The Independent Music Companies Association (also known as IMPALA, originally the Independent Music Publishers and Labels Association) is a non-profit trade body established in April 2000 to help European independent music companies represent their own agenda and promote independent music in the interests of artistic, entrepreneurial and cultural diversity. Its offices are in Brussels, Belgium.
The independents are in effect the small and medium operators. They are known as the independents because they are independent of the major music companies, known as the "majors". 99% of music businesses are small, medium or even micro operators, accounting for 80% of all new releases and 80% of the sector's jobs. The collective market share of the independents has shrunk from 40% to 20% due to concentration and under capitalisation.
IMPALA's stated mission is to grow the independent music sector, promote cultural diversity and cultural entrepreneurship, improve political access and modernise the perception of the music industry.
There is one Chairman, Mark Kitcatt (Everlasting Records), and one President, Kees van Weijen (STOMP). Executive Chair is Helen Smith and the Treasurer is Geert de Blaere (BIMA). The Board is voted in by members.
Cultural SMEs are recognised by the EC, as well as national, regional and international decision makers, as vital to innovation and economic and cultural diversity. The EC said in 2007 that they needed specific support measures and in 2010 it adopted a Green Paper on Cultural Industries where it recognised the need to "level the playing field" for independents, particularly through competition rules, as well as the importance of making appropriate finance available. IMPALA also participates in the Worldwide Independent Network.
Video Independent Music Companies Association
Members
IMPALA has over 4000 members including national associations and independent music companies.
Associations
- AMAEI (Portugal)
- AIM (UK)
- BIMA (Belgium)
- DUP (Denmark)
- FONO (Norway)
- INDIECO (Finland)
- IndieSuisse (Switzerland)
- Kobalt Music
- P.I.L. (Israel)
- PMI (Italy)
- SOM (Sweden)
- STOMP (Netherlands)
- UFI (Spain)
- UPFI (France)
- VUT (Germany)
- VTMÖ (Austria)
Direct members (Independent music companies)
- !K7 (Germany)
- 8Ball Music (Netherlands)
- Ammonite Records (Serbia)
- Beggars Group (UK)
- CLS (Hungary)
- CLS Music|CLS (Greece)
- Dallas Records (Croatia)
- Cooking Vinyl (UK)
- Cosmos Music Group (Sweden)
- Despotz Records (Sweden)
- Edel (Germany)
- Epitaph Europe (Netherlands)
- Everlasting Records (Spain)
- Gazell (Sweden)
- I Love You Records (Latvia)
- Kobalt Music Recordings (UK)
- Kontra Musik (Serbia)
- Lamphade Media (Serbia)
- Menart (Croatia)
- Musikvertrieb A.G. (Switzerland)
- NIKA (Slovenia)
- PIAS Music Group (Benelux, Spain, UK & France)
- Playground Music Scandinavia AB (Sweden)
- Red Bullet Productions (Netherlands)
- Season of Mist (France)
- Sugar Music (Italy)
- Wagram (France)
- Zebralution (Germany)
Board
The Board is voted in by members.
- 8Ball Music, represented by Floris Janssen
- !K7, represented by Horst Weidenmüller
- AMAEI, represented by Nuno Saraiva
- AIM, represented by Paul Pacifico
- Beggars Group, represented by Martin Mills
- BIMA, represented by Geert De Blaere
- Cooking Vinyl, represented by Martin Goldschmidt
- Cosmos Music Group, represented by Fredrik Ekander
- DUP, represented by Kristoffer Rom
- Edel, represented by Jonas Sjöström
- Epitaph Europe, represented by Roger Dorresteijn
- Everlasting Records, represented by Mark Kitcatt
- FONO, represented by Larry Bringsjord
- INDIECO, represented by Tapio Korjus
- IndieSuisse, represented by Andreas Ryser
- Kobalt Music Recordings, represented by Paul Hitchman
- Lampshade Media, represented by Daryl Fidelak
- PIAS Music Group, represented by Michel Lambot
- Playground Music Scandinavia AB, represented by Jonas Sjöström
- PMI, represented by Francesca Trainini
- SOM, represented by Anders Engström
- STOMP, represented by Kees van Weijen
- Sugar Music, represented by Andrea Cotromano
- UFI, represented by Noemi Planas
- UPFI, represented by Jérôme Roger
- VUT, represented by Jörg Heidemann
- Wagram, represented by Stephan Bourdoiseau
Maps Independent Music Companies Association
Awards
IMPALA has three awards schemes: the European Independent Album of the Year Award, the Outstanding Contribution Award and the IMPALA Sales Awards.
European Independent Album of the Year
The European Independent Album of the Year Award winner is selected annually by a jury based on artistic merit alone, regardless of sales figures and publicity, from a nomination shortlist (nominated albums must have been released by a European independent label in the relevant year).
Winners:
- In My Head by Gurr (2017)
- Citizen of Glass by Agnes Obel (2016)
- Vestiges & Claws by José González (2015)
- Our Love by Caribou (2014)
- Guadalupe Plata by Guadalupe Plata (2013)
- Coexist by The xx (2012)
- 21 by Adele (2012)
- Magic Chairs by Efterklang (2011)
Outstanding Contribution Award
This award recognises the efforts of an individual or organisation, not necessarily from a label, to promote and develop European independent music and the diversity of the sector. Again, a winner is announced annually.
Winners:
- Jonas Sjöström (Founder of Playground Music Scandinavia AB) (2017)
- Plus 1 - Refugees Welcome! (2016)
- Eurosonic (2015)
- Armin van Buuren and Armada Music (2014)
- Charles Caldas (founder and CEO of Merlin Network) (2013)
- Martin Mills and Label Love (2012)
- Mario Pacheco (2011)
Sales awards
For many independent artists, success begins well before sales reach 1 million (the pan-European sales level officially recognised before IMPALA launched its scheme). IMPALA intends these Awards to provide a tool for independent music companies and artists to promote themselves, both domestically and internationally.
The sales levels for the awards are:
- IMPALA Silver 20 000
- IMPALA Double Silver 40 000
- IMPALA Gold 75 000
- IMPALA Double Gold 150 000
- IMPALA Diamond 200 000
- IMPALA Platinum 400 000
- IMPALA Double Platinum 800 000
Sales award winners include:
- Genetikk
- Katie Melua
- Carla Bruni
- The xx
- Arctic Monkeys
- Buena Vista Social Club
- Fler
- Vampire Weekend
- Franz Ferdinand
- Nickelback
- The Prodigy
- Caro Emerald
- Benjamin Biolay
- The Rasmus
- White Stripes
- Adele
- Basement Jaxx
- Efterklang
- Corneille
- Ibrahim Ferrer
- Yolanda Be Cool
- Manu Chao
- Nizlopi
- Miossec
- Mogwai
- Radiohead
- Scooter
- Slipknot
- The Offspring
- Charlotte Gainsbourg
- The Editors
- Pink Martini
- Armin van Buuren
IMPALA 15
To celebrate IMPALA's 15th anniversary, various initiatives took place across Europe under the "IMPALA 15" banner.
IMPALA 15 initiatives
- Reeperbahn Festival (24/09/2015) - IMPALA AGM kicks off 15th anniversary
- VIA! VUT Indie Awards 2015 (25/09/2015) - Sponsorship of the Best Newcomer Award
- Amsterdam Dance Event (15/10/2015) panel - 15 Years of IMPALA: Fighting for the Independent Sector
- Eurosonic Noorderslag (14/01/2016) - IMPALA 15 Reception
- Eurosonic Noorderslag (15/01/2016) panel - IMPALA 15th Anniversary Focus
- Press release (01/02/2016) - IMPALA features young labels in shortlist for European Independent Album of the Year Award
FIVEUNDERFIFTEEN Campaign
In March 2016, IMPALA has launched FIVEUNDERFIFTEEN a campaign where five young labels are announced every month in The Independent Echo, with features, interviews, playlists and snippets of the local music scenes. This young label campaign is for labels the same age as IMPALA or younger, i.e. established in November 2000 or after. Over the coming months, IMPALA conducts the campaign in partnership with The Independent Echo, and industry gatherings such as Westway LAB Festival (Portugal), Primavera Pro (Spain), and Midem (France).
The first 15 years in milestones
2017
- Launch of IMPALA Balkans Focus Group
- Divestment process with WMG reach completion, resulting in a strengthening of the independent sector.
2016
- WIN, the Worldwide Independent Network is launched.
- The "value gap" is recognised formally in Europe for the first time anywhere in the world.
2015
- IMPALA celebrated its 15th anniversary with a dedicated set of initiatives including a young label spotlight FIVEUNDERFIFTEEN to shine a light on their work.
- Adoption of IMPALA's Digital Action Plan.
- IMPALA listed as top influencer in Europe's online market strategy.
- Apple's attempt to discriminate against independents is thwarted by united stance in Europe and across the world, improving terms for all labels, including the majors.
2014
- Two thirds of labels signing WIN's Fair Digital Deals Declaration are European.
- IMPALA launches complaint on YouTube, Merlin secures deal after platform threatens to remove independent labels' videos.
- Guarantee scheme agreed to by the EU to support loans to IMPALA members and SMEs in other sectors.
2013
- Divestment process with WMG gets underway to move 2% market share into the independent sector.
- IMPALA and Merlin announce agreement with Warner Music Group to strengthen the independent sector.
- Launch of the Independent Music Publishers Forum.
2012
- Biggest ever set of merger remedies secured - Universal ordered to divest two thirds of EMI and respect 10 year behavioural undertakings.
- IMPALA takes a stance on Universal/EMI and Sony/EMI mergers.
- First pan-European independent charts launched with Nielsen.
2011
- First pan-European portal service for members on mechanical licences.
- Launch of European Mercuries - IMPALA's Independent Album of the Year Award.
2010
- Adoption of IMPALA's Action Plan for Finance, which introduces a sports style transfer fee.
- Publication of IMPALA's Code of Conduct for Collecting Societies.
- Launch of IMPALA's friends programme for companies working with the independent sector.
2009
- First official cultural and creative platform launched by EU.
2008
- Adoption of IMPALA's Action Plan for Music including measures to secure market access and finance.
2007
- IMPALA signs ground-breaking deal with WMG to rebalance the market in face of increasing concentration.
- IMPALA helps create Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the world's independent label sector.
2006
- IMPALA wins key European judgement - Sony/BMG merger clearance annulled.
- Launch of IMPALA Sales Awards.
- Creation of WIN, the Worldwide Independent Network, to tackle worldwide industry issues.
2005
- UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions introduces a new principle of fair and equitable access.
2004
- First class action against Sony-BMG merger launched.
2002
- Agreement concluded between independents and iTunes.
- VAT campaign launched for reduced VAT on music.
2001
- IMPALA blocks Warner and EMI's attempt to merge.
- Agreement signed with Napster to license members's repertoire.
2000
- IMPALA is created.
Market concentration
In 2006 IMPALA challenged the European Commission's approval of the joint venture between Sony and Bertelsmann saying that the merger was contradictory to European competition law. The appeal court referred back for a "retrial". No final decision was ever reached because the court closed the litigation down when Sony bought out Bertelsmann's shares, making the joint venture an irrelevant entity. The case became a landmark litigation, setting a precedent for future merger cases that there is no presumption in favour of mergers. It also completely changed how merger cases are handled by the Commission and how the interests of competitors are taken into account. In August 2009, law firm Watson, Farley & Williams said "the [merger] system owes a debt of gratitude to IMPALA". IMPALA is also advocating new competition guidelines to foster diversity and true competition in the music market.
IMPALA objected to the merger of Universal and the recorded music division of EMI, as well as the takeover of EMI's publishing business by the Sony/ATV consortium, and worked throughout the negotiations to emphasise the importance of maintaining competition and cultural diversity in the sector. After the European Commission approval of the mergers, pending significant divestments in September 2012, IMPALA welcomed the Commission's recognition of the need for strong competitors and its insistence on tough remedies, but reiterated their conviction that an outright blocking of the deals would have been in the best interests of the music industry as a whole.
In February 2013, IMPALA and global rights agency Merlin announced a landmark agreement with Warner Music Group. The agreement arose out of the regulatory process in the EU concerning Universal's purchase of EMI's recorded music business, which resulted in Universal being required to sell a significant portion of the acquired business (as well as certain UMG assets) in order to secure the EU's approval. This included Parlophone Music Group, which was subsequently acquired by Warner Music Group. The agreement between IMPALA, Merlin and WMG aims to bring more scale into the independent sector by offering independent labels an opportunity to buy, license or distribute a significant portion of Parlophone assets or their equivalent in WMG-owned assets. Other measures designed to help re-balance the recorded music market will also be put in place including behavioural commitments and capacity-building initiatives for independents, which again will be implemented by Merlin and IMPALA.
Digital Action Plan
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 & creative sectors which account for 4,2% of EU GDP and 7.1 million EU jobs. With the debate on copyright a hot topic, the action plan takes a robust stance and calls on the EU to reinforce copyright as a fundamental right, a liberator of the creativity that drives the digital market. The importance of stopping the abuse of the so-called "safe harbour" exemption by certain online platforms is underlined as a top priority. Other key measures include promoting diversity in a measurable way and devising a new regulatory, competition, social and fiscal framework for smaller actors.
The 10 points (click to view the relevant chapter online):
- Reinforcing the rights that drive the digital market and grow Europe's copyright capital
- Giving citizens the best digital infrastructure in the world
- Improving pluralism and diversity online as well as offline
- Revisiting the "rules of engagement" online
- Growing Europe's "missing middle" by improving conditions for smaller actors
- Effectively tackling structurally infringing websites
- Increasing investment through a new financial approach to culture
- Introducing greater fiscal fairness
- Mapping and measuring the sectors and how creativity works
- Placing culture and diversity at the heart of Europe's international work
Action Plan for Finance
In January 2010, IMPALA launched its Action Plan for Finance. This called for more specific measures to help finance cultural SMEs. The plan included sports-inspired measures, such as a 5% compensation fee on all future revenues of artists developed at a smaller label and later signed by a major, and a solidarity-based revenue-sharing system.
It also called for action at EC, national and regional level to improve competition in the music sector, through a reduced VAT rate, ensuring proper valuation of copyright as an intangible asset, EC investment programmes and loan guarantee schemes, amongst other proposals.
Action Plan for Music
In January 2008, IMPALA launched its Action Plan for Music. This called for cultural SMEs to be given a specific status. The Plan covered an investment package for financial viability and independence (including lowering VAT for music, applying tax benefits for SME innovation/risks/production, rolling out public/private loan guarantee schemes and SME friendly growth loan finance) a market access package (including making preferential terms for cultural SMEs a reality, adopting new competition rules for the cultural sector and dedicated independent space in all distribution channels) and a copyright and digital package (including extending term of protection for sound recordings, ISP engagement in resolving P2P issues, promoting the right of creators to fair private copying compensation).
IMPALA and BUMA/STEMRA
In November 2011 IMPALA created the first ever European portal for 'offline' mechanical rights licensing in an agreement with BUMA/STEMRA, the Dutch collecting rights society, offering independent labels the opportunity to group together and thereby obtain advantages typically available only to majors.
IMPALA and Nielsen
In March 2012 IMPALA and Nielsen launched their first pan-European Independent Charts for digital downloads and radio airplay, released on a quarterly basis. With Nielsen withdrawing its activities in Europe, the 2013 Q2 charts were the last to published. IMPALA is currently investigating new partnerships.
Other issues
IMPALA is active on other issues which aim to level the playing field in the music sector. These include:
- Collecting societies - IMPALA has approved a Code of Conduct for Collecting Societies, and also works to ensure its members are properly remunerated through identifying and distributing unclaimed monies lists.
- Copyright term extension.
- Implementation and adoption of the UNESCO convention on cultural diversity, promoting the principle of fair and equitable access to production, dissemination and distribution channels.
- Remedies for unauthorised uploading and downloading of copyrighted material, including ISP co-operation.
- Improving the image of the music sector, and ensuring policy makers understand the need for a balanced ecosystem comprising big, medium and small actors.
- Pushing for private copying levies to keep up with technological changes.
- Promoting the need for a global repertoire database and working with WIPO and the EC on projects.
- Working at national level on issues such as tax credits.
- Promoting cultural policy at EU level which is favourable to SMEs.
- Pushing for reduced VAT rates for music.
- Working to negotiate the best possible outcome for independents in merger deals.
- Promoting European Commission funding and supporting the use of independent music in European film through IMPALA/Just Temptation's film and music project at Berlin Film Festival, in February 2012.
IMPALA is a permanent observer at WIPO and a member of UNESCO's Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity
IMPALA actively contributed to the creation of Merlin in 2006 as a global rights licensing agency, aiming to ensure that the independents' rights would be represented in the digital market.
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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