Impala - Independent Music Companies Association

Accueil
België
Bruxelles / Brussel
Impala - Independent Music Companies Association

Itinéraire Site Web Contacter l’organisation

IMPALA - levelling the playing field for independent music companies and their artists across Europe

See our news & resources
https://linktr.ee/IMPALA_music

15/10/2026

Thanks to music journalist Alan Pedder for interviewing Helen Smith as part of IMPALA’s 25th anniversary.

Helen said, “Independent ownership is key for labels who want to be free to take decisions with their artists in their best interests”, as she predicted independents will be “walking on carpets of red and gold”.

Helen also highlighted the importance of being in Sofia as part of IMPALA’s priority to see central and southern eastern European markets grow and make sure diversity is prioritised across the whole music ecosystem.

See you later today at IMPALA’s anniversary drinks from 6pm to 7pm local time at Culture Beat in Sofia.

15/10/2026

Today in Sofia as part of the So Alive Music Conference programme, Beggars Group's Director of Live Licensing, Ruth Barlow joined moderator Alek Bošković for a deep conversation entitled ‘Independence isn't a genre: who actually wins in today's Music Industry?'.

The discussion looked at the many players beyond the label who benefit from today's music ecosystem, while exploring the topics of ownership, distribution power, platform influence and the real economics behind independence.

See the full programme: https://soalivemusicconference.com/conference/programme/

15/10/2026

New faces at So Alive Music Conference. Today IMPALA board member and STOMP president Kees van Weijen led a mentoring session with new music Executives from the Balkan’s Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria. Great to see the IMPALA network’s engagement in full swing. 💪

14/10/2026

As part of IMPALA’s 25th anniversary celebrations at So Alive Music Conference, members from the Central and Southern Eastern Europe group met this afternoon to discuss shared priorities and ways to strengthen independent music across the region. Chaired by Kristiyana Georgieva from Асоциация на независимите музикални издатели и продуценти в България ANMIP), topics included growing local digital markets, finance, discoverability, charts, copyright and opportunities to work more closely together.

Manos Dedevesis from Hermes - Hellenic Music Companies Association, IMPALA’s newest Greek member, presented Hermes’ recent work and priorities. Guna Zučika from the new Latvian association LAIMA also summarised progress in Latvia and the plans for the organisation. Both associations will participate in IMPALA’s capacity building scheme for young associations as part of the EC’s cultural network programme.

Runda - Regional Association of Independent Discographers Balkans, Indiero - Romanian Indie Labels Association from Romania, HAIL Hungarian Association of Independent Labels from Hungary and BMYD from Turkey also participated and shared their current priorities alongside host ANMIP, who summarised the findings of their new report on the perspective of Bulgarian music listeners.

Independent companies from across the region and beyond also joined.

Thanks again to SoAlive and ANMIP for organising the meeting.

With network development in the region one of IMPALA’s strategic priorities, the meeting is a key part of IMPALA’s 25th anniversary programme, which also includes the interview series Faces of the Independent Sector, which kicked off with today’s chair Kristiyana earlier this year; see here: https://www.impalamusic.org/kristiyana-georgieva-of-anmip-takes-centre-stage-in-the-second-edition-of-impalas-faces-of-the-independent-sector/

Tomorrow, music journalist Alan Pedder will interview Helen Smith at 13:00 local time in the Presentation Room. You can also join us at IMPALA’s anniversary drinks from 6pm to 7pm local time at Culture Beat.

14/10/2026

Today in Sofia as part of So Alive Music Conference, we are following IMPALA board member Anca Lupes in action moderating as part of the panel "Making the Impossible: How the World's Biggest Festivals Shape Global Music"

See the programme here: https://soalivemusicconference.com/conference/programme/

14/10/2026

This morning, IMPALA joined So Alive Music Conference in Sofia for a discussion on AI, copyright and the future of the music industry.

IMPALA’s Helen Smith joined Alice Oliveira (Partisan Records), Silas Schwarzkopp (MusikWoche), Sebastian Beresford and Manos Dedevesis (Stay Independent / Hermes - Hellenic Music Companies Association), in a panel moderated by Dario Draštata (Dallas Records / Runda - Regional Association of Independent Discographers Balkans).

Thank you to So Alive for hosting the discussion as we celebrate IMPALA’s 25th anniversary.

14/10/2026

If you are at the MaMA Music & Convention check out the panel “What support mechanisms can help finance your business in Europe?” today at 1:30p.m. at Théâtre de l’Atelier in Paris!

IMPALA's Matthieu Philibert will discuss which financing mechanisms are needed for independent music companies to continue investing, taking risks in new music and artists, and growing.

The panel will be co-moderated by music policy & industry experts Fabien Miclet and Emmanuel Legrand (Editor-in-Chief of Creative Industries News), and joined by Guilhem Cottet (Executive Director of ), Juliette Metz (President of the ) and Nicolas Trichet (Deputy Director of IFCIC).

More info on MaMA's website: https://tinyurl.com/3t3b9cud

13/10/2026

🎉 Be sure to catch IMPALA during Асоциация на независимите музикални издатели и продуценти в България (Association of Independent Music Publishers and Producers Bulgaria)'s programme for the celebration of 25 years of IMPALA this Thursday as part of the So Alive Music Conference!

Swipe right to see IMPALA's activities ➡️

1️⃣ 25 Years of IMPALA - The Interview
📍Thu, 15 Oct, 13:30-14:30, Presentation Room
Join IMPALA’s Executive Chair, Helen Smith, for a public conversation exploring IMPALA’s journey over the past 25 years and its contribution to the development of independent music associations and organisations across Europe, the Balkans and South-East Europe.

2️⃣ 25 Years of IMPALA - Party 🎉
📍Thu, 15 Oct, 18:00-19:00 Culture Beat (Social)
Join us later on to celebrate 25 years of IMPALA, the independent music community we’ve built together, and the connections that continue to bring us closer across Europe.

🗓️ A quick note on IMPALA’s other meetings: The following sessions are closed and intended for relevant IMPALA members and invited participants. See you there!
🔸IMPALA South Eastern Europe meeting – Wed, 14 Oct, 17:30–19:00
🔸IMPALA South Eastern Europe x PROPHON meeting – Thu, 15 Oct, 10:00–11:00

Also, as part of IMPALA’s Faces of the Independent Sector storytelling campaign celebrating our 25th anniversary, we are also pleased to share our interview earlier this year with Kristiyana Georgieva, Project Manager at the Bulgarian independent music association, ANMIP who reflects on what independence in the music sector means to her, while highlighting both the opportunities and challenges facing artists from underrepresented regions.

🔸 See the interview here: https://tinyurl.com/42kpde95

A big thank you to SoAlive and ANMIP, including Ruth Koleva and Kristiyana Georgieva, for hosting our IMPALA 25 programme, as well as Dario Draštata (President of Runda - Regional Association of Independent Discographers Balkans / Chair of IMPALA), for all the help setting this up for a great celebration together.

🔗 Visit our 25 years of IMPALA page: https://www.impalamusic.org/impala-25-years/

13/10/2026

This week, IMPALA will join So Alive Music Conference in Sofia to celebrate IMPALA’s 25th anniversary.

🗓 Be sure to catch IMPALA's very own Helen Smith on the Panel “Who Owns THIS? AI, Copyright and the Fight for Music’s Future” tomorrow!

📍 Date & Time: Wednesday, 14 October · 11:00–12:00 Location: Peroto, Sofia

The conversation will be moderated by Dario Draštata (Dallas Records (official page)/ Runda - Regional Association of Independent Discographers Balkans/ IMPALA) and also joined by Alice Oliveira (Partisan Records), Silas Schwarzkopp (MusikWoche) and Manos Dedevesis (Stay Independent).

A big thank you to SoAlive and Асоциация на независимите музикални издатели и продуценти в България (Association of Independent Music Publishers and Producers Bulgaria) for hosting our IMPALA 25 programme and helping us mark this important milestone!

🔗 Find the full conference programme: https://tinyurl.com/3fv35d47

13/10/2026

🚨 IMPALA is pleased to welcome Indie Music Rights (IMR) a music company acquiring, managing and activating music rights catalogues, to the Friend of IMPALA business affiliate programme.

IMR works with independent rights owners to manage and develop their catalogues, with a focus on co-ownership, clarity and long-term value. Through this partnership, IMR aims to build closer links with IMPALA’s network and members across Europe, sharing its experience around music rights, catalogue management and valuation.

Welcome to the IMPALA network, IMR!

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/4wkcftc8

Adresse

37-39 Rue Des Deux Eglises
Brussels
1000

Site Web

http://www.impalamusic.org/

Notifications

Soyez le premier à savoir et laissez-nous vous envoyer un courriel lorsque Impala - Independent Music Companies Association publie des nouvelles et des promotions. Votre adresse e-mail ne sera pas utilisée à d'autres fins, et vous pouvez vous désabonner à tout moment.