Changemakers

Levelling the playing field for independent music companies and their artists across Europe

This is where we highlight the projects that promote equity, diversity and inclusion in the independent music sector. Discover our list of inspiring initiatives that are reshaping the industry by clicking here and get motivated to take action yourself.

Changemaker Award

As part of our commitment to fostering positive change, we proudly present the Changemaker Award, an initiative launched in 2022 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the independent music sector. This award is part of the impactful work initiated by IMPALA’s equity, diversity, and inclusion task force, find out more here.

Winner 2026 – …

To be announced soon!

Changemaker award winners from previous years

Winner 2025 – MEWEM

MEWEM is the winner of the revamped IMPALA Changemaker Award 2025 co-funded by the European Union. The award recognises MEWEM for its pioneering mentoring programme that supports women and gender minorities, including female, trans, and non-binary talents. The programme addresses structural precarity and representation by encourages sustainable careers and professional and personal development. It is operated through two national branches, MEWEM Germany, which is organised by VUT and Initiative Musik, and MEWEM France. Founded in Berlin in 2015 by VUT under a different name, MEWEM was launched by FÉLIN (France) in 2018, creating a network that connects emerging professionals with experienced mentors across all areas of the music industry.

Read the statement here. Find more info here about MEWEM Germany and MEWEM France.

Winner 2024 – Black & Irish

The second recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker award was Black & Irish. The award recognises Black & Irish’s commitment to advocating for the black community in Ireland, building connections within Irish society and championing an anti-racist ethos. Black & Irish was founded in 2020 by Leon Diop, Femi Bakole and Pierre Yimbog and works to promote equity and inclusion for Black and mixed-raced people across the country. Black & Irish aims to improve the lives of Black and Irish people by working with strategic partners in the areas of advocacy, community engagement and education.

Read the statement here and find out more about Black & Irish here.

Winner 2023 – Women in CTRL

The second recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker award was the UK, not-for-profit organisation Women in CTRL. Recognised for their work developing and supporting music creators and music professionals from under-represented groups. Women in CTRL was founded by Nadia Khan and has been very active in its mission to advance gender equality in the music industry. The organisation was set up to empower and inspire women in the entertainment, creative and business sectors of the music industry and encourage women and non-binary persons to find their strengths, develop their own personal brand and build the tools and confidence to become leaders.

Read the statement here and find out more about Women in CTRL here.

Winner 2022 – POWER UP

The first recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker award was POWER UP, which addresses anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector, and supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives. Co-founded by PRS Foundation and Ben Wynter and managed by PRS Foundation in partnership with YouTube Music, Beggars Group, Spotify and the Black Music Coalition, the initiative was launched in January 2021 and has already powered up award-winning talent that is dominating playlists and line-ups, as well as taking up senior roles and Board positions across the industry.

Read the Changemaker Award statement here and find out more about POWER UP here.

Changemaker Award nominees 2026

Asian Tones champions and celebrates those with heritages from across West to East Asia regions within the music industry. The platform aims to shatter stereotypes and bridge the gaps between genres, languages and sub regions – evolving the definition of what being an Asian in music entails beyond the stereotypes. Representation is step one, genuine integration into the wider industry is the goal. In the UK, Asian Tones also have a strong focus on supporting and developing our community in the live scene, particularly at grassroots level.

Barrierefrei Feiern is a German collective of people with disabilities and their allies, campaigning for accessible cultural offerings.

They see themselves as experts in their own affairs and work from a perspective of self-advocacy and self-determined living.

Their work stems from the community, for the community – as a solidarity-based alliance that promotes inclusion and accessibility as a shared social responsibility.

The Black Entertainment Network (BEN) is a collective of Black executives in the entertainment industry, dedicated to elevating the Black entertainment sphere in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Their mission is to amplify Black voices, celebrate and connect the diverse talent within the region’s creative industries.

Together, they are committed to creating opportunities, breaking down barriers, and inspiring a future where every creative voice is heard. They want to work together to build a more inclusive and vibrant entertainment community.

Black Funding Network has already helped to significantly move the dial, creating a community of philanthropists and donors who want to give back. They’ve helped launch or build a range of really viable, black-led creative businesses and created a deeply inclusive network.

Black Lives in Music is an organisation advocating for equality in the music industry. In 2001, they released the report “Being Black in the UK Music Industry.” and in 2023, the report “Unseen. Unheard.”

Cat’s Mother is a not-for-profit female focused networking service. Our aim is to connect young women (18-24) from low-income backgrounds with professional established women who work in the music industry.

Come Play With Me is a UK-based non-profit supporting marginalised communities in music. They promote diversity and inclusion through events, a label, mentoring, podcasts, a magazine, and workshops. Awarded the 2022 Music Week Diversity In The Workplace award, they also published the first LGBTQ+ Musicians Insights report and 12 recommendations to make the music industry more inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals.

ESEA Music – Every Sound Every Action is a community-led, non-profit founded by UK-based East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) music industry professionals and artists from all corners and sectors of the UK music industry. With a growing membership of over 500, ESEA Music is dedicated to advancing the representation of ESEA professionals and artists across the UK music industry.

Ezra Collective Foundation offers a real life career entry and development opportunity for five young black women – a demographic that is significantly underrepresented in the field of behind the scenes music roles. The opportunity provides mentoring network across five very distinct roles, including music management, live sound, tour management and band leadership.

Finesse Foreva empowers young people from low socio-economic backgrounds with access to music industry knowledge and contacts. They give young people opportunities through their free event management courses and showcase new talent on their “Fresh Finds” playlist.

The Global Trans Charter for the Music Industry is a pioneering international initiative designed to create meaningful, structural change for trans and non-binary individuals across the global music ecosystem. It provides a practical and actionable framework for organisations, professionals, and stakeholders to implement inclusive policies, improve representation, and create safer, more equitable working environments.

The Heal the Healer project focuses on improving the mental health and well-being of musicians and professionals in the music industry. The goal of the project is to develop and implement interventions that, on the one hand, increase the resilience of vulnerable individuals (prevention) and, on the other hand, achieve structural improvements in working conditions within the music industry (amplification). The aim is to create awareness regarding mental health risks in the sector and contribute to destigmatisation.

IndieBalkans is an open-access, independent platform dedicated to mapping and connecting the music ecosystem across Southeast Europe and the Balkans – one of the most structurally underrepresented regions in the European music industry. The platform functions as a free, publicly accessible database of artists, labels, venues, studios, media, and professionals from across the region – countries that are consistently underrepresented in European lineups, funding schemes, and export structures.

Lila is a non-profit organisation focused on empowering South Asian artists & music professionals in the UK music industry.

The Midi Music Company (MMC) is an innovative music education and talent development charity, based in Deptford, South London. They champion excellence through educational programmes that nurture the musical talent of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged 11-30, empowering them with the skills and confidence to seek careers in music and the creative industries.

Musik Für Alle promotes gender equality and diversity in the Austrian music industry. Musik Für Alle supports underrepresented groups, empowering them through skill development, networking, and career advancement. Focused on equality and inclusion across musical genres, it highlights role models and inspires others to achieve success in the industry.

Pachamama Culture • Music C•A•R•E•S is an independent initiative that reframes what ‘sustainability’ actually means in live music. While most industry conversations focus exclusively on carbon footprints, this platform integrates social, ecological, and economic justice into a unified holistic framework.

Popkollo is an organisation for girls and trans youth, organizing music camps foremost for 12 to 18 years olds, but also for women and trans people over 18. At a typical Popkollo camp the participants learn how to play instruments, form bands, write songs, participate in inspiring workshops and perform live. You are not required to have any prior musical knowledge when coming to our camps, the only thing needed is a passion for music.

Psy-Sisters is a pioneering grassroots music platform and record label advancing gender diversity within electronic and psychedelic music. Founded in 2012 by British Asian artist Psibindi (Rena Biring), the initiative was created to address the systemic lack of visibility, representation, and opportunity for women and gender-expansive artists in the underground psytrance scene.

Rechi Project is a charitable initiative by the pomitni label, focused on creating value-driven clothing drops through creative collaborations with various brands. The core idea of the project is to transform local observations, knowledge, and cultural meanings into global products accessible worldwide. All profits from sales are donated to charitable initiatives addressing the consequences of the war and current humanitarian needs.

Saffron is a music tech initiative taking an intersectional approach to redressing the gender imbalance in the industry. Saffron is laying the blueprint for a music industry where underrepresented creatives thrive, harnessing technology as a tool for full self-expression, disrupting power structures, and leading culture forward.

Sisters Music Chain is a platform for solidarity, advocacy, education, and collaborative production for women musicians. The platform is based on solidarity and support. The platform also focuses on advocacy by conducting research to raise awareness of the problems women face in the music industry, find solutions and reach out to policymakers. They also organise in-person training sessions on relevant topics for members.

Small Green Shoots is a youth-led charity offering an alternative to the conventional system for education, training and entry into the jobs market. We help young people facing difficult life circumstances gain access to the entertainment and creative industries through paid classroom learning, vocational training, internships and access to creative grants. This allows our young workers (the “Shoots”) to build a career, rather than just seek a job.

Stichting Backstage Pass was established to address a critical imbalance in the cultural and events sector: the lack of diversity within technical and production teams. While progress has been made on stage, the “world behind the scenes” remains one of the least diverse areas of the industry. Backstage Pass is dedicated to break down these systemic barriers, ensuring that the technical workforce becomes a reflection of our society.

Taskforce GO! aims to create a safe working environment for everyone working in the Dutch music industry. We are committed to a sector where everyone’s talent can flourish, everyone’s boundaries are respected, and everyone has the space to be themselves, regardless of sex, gender expression, ethnicity, cultural background, age, or other factors.

The Next Big Thing festival presents the top emerging Irish talent. They are a DIY festival, curated by musicians for music lovers of all kinds, and their mission is to platform the best up-and-coming, genre-blending talent in Ireland. With a strong commitment to community, inclusion, and representing the diversity of Ireland’s music scene, the festival was founded to challenge barriers within the industry. The Next Big Thing intentionally centres musicians from minoritised backgrounds, with LGBTQIA+ artists, women, and artists of colour comprising the majority of the line-up, while also supporting emerging acts in gaining access to the festival circuit.

The Right to Sing e.V

The Right to Sing e.V is a Berlin-based non-profit advocating for the visibility and right to artistic expression of marginalized voices – particularly women and queer people from the SWANA region.

The organisation was founded by Faravaz Farvardin, an Iranian-born singer and activist who was arrested in Iran for singing as a woman and now lives in exile in Berlin. Through music, public engagement, and community work, The Right to Sing e.V. addresses the intersection of gender, artistic freedom, and displacement.

TRANSTRONICA is a transdisciplinary music and art festival curated by Saeleen Bouvar, which places trans women at its centre. It combines electronic music, performance and curatorial practice to create an aesthetic and political space for collective experience.
TRANSTRONICA sees itself as a platform for trans perspectives that shift cultural narratives and create new spaces for visibility, resistance and shared imagination.

White Hut Studios in Education (WHSE) is dedicated to empowering young people in Croydon and its surrounding areas through music education and mentorship. With tailored programmes focusing on songwriting, vocal recording, and music production, they provide hands-on experiences that foster creativity and skill development. They are committed to shaping the next generation of musical talent.

Why Not Her? is an award-winning, data-led research and advocacy company driving structural change across the music and media industries, with a focus on gender, power, and access across radio airplay, festival programming, and industry visibility.

Wiccan Play Blues is a DIY label focused on equity and the active inclusion of female artists aged 40 and over within the American roots genres (blues, rock, country) in Spain and Latin America. Our work focuses on combating the systemic invisibility of this group, managing projects that prioritise social impact and technical sustainability (low-cost/practical) for independent artists.

Women in Music Romania is a platform developed by the HerStory Association, dedicated to supporting and affirming women in the Romanian music industry, both artistically and in management, business and cultural entrepreneurship. Its goal is to contribute to building a more equitable industry, in which female voices are visible, valued and involved in all stages of the creative and decision-making process. Projects focus on professional development, education and increasing visibility, including through a mentorship programme.

More important initiatives, podcasts & reports (alphabetical order):

IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association

Rue des Deux Eglises 37-39, 1000, Brussels, BELGIUM

+32 2 503 31 38