IMPALA has elected a new board and set its priorities for the next two years.
The trade body’s (AGM) in Zagreb was hosted as part of RUNDA Digital Day, RUNDA Adria’s annual conference supported by Merlin.
Growth of independent businesses was highlighted as a key priority, as well as boosting the market in south and central eastern Europe, access to finance, AI opportunities, independent distribution, streaming reform, collecting society revenues, sustainability, inclusion and access to market including consolidation.
IMPALA’s second representative scheme was also underlined as a key tool to diversify participation in the organisation’s executive board. The full list of executive board members is below.
Chair Dario Drastata (RUNDA Adria) was appointed for a second term, alongside Francesca Trainini (PMI Italia) as president and Geert de Blaere (BIMA) as treasurer.
A special tribute was paid to the late Horst Weidenmüller, founder of !K7, for his groundbreaking work in the sector. In addition, Merlin was thanked for their contribution on sustainability through the Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund launched earlier in the year.
Jeremy Sirota was also recognised for his contribution to the sector during his tenure as CEO of Merlin, including most recently the AI licensing deal with ethical AI operator Eleven Labs based on voluntary participation by Merlin members.
Taking place at the Croatian Employers Federation, IMPALA and RUNDA Adria organised an all-day series of meetings. This included the first ever European Independent Music Summit, co-funded by the EU under the Creative Europe programme.
IMPALA’s executive board and guests in Zagreb. Credit: Goran Berovi
IMPALA chair Dario Drastata, president of RUNDA Adria and executive director of Dallas Records, said: "This year’s discussions come at a crucial moment for the independent sector across Europe as well as in our region. Our goal is for independents to grow and for our artists to have a level playing field."
IMPALA treasurer Geert De Blaere, of Belgian association BIMA, said: "Our goal is to make sure independents have the resources and opportunities they need to grow – from improved access to finance and independent distribution to better conditions in the market.”
Helen Smith , IMPALA’s executive chair, added: "It’s been a big year for IMPALA, and it's fitting to hold our annual meeting in one of the key regions for artistic and entrepreneurial talent in Europe. We thank Merlin, RUNDA Adria, the EU and the Croatian Employers Federation for their support."
The list of IMPALA members elected to the executive board:
1. !K7 (represented by Tom Nieuwboer and Andrea Lacroix)
2. AIM (represented by Gee Davy and Chloe Van Bergen)
3. AIM Ireland (represented by Ciaran Conroy)
4. AMAEI (Carolina Reis and António Bexiga)
5. ANMIP (represented by Ruth Koleva and Kristiyana Georgieva)
6. Beggars Group (represented by Paul Redding and Martin Mills)
7. Better Noise Music (represented by Dan Waite and Claudia Mancino)
8. BIMA (represented by Geert De Blaere and Rémi Planchenault)
9. Cosmos Music Group (represented by Robert Litsen and Lisa Öhman)
10. DUP (represented by Kristoffer Rom and Laura Littauer)
11. Edel (represented by Jonas Haentjes)
12. Epitaph (represented by Roger Dorresteijn)
13. Everlasting Records (represented by Mark Kitcatt)
14. FONO (represented by Larry Bringsjord and Olga Solyanik)
15. HAIL (represented by Zsolt Jeges and Csaba Nasz)
16. Indieco ry (represented by Katja Vauhkonen and Riku Paakkonen)
17. INDIERO (represented by Dan Muraru and Anca Lupes)
18. IndieSuisse (represented by Andreas Ryser and Margot Voisin)
19. Playground Music Scandinavia (represented by Rebecka Sjöström and Jonas Sjöström)
20. Platforma (represented by Matej Burda and Martin Nedved)
21. PMI (represented by Maria Romana Trainini and Guendalina Gramitto Ricci)
22. RUNDA (represented by Dario Drastata and Pavle Eftimovski)
23. SCL / Lusitanian (represented by Nuno Saraiva and Filipa Rodrigues)
24. SOM (represented by Eva Karman Reinhold)
25. STOMP (represented by Kees van Weijen and Luciano Winter)
26. Sugar Music (represented by Andrea Cotromano)
27. UFI (represented by Sonia Durán)
28. UPFI (represented by Guilhem Cottet and Laure Cavaillé)
29. VTMÖ (represented by Alexander Hirschenhauser)
30. VUT (represented by Jörg Heidemann and Henrietta Bauer)
31. Wagram Music (represented by Stephan Bourdoiseau)
Gee Davy, Geert de Blaere, Jorg Heidemann and Helen Smith were appointed directors of IMPALA for administrative purposes.
