Brussels/New York, 12 June 2025

Hi all, it’s great to be here at Indie week and I would like to start by giving a huge thank you and congratulations to A2IM for organising this amazing conference.

As some of you may already know, my name is Gee Davy. I am CEO of AIM UK. However, today I am here on behalf of IMPALA, the European association of independents and A2IM’s sister in Europe. I know, nowadays, it might seem strange to see someone from Britain representing Europe, but IMPALA’s position is that the European music market is not defined by the EU and includes the whole of the UK. Together with AIM, IMPALA is working hard to ensure that independent voices, both in the UK and the EU, are heard. Brexit may have changed the lyrics, but the melody remains the same.

2025 marks a new chapter for IMPALA, as we launch a four-year EU co-funded programme to scale up our work and support members across key areas like fair competition in the market, AI and streaming, on top of our usual work of being the voice of independent music companies in Europe.

You may be wondering why IMPALA’s executive chair, Helen Smith, cannot be here today to deliver this year’s Postcard from Europe. But, as many of you may be aware, she is currently engaged in regular meetings regarding the ongoing acquisition of Downtown by Universal Music Group, which is now being assessed by the European Commission. Helen sends her regards and would like to congratulate A2IM on another successful indie week.

This brings me to the first topic of what has been a busy and eventful year for us across the pond. Competition and market consolidation has come firmly into focus with the Commission’s decision to investigate UMG’s acquisition of Downtown. Following Universal’s acquisition of PIAS and 8Ball Music in the space of a few months in 2024, and its aim to expand even further with its proposed acquisition of Downtown, including FUGA and CD Baby, (essential platforms for independent and emerging artists), IMPALA and our members across Europe called on competition authorities to step in. We welcome the European Commission’s decision to investigate and firmly believe that UMG’s “juggernaut” strategy of rapid acquisitions should be blocked. We are working in coordination with the EC to help them understand the impact it will have on the music industry, cultural sector and of course to music fans.

It wouldn’t be a Postcard from Europe without an update on AI. Since the AI Act came into force last year, and following the publication of the third draft of the AI Code of Practice, IMPALA, together with Europe’s wider creative sector, is calling on EU policymakers to ensure that transparency, consent, and the rights of creators remain at the heart of the Act’s implementation. As we move from legislation to enforcement, it is vital that these core principles are not compromised.

Returning more value to artists has always been a top prior of ours. Which brings me to streaming. Just this week, IMPALA put out a new report written by industry experts Dan Fowler – who is in the room here today – and Kat Basset, in which they assess recent developments in the streaming market, namely the emergence of a two-tier industry. The report identifies a widening gulf between large rightsholders and independent actors, driven by market consolidation, opaque platform policies, and the evolution of de-monetisation practices that increasingly favour scale over diversity. They identify IMPALA’s 10-point plan for streaming reform as a list of KPIs for the sector on which to hold the industry to account. They propose immediate improvement in the critical areas of fairness, transparency, and market diversity, including action on AI dilution, royalty reform, DSP practices, and proper consultation and impact assessment. The report follows IMPALA’s recent Remuneration Playbook, which focusses on growing remuneration and diversity across the whole music market, offline as well as online.

IMPALA continues to collaborate closely with its partners across the sector. Our artist showcase programme, 100 Artists to Watch, in partnership with YouTube, entered its fourth year, this year, highlighting outstanding independent talent from across 30 European countries. Check out the full playlist of eclectic artists on YouTube, if you haven’t already!

Our work on equity, diversity, and inclusion has become more important than ever with many businesses, organisations, and governments around the world now deprioritising these vital areas. We confirm our commitment to EDI with new training resources, webinars, and our annual report. As part of European Diversity Month in May, we proudly announced this year’s Changemaker Award winner, MEWEM, a pioneering mentoring programme that supports women and gender minorities to become entrepreneurs and to increase representation within the music industry. Many other inspiring projects from across Europe were also recognised. I highly recommend that you to take a moment to discover them.

Our sustainability work remains a top priority with the recent joint launch with Merlin of the Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund to help support the independent music sector’s transition. The fund is of course named in tribute to !K7 music’s Horst Weidenmüller, who was a true visionary in the independent music scene and who we sadly lost at the beginning of this year. This, together with the continued success of IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator developed by climate experts Julie’s Bicycle to help labels track their emissions, and our strategic partnerships with Murmur, Music Declares Emergency, and the Music Climate Pact, underlines our commitment to meaningful climate action across the independent music sector.

Finally, I want to highlight a new strategic initiative being developed by the European Commission – the Cultural Compass. Expected to be presented by the end of 2025, the Cultural Compass proposes to integrate culture’s role into policy areas related to digital transformation, international cooperation, and sustainable development. As Europe finds itself at a tipping point when it comes to key decisions affecting the future of the music sector, this could be a real opportunity to secure greater recognition and support for music and the broader cultural industries. So, watch this space!

That’s all from me, thanks again to A2IM for a great event, thanks to Merlin for your continued support and of course, thanks to all IMPALA members and friends who support our work in Europe!