Independent Music Companies Association

"IMPALA" redirects here. For other uses, see Impala (disambiguation).

The Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA), originally the Independent Music Publishers and Labels Association, is a non-profit trade association established in 2000 to help European independent record labels represent their agenda and promote independent music. Its offices are in Brussels, Belgium.

IMPALA is a member of the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), a coalition of independent music bodies from countries throughout the world.

History

IMPALA was founded in 2000 by national trade associations and key independent labels, as a non-profit organisation dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises in the music industry.^[1]

In 2008 an Action Plan for Music was launched^[2] and in 2010 an Action Plan for Finance was published.^[3]

In January 2015, IMPALA launched its Digital Action Plan, a ten-point plan calling for a new European industrial policy to drive the digital market through the cultural and creative sectors. The action plan calls on the EU to reinforce copyright, and other key measures, including promoting diversity in a measurable way and devising a new regulatory, competition, social and fiscal framework for smaller actors.^[4]

To celebrate IMPALA's 15th anniversary, from September 2015 various initiatives took place across Europe under the "IMPALA 15" banner, such as the Reeperbahn Festival at Hamburg, Germany.^[5]

In March 2016, IMPALA launched a monthly feature to put the spotlight on Europe's most inspiring young independent labels, known as the Young Label Spotlight.^{[citation needed]} On 24 September 2018, Paul Pacifico, CEO of the UK's Association of Independent Music and Michel Lambot, co-founder and Co-President of the PIAS Group, co-represented IMPALA, the body representing European indie record labels, at the expert workshop organised by the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels (BOZAR), the European Cultural Foundation and the British Council about Brexit and the cultural sector. The goal was "to reaffirm our shared intent and common values, and to produce practical recommendations from the cultural and creative sectors that go beyond those that have already been made", and a list of recommendations was afterwards published on the IMPALA website.^[6][7]

As part of its role of representing independent music companies at EU level, IMPALA was involved in the discussions on the EU Copyright Directive, and is working on competition issues such as Sony's buyout of EMI in 2018, or more recently the sale of Universal Music Group's shares.

In 2019 IMPALA acknowledged the climate emergency and committed to making the independent sector ecologically sustainable and regenerative, as well as using its voice to support Music Declares Emergency in Brussels.

In 2020, IMPALA established a COVID-19 Task Force and adopted a crisis plan, mapping tool and recovery package, as well as a set of second stage recommendations, helping culture to be recognised as one of Europe's fourteen priority sectors for recovery in the EU.^[8]

In October 2020 IMPALA adopted a Diversity and Inclusion Charter, a set of commitments dedicated to the European independent sector.^[9]

In November 2020, The organisation announced a year long series of podcasts, playlists and other projects to celebrate IMPALA's 20th birthday on a dedicated blog page.^[10]

In March 2021, IMPALA launched IMPALA Campus, an EU-funded training programme for recorded music professionals and self-releasing artists taking place spring and summer 2021 in partnership with four leading music conferences across Europe.^[11]

On 23 March 2021, IMPALA released a paper “It’s Time to Challenge the Flow: How to make the most of the real opportunities of streaming”^[12] and a ten-point plan with recommendations to music services to reform streaming.^[13]

The IMPALA sustainability task force developed a sustainability programme which was published in April 2021.^[14] The programme includes European independent music sector carbon goals for 2026 (net zero) and 2030 (net positive), along with a 15-commitment climate charter,^[15] voluntary tools, tips and guidance for members of the association.

In July 2021, IMPALA and IAO released^[16] a proposal for a GECAT Pass (for Geographical European Cultural Area Touring), with the idea to get small and medium sized music tours back on the road quickly and efficiently. The approach involves creating a new cultural area with a single touring permit, instead of treating Europe as a number of distinct blocs and countries.^[17]

In March 2022, IMPALA made a statement^[18] on the war in Ukraine and has been encouraging support for the Ukrainian culture sector together with other European cultural associations.^[19]

On 29 March 2022, IMPALA launched a new programme to boost diversity in the European independent music sector in partnership with YouTube called “100 Artists to Watch”. This new programme replaces IMPALA's annual European Independent Album of the Year Award, which had a great roll of 10 years.^[20]

In April 2022, the association and Julie's Bicycle have launched the first bespoke carbon calculator for the independent music sector.^[21][22] This was followed with the launch of IMPALA's Climate Training and Standards project IMPACTS.^[23] This EU funded project aims to build new climate literacy capacity for independent music companies across Europe to help them lower their carbon footprint.

In May 2022, during EU diversity month, IMPALA launched the Changemaker Award^[24] as part of its equity, diversity and inclusion work, the award aims to put the spotlight on projects that promote change in the independent sector and inspire others to take action. The first recipient of this new award is the POWER UP initiative,^[25] which supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives, as well as addressing anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector. Later in May, IMPALA released a report on the first diversity and inclusion survey of the independent sector, “Towards a more diverse and inclusive independent music sector”^[26] to close its programme for European Diversity Month.

In April 2023, IMPALA released its climate standards report^[27] which establishes a framework to start looking at how sector-wide benchmarks and standards might be developed. This was developed by IMPALA's own Climate Analysis Group with input and approval provided by climate experts represented by Thema1 and Julie’s Bicycle.

Following a month-long review process launched on the two-year anniversary of IMPALA’s ten-point streaming plan, the independent sector issued a new call to action in April 2023.^[28] Building on IMPALA’s initial recommendations to make streaming fairer and provide a dynamic, compelling, and responsible future for creators and fans, IMPALA’s new call was based on three key themes:^[29]

• Getting more money into the market and making sure there is no dilution of revenues.
• Changing how revenue is shared.
• Boosting diversity, transparency and climate action.

In May 2023, For the second edition of its Changemaker award, IMPALA honoured the UK not-for-profit organisation Women in CTRL, for their work developing and supporting music creators and music professionals from under-represented groups.^[30]

Members

As of 2023^[update] IMPALA has nearly 6000 members, including national associations as well independent music companies as direct members. The Board is elected by its members.^[31][32]

Labels

• 8 Ball Music
• Beggars Group
• Better Noise Music
• Blue Sun
• Cobalt Music Helladisc
• Cooking Vinyl
• Cosmos Music Group
• Despotz Records
• Edel AG
• Epitaph
• Everlasting Records
• Gazell Records
• GMI
• I love you Records
• !K7 Records
• Musikvertrieb
• [PIAS] Music Group
• Playground Music Scandinavia
• Red Bullet Productions
• SCL / Lusitanian
• Sugar Music
• Sundance Records
• The state51 Conspiracy
• United We Fly
• Wagram Music
• Zebralution

National associations

• AIM (UK)
• AIM Ireland (Ireland)
• AMAEI (Portugal)
• ANPM (Poland)
• BIMA (Belgium)
• BMYD (Turkey)
• DUP (Denmark)
• FELIN (France)
• FONO (Norway)
• HAIL (Hungary)
• INDIECO (Finland)
• INDIERO (Romania)
• IndieSuisse (Switzerland)
• P.I.L. (Israel)
• Platforma (Czech Republic)
• PMI (Italy)
• RUNDA (Balkans)
• SOM (Sweden)
• STOMP (Netherlands)
• UFI (Spain)
• UPFI (France)
• VTMÖ (Austria)
• VUT (Germany)

Awards

IMPALA has four awards schemes: the 100 Artists to Watch Award, the Outstanding Contribution Award, the Changemaker Award and the IMPALA Sales Awards.^[33]

References

1. "About". IMPALA. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
2. . IMPALA. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012.
3. . IMPALA. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
4. "IMPALA's Digital Action Plan". IMPALA. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
5. "IMPALA elects new Board and celebrates 15th anniversary at Reeperbahn Festival". IMPALA. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
6. "IMPALA supports key Brexit recommendations for cultural sectors". IMPALA. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
7. "Brexit and the Cultural Sector". European Network of Cultural Centres. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
8. "IMPALA Covid-19 Info Website". IMPALA Covid-19 Info Website. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
9. "IMPALA Diversity and Inclusion Charter". IMPALA. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
10. "IMPALA20". IMPALA. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
11. "IMPALA Campus training programme for young recorded music professionals in Europe to kick off at Westway LAB". IMPALA. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
12. "It's Time to Challenge the Flow: How to make the most of the real opportunities of streaming" (PDF). IMPALA. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
13. "It's Time to Challenge the Flow – IMPALA's 10-point plan to make streaming work". IMPALA. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
14. "IMPALA launches sustainability programme aiming for a net positive independent music community by 2030". IMPALA. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
15. "IMPALA Climate Charter" (PDF). IMPALA. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
16. "Cultural area touring permit". Impalamusic.org.
17. "IMPALA-IAO-GECAT-pass-one-pager" (PDF). Docs.google.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
18. "European Independent Music Sector Calls for Renewed Support to Ukraine - Impala". 15 March 2022.
19. "Impala suggests ways indie music firms can support Ukraine - Music Ally".
20. "IMPALA reveals 100 independent artists to watch | Complete Music Update".
21. "Impala and Julie's Bicycle Launch the First Bespoke Calculator for Recorded Music Companies - Impala". 12 April 2022.
22. "IMPALA and Julie's Bicycle to launch indie label carbon calculator | Complete Music Update".
23. "impala to launch impacts new climate training project". 18 May 2022.
24. "Impala launches changemaker award to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in the music sector". 18 May 2022.
25. "power up wins new changemaker award from impala". 19 May 2022.
26. "IMPALA releases first diversity survey report for the indie sector". 31 May 2022.
27. "IMPALA Releases Report on Climate Standards". IMPALA. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
28. "It's Time to Challenge the Flow #2 – Revisiting how to make the most of streaming work" (PDF). IMPALA. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
29. "Streaming Reform Revisited". IMPALA. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
30. "Women in CTRL Scoops IMPALA's Changemaker Award For Their Inspiring Work on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Independent Music Sector". IMPALA. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
31. "IMPALA Associations". IMPALA. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
32. "IMPALA Companies". IMPALA. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
33. "Awards - IMPALA". Impalamusic.org. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.