Impala Press Release
Brussels, 3 July 2007

IMPALA APPOINTS NEW BOARD AND SECRETARY GENERAL

Following its AGM held on Friday in London, IMPALA has elected a new twenty strong Board representing independent music companies across Europe. The association has also appointed a new Secretary General, Helen Smith, who is leaving her role as co-manager of KEA European Affairs. Helen will manage a stand alone secretariat devoted to IMPALA issues. The move marks a new phase in the history of the association aimed at consolidating the presence of the independent music sector in Brussels. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW CONTACT DETAILS AS OF TODAY.

Patrick Zelnik (Naïve, FR) and Martin Mills (Beggars Group, UK) will continue as President and Chairman respectively, with Hein van der Ree, (Epitaph Europe, NL) and Horst Weidenmuller (K7, DE) as Vice Presidents. The full list of board members can be found below.

The Board thanked departing Secretary General Philippe Kern by presenting him with an IMPALA Platinum Award – Icky Thump by the White Stripes. Philippe will continue to advise IMPALA.

Quotes:
Patrick Zelnik, IMPALA President said: When we started IMPALA, cultural diversity and creativity were not part of the debate in Brussels. Thanks to IMPALA and the efforts of campaigners such as Helen and Philippe, this has changed. Our task ahead is to reinforce that and produce concrete results on a political and commercial level.

Martin Mills, IMPALA Chairman added: We are very grateful to KEA's staff and Philippe Kern for having taken IMPALA to its current level of success and we are confident that the new stand-alone IMPALA under Helen will continue to place the independents on the musical frontline in this challenging and exciting era.

Helen Smith, IMPALA Secretary General said: I am delighted to step up to the role of Secretary General and continue to promote the interests of real creators and innovators at this crucial time. Collectively the independents can and will continue to punch above their weight. Our priorities will be market access, financial access and political access.

Philippe Kern, Managing Director of KEA European Affairs added: IMPALA is now almost eight years old and the stand alone structure makes more sense in view of the increased activities of the association and its responsibility towards its members and the regulators. IMPALA is a pioneer in creative industries representation in Brussels and a model in the way it made use of EU regulatory instruments to the benefits of the independent community. I am sad to see Helen leaving after four years with KEA but I am comforted by the fact that the organisation is in expert hands.

The new Board members are:
Stéphan Bourdoiseau, Wagram
Larry Bringsjord, Fono
Johan Ekelund, SOM
Claudio Ferrante, PMI
Tony Harlow, V2
Emil Joergensen, DUP
Martin Goldschmidt, Cooking Vinyl
Eva Kiltz, VUT
Michel Lambot, PIAS
Martin Mills, Beggars Group (CHAIR)
Yann Padron, UFI
Jérôme Roger, UPFI
Jonas Sjoström, Edel and Playground
Helen Smith, IMPALA Secretary General
Horst Weidenmueller, !K7 (VICE PRESIDENT)
Alison Wenham, AIM
Hein van der Ree, Epitaph (VICE PRESIDENT)
Wally van Middendorp, CNR
Patrick Zelnik, Naïve (PRESIDENT)

The new contact details are:
IMPALA
Coudenberg 70
1000 Bruxelles
T: 00 32 2 5033138
F: 00 32 2 5032391
W: www.impalamusic.org
E: info@impalamusic.org

About IMPALA
IMPALA was established in April 2000 as a non-profit making organisation with a scientific and artistic purpose to help independent record companies and music publishers organise themselves. IMPALA has over 3,500 members. The independents are world leaders in terms of R&D and discovering new music and artists. Despite this, they face increasingly complex barriers to trade and severe market access problems.

IMPALA members: !K7 (Germany), Beggars Group (UK), Bonnier Amigo (Sweden), CLS Kft (Hungary), CNR (NL), Cooking Vinyl (UK), Edel (Germany), Epitaph (US/NL), Gazell (Sweden), Menart doo (SIovenia), Musicvertrieb (Switzerland), Mystic Production (Poland) Naïve (France), Odyssey (Ukraine), PIAS Group (Belgium), Playground (Sweden), Red Bullet (NL), Soyuz Music (Russia), SPV (Germany), V2 Music Group (UK), Wagram (France), as well as national trade associations from the UK (AIM), France (UPFI), Germany (VUT), Spain (UFI), Italy (PMI), Denmark (DUP), Norway (FONO), Israel (PIL) and Sweden (SOM) and the Catalonian association APECAT. For further information on IMPALA, please see http://www.impalamusic.org or contact IMPALA on T: + 32 .2. 503 3138

About KEA
KEA, based in Brussels, is established since 1999 as a specialist consultancy for creative businesses. KEA helped set up IMPALA and managed its secretariat until now. The objective of KEA is to enable the participation of companies in the European decision making process whatever their size and geographical situation. It provides advice to industries, organisations, associations and public institutions. For further information on KEA please see www.keanet.eu or contact KEA on +32.2.289.26.00

For more information contact IMPALA : www.impalasite.org. Tel.+32 2 289 26 00