IMPALA PAYS TRIBUTE TO PATRICK ZELNIK FOR HIS KEY ROLE IN EUROPE ON BEHALF OF INDEPENDENT LABELS‘
[MIDEM, 2007: Patrick Zelnik (left), then co-president of IMPALA and Founder & President of Naïve, with Martin Mills, then Chairman of IMPALA and Founder & Chairman of Beggars Group, presenting Andrew Bowles, MD of Dramatico Entertainment, with the IMPALA Multi Platinum European Music Sales Award for Katie Melua’s Piece by Piece.]
Brussels, 18th September 2026
Patrick Zelnik, one of the key figures in the French music sector also played a key role at European level with IMPALA. The organisation paid tribute this afternoon.
Helen Smith, IMPALA Executive Chair: “We are sad to learn of the passing of Patrick, a very important person in the history of IMPALA. He was one of the co-founders through his company Naive and was president and then co-president from 2006 to 2012. He remained an active member of IMPALA right up until Naive was sold and even a couple of years ago he called up with a new idea he wanted to discuss.
Often in Brussels, Patrick was a real supporter of the work of IMPALA in underlining the importance of cultural diversity, fair competition and a well functioning digital market. He helped the whole industry in Europe as well as France drive a positive narrative about the economic contribution of culture and in particular small and medium cultural businesses.
Patrick would challenge and test and had a great sense of humour. He and Michel Lambot made a great pair and I recall more than one meeting in Brussels where we could hardly stop laughing before we went in.
We remember Patrick with admiration and fondness.”
[MIDEM 2008, left to right [Michel Lambot (co-Founder of [PIAS]), then co-President of IMPALA, Helen Smith (Executive Chair of IMPALA), European Commissioner Ján Figel, The late Horst Weidenmüller (Founder of !K7, then vice-president of IMPALA), the late Patrick Zelnik (Founder of Naïve, then President of IMPALA), Martin Mills (Founder & Chairman of the Beggars Group, then Chairman of IMPALA).]
About IMPALA
IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents over 6000 independent music companies in Europe. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. Known as the independents, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. IMPALA works on a range of key issues for its members and started a new co-funded work programme as an EU cultural network in 2025. IMPALA runs various award schemes and has a programme aimed at businesses who want to develop a strategic relationship with the European independent sector – Friends of IMPALA. This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary with a series of interviews Faces of the Independent Sector and other features, see more here.
