Diversity resources

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

May is EU Diversity Month, when we do a series of posts and activities promoting the need for action. Find out more on this page and follow us on social media. We released our report on the first diversity and inclusion survey in the independent sector to round up our programme for EU Diversity Month, read the statement here and read the report here.

Equity, diversity and inclusion is a vital area of IMPALA’s work. We have a task force implementing our work, including our charter, surveying members, setting out the business case, offering training to members as well as practical tips for businesses and associations. On 21st October 2021, IMPALA released its first annual report on diversity and inclusion, read the report here. In 2022, IMPALA’s second annual report gives an overview on its work, including cross-cutting areas such as the question of equity in streaming reform (see IMPALA’s 2023 plan to make the most of streaming here), where Ben Wynter talks about how streaming has been transformative and his opposition to proposals like so-called “equitable remuneration”. Read statement here and report here.

On 21st October 2022, to mark the second anniversary of its equity, diversity and inclusion charter, IMPALA released its annual report on the work done in the past 12 months, focusing on successful projects and campaigns, as well as areas which still need to be improved. Read statement here and read the report here.

In May 2022, we launched the Changemaker Award to put the spotlight on projects working on equity, diversity and inclusion. Every year we highlight projects in this field and our task force picks the one they feel is the most inspirational. See more here.

Our report on IMPALA’s first sector survey results was published in May 2022. Towards a more diverse and inclusive independent music sector, is based on a sample of the sector and sets out the surveys findings. Read our statement here and see the full report here. Thank you for your participation!

Our last diversity and inclusion training took place online on Wednesday 27 April CET and dealt with unconscious bias and white privilege. Our next session is in September 2022.

Promoting a diverse and inclusive European independent music sector is a key priority for IMPALA’s task force which has been in place since summer 2020 and includes Keith Harris OBE as adviser. Keith Harris received IMPALA’s Outstanding Contribution Award in 2021, he was invited to talk in our 20MinutesWith podcast series, find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and Deezer. Below is a 2-minute message from Keith on his work with IMPALA and what he would like members to do.

IMPALA has a new three-year collaboration with Vick Bain from vbain consulting, and Arit Eminue of DiVA Apprenticeships to provide diversity and inclusion training to members. IMPALA’s first diversity training session for members took place in January 2021, with more than 50 participants. Since then we have organized 4 more trainings that have covered different topics such as diversifying recrutement, inclusive practices or policy. Don’t miss the podcast we made with Arit Eminue and Vick Bain, you can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and Deezer.

Our next equity, diversity and inclusion training for members will take place in September.

This session will focus on EDI communications strategies. We will discuss how EDI practices and EDI messages can be better embedded in music companies’ internal and external communications.

To sign up, contact nprevost@impalamusic.org

IMPALA’s Helen Smith was MEWEM France’s godmother, a programme designed to provide guidance and mentorship to women in the music industry, which Helen will promote at EU level as a great example of best practice and empowerment. Find out more about the programme here and listen to the podcast we created with the MEWEM team and mentees here (episode one) and here (episode two).

For international Roma day 2021, IMPALA put the spotlight on Marius Mihalache, the exceptional dulcimer player from Romania on his world famous career. Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and Deezer.

For European Diversity Month 2021, IMPALA launched the first cross border diversity survey for the European independent music sector. IMPALA also released two podcast episodes dedicated to diversity. The first one with IMPALA’s diversity task force’s co-chair Eva Karman Reinhold, you can listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and Deezer. The second one with Ben Wynter, entrepreneurship and outreach manager at AIM, you can listen to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and Deezer.

During Pride Month 2021, IMPALA released a podcast episode with Linda Coogan Byrne, Gender Diversity & Equality Activist and CEO of Good Seed PR & Marketing. Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and Deezer.

Over the summer 2021, IMPALA released two podcasts focused on the mentoring programme for women in the music industry MEWEM. Listen to the first episode featuring Céline Lepage from the French association FELIN, Naomi Baudy from Sparklers Tribe and Victoria Rousselot, aka Vicky R. Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts , Google Podcast and Deezer. The second episode was with Helene Larrouturou from MEWEM, Celine Bakond from La Neuvième Muse and Louise Cartier from Rooting for Artists. Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts , Google Podcast and Deezer.

In September 2021, IMPALA highlighted opportunities for women in the music industry in Central and Eastern Europe with Anca Lupes from Indiero and Justyna Masalska from ANPM. Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and Deezer .

IMPALA’s diversity and inclusion trainers Arit Eminue and Vick Bain also took part in the podcast series. Learn more about their work and IMPALA’s training programme for members by listening to their episode. Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and Deezer.

Brix Smith joined Vick Bain, on her second podcast, to talk about the F-List for Music, the first directory of its kind to list UK-based female musicians, songwriters & composers from every genre.

Listen to our 20MinutesWith podcast with Ben Wynter and Joe Frankland, co-founders of POWER UP, along with Paulette Long OBE (Executive Steering Committee Member), on the initiative’s efforts to support Black British music creators, industry professionals and executives, while also addressing anti-Black racism and other racial disparities in the music sector. Launched in January 2021, POWER UP became the very first recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker Award in May 2022. The discussion revolves around POWER UP’s work to break down barriers, its ambitions to build a fairer music industry and their reflections on receiving the award and next steps.

Listen here.

Listen to our 20MinutesWith podcast with Suzanne Bull MBE, founder of Attitude is Everything, on improving disabled people’s access to live music. Suzanne talks about the work done in the last 22 years and how Attitude is Everything has become the UK live-music industry’s trusted source of expertise on inclusion and inclusiveness for disabled music fans, artists, volunteers and professionals.

Listen here.

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