Following its Annual General Meeting in Zagreb, IMPALA is announcing the launch of a capacity-building scheme for its new member associations. IMPALA is also welcoming a new Ukrainian trade association member, the recently founded SPILNA.

DARIUS VAN ARMAN – SECRETLY THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE IN THE MODERN AGE: OUR SHARED FIGHT AGAINST MARKET CONCENTRATION AND FOR ART, CULTURE AND ACCESS

The following is an op-ed by Darius Van Arman, founder of the independent record label Jagjaguwar. Van Arman also co-leads Secretly Group, Secretly Distribution, Numero Group, and Ghostly International.

IMPALA’S STRATEGIC PRIMER #9 (BANDCAMP) Q&A SESSION (03/12)

IMPALA’s Strategic Primers’ project with Music Ally (supported by Merlin) is all about maximising streaming opportunities for independents. Our Primer #9 on Bandcamp is now out. Join us on 3rd December for a Q&A session with Music Ally.

IMPALA RESPONDS TO NEWS THAT THE EC WILL ISSUE A FORMAL OBJECTION TO UMG’S PROPOSED DOWNTOWN ACQUISITION

Today, IMPALA issued a short statement below in response to the news that the European Commission will proceed to the next step in its investigation of UMG’s proposed acquisition of Downtown by issuing a set of formal objections:

AI – MAKE SURE YOUR RIGHTS ARE RESERVED!

We want to stress again the importance for all IMPALA members of making sure their rights are reserved in the context of AI training/machine learning.

UMG’s MEGA-ACQUISTION THREATENS MUSICAL DIVERSITY – WITHOUT COMPETITION, THE FREE MARKET BECOMES A MONOPOLY

Eva Karman Reinhold, chairwoman of the Swedish Independent Music Producers (SOM) and board member of IMPALA, writes in a debate post.

CHARLIE LEXTON APPOINTED CEO OF MERLIN

Merlin, the digital rights agency for the world’s leading independent labels and distributors, today announced the appointment of Charlie Lexton as its CEO, effective 1 January 2026.