Campaigns and Initiatives

UK Music Diversity Taskforce Ten-Point Plan and Diversity Report

The Association of Independent Music (AIM), welcomes the launch of the UK Music Diversity Report and its accompanying 10 point plan which lays out strategic actions to improve diversity and boost inclusion at UK music industry trade bodies. The Ten-Point Plan aligns evidence and metrics to strategic actions to help increase diversity and boost inclusion at the trade bodies that represent the majority of the UK music industry.

The report demonstrates that the UK music industry continues to make good progress on improving diversity, but more work is urgently needed in certain key areas such as representation and retention of both women and Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities at senior levels.

AIM is proudly committed to UK Music’s 10-point plan. Its publication follows AIM’s announcement that it will be pivoting its membership structure with a new, free Associate tier for every client of its independent Distributor Members to bring foundational music business knowledge to up to 100,000 music industry entrepreneurs at no cost. Free access to knowledge is a key resource for many working in the industry - last week, a British Business Bank report found that fewer Black, and Asian and Other Ethnic Minority entrepreneurs access valuable advice for free, relative to White entrepreneurs.

Details on the UK Music Diversity Taskforce Ten-Point Plan  can be found here

Keychange Pledge

About Keychange:

Keychange is a pioneering international initiative which transforms the future of music whilst encouraging festivals and music organisations to include 50% women and underrepresented genders in programming, staffing and beyond. 74 emerging artists and innovators each year from across Europe and Canada will take part in international festivals, showcase events, collaborations and a programme of creative labs. Keychange aims to accelerate change and create a better, more inclusive music industry for present and future generations.

For more information click here

AIM’s Pledge:

AIM joined a number of music industry trade organisations in furthering our Keychange gender equality pledge towards achieving 50% board representation of women and under-represented genders.

"AIM has long ensured gender balance in the speakers for our yearly programme of events including AIM Independent Music Awards judges. We solidified our commitment to this by signing the Keychange pledge in 2017 for our flagship conference AIM Connected. Three years on, we hope that by renewing and extending our pledge to ensure gender balance including minority genders across all our events, we encourage others to do the same. AIM also pledges to encourage our Members to help us reach gender balance on our Board by 2022.

AIM’s Board is diverse in many ways, including over 30% being of Black, Asian or other minority ethnicities. AIM sees this as a baseline only and we pledge to maintain a sharp focus on the ethnic diversity of our Board.

AIM is fully committed to representing wider society and the diverse independent community in the make-up of our organisation, and Keychange represents a significant step in the right direction.”

IMPALA Diversity and Inclusion Charter

IMPALA has adopted a Diversity and Inclusion Charter setting out a series of twelve commitments for the organisation, which it will report on annually.

Guidance for members, training programmes, surveys to measure diversity and a range of other measures will be put in place, designed to promote inclusion and diversity across the European independent sector.

After working on various aspects of diversity over the years, IMPALA’s charter marks a more comprehensive and structured approach. The charter is based on European fundamental rights which cover gender, ethnicity, religion, belief, disability, age and sexual orientation, political beliefs as well as other protected characteristics.

IMPALA’s charter has been prepared by a diversity task force, with Keith Harris OBE appointed as adviser. The work started in June following a rescheduling of IMPALA’s board meeting to respect #BlackOutTuesday. Weekly task force meetings were chaired by Eva Karman Reinhold from SOM, the Swedish independents organisation and Paul Pacifico from AIM in the UK.

IMPALA’s task force aims to mainstream the charter’s principles throughout IMPALA‘s work, with all committees and the board appointing diversity advocates. Mapping and sharing of best practices across Europe will also be carried out, similar to the exercise undertaken by IMPALA’s Covid-19 task force.

Advice for members who are interested in tips for their own businesses is in the pipeline, as well as free bi-annual conscious inclusion training. Helping members access European funding for diversity projects is part of IMPALA’s commitments, together with other initiatives such as new awards at European and national level and an outreach programme.  

IMPALA will invite its national association and company members to use the charter’s principles in their own work on a voluntary basis and adapt as they see fit.

As the roll out proceeds, IMPALA commits to using its voice in Brussels and will implement further projects to make change sustainable in the long term, with targets for five and ten years.

Francesca Trainini, chair of IMPALA and Italian association PMI said: “Devoting more me and resources to enhancing diversity will increase our members’ ability to run more inclusive, considerate and successful companies. That is the ultimate aim of IMPALA’s task force.”

Keith Harris OBE, adviser to IMPALA’s task force, commented “It’s been incredibly encouraging to witness the commitment to diversity and inclusion for the long term, that has been put into place by IMPALA. I am proud to have been included in their team to help drive their change agenda forward.”

Eva Karman Reinhold, co-chair of IMPALA’s task force, chair of Swedish association SOM continued: “Associations play an important role in shaping the climate of the music sector. IMPALA’s action plan for positive change in terms of diversity and inclusion is designed to also support its members in that same aim. I believe this will be particularly helpful for independent associations, working to strengthen big and smaller music companies across Europe. My experience with gender projects in Sweden has shown multiple benefits for the independent sector in making sure new and diverse businesses are heard.”

Paul Pacifico, co-chair of IMPALA‘s task force, CEO of UK association AIM, added: “IMPALA covers 30 European countries and counting, all of whom are very different. There is no “one size fits all” solution, as IMPALA’s charter recognises. What is needed in the UK will be different to other countries,

but exchanging our experiences and building a bank of best practices will achieve diversity and inclusion far faster than us all working individually.”

Roger Dorresteijn, MD of Epitaph Europe, member of IMPALA’s task force added: “I see IMPALA's Diversity and Inclusion Charter as a great step forward and a direct call to action for the independent music sector. Simply put, a music sector where everyone can feel heard, safe, valued and respected, creates better companies overall. We're not committing ourselves to abstract phrases, but instead to practical day to day steps in order to do the work.”

Helen Smith, executive chair of IMPALA concluded: “Inspiring change is a vital part of IMPALA’s mission and this is what our charter seeks to achieve.  Very much a European approach, we have focused on fundamental rights within a broad and pragmatic package which can be rolled out on a voluntary basis and adapted to each country. Keith Harris' input has been invaluable and our ongoing collaboration will help us measure and adjust as we proceed, to ensure we achieve structural and lasting change.”

For more information click here

Black Music Coalition

The Black Music Coalition (BMC) is a Black led organisation created in June 2020, in the wake #TheShowMustBePaused, at a time when a spotlight had been cast on anti-Black systemic racism.

The BMC is dedicated to eradicating racial inequality and establishing equality and equity for Black executives, artists and their communities within the UK Music Industry.

To find out more about BMC please click here

POWER UP PRS FOUNDATION INITIATIVE

Power Up is a long term initiative supporting Black Music Creators and industry professionals and executives. Power Up also aims to address anti-black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.

Power Up also has a Participant Programme which is designed to elevate Black Music Creators and industry professionals.

For more information click here

Black Lives in Music

Black Lives in Music is made up of a number of partners who are all working towards the same goal: to dismantle structural racism in our industry. We aim to support the industry in providing better professional opportunities. We also want to achieve equality for Black professionals at all levels and in all areas of the UK Jazz and Classical industry. Representation matters, we need to take action together and create a level playing field for everyone to have an equal chance to succeed.

Black Lives in Music stands for equal opportunities – for Black people to be able to work successfully in the UK music industry without being the subject of discrimination.

For more information click here

The F List

The F List helps UK female and gender minority musicians overcome structural barriers by facilitating training and professional opportunities.

To find out more click here

IMPALA's Practical Sustainability Guidance

IMPALA's Practical Sustainability Guidance is adapted from advice prepared and shared by AIM, with thanks to IMPALA’s sustainability task force, AIM, Julie’s Bicycle, Key Production, Music Declares Emergency

This is intended to be a practical guide for members. Please adapt and use as you see fit.

To view the guide please download the PDF.

IMPALA Climate Charter  - IMPALA Sustainability Programme Aiming For A Net Positive Independent Music Community By 2030

IMPALA, the European independent music companies association, is launching a sustainability programme to help make the European independent music sector more sustainable. The package consists of a climate charter for IMPALA, overall targets and voluntary tools for members.

IMPALA’s ambition is to aim for a climate positive membership by 2030, with an interim net zero target for 2026. These targets are voluntary for members and also lock in the idea that there is no one size fits all, as each company and country is different. Members will have access to guidance and training and will be able to use IMPALA’s voluntary climate declaration as well as other tools.

A project to develop the first carbon accounting tool specific to the recorded music sector is also in the pipeline. The calculator will cover the supply chain as well as label activities and IMPALA is open to working with partners to ensure maximum impact. Possible collective offsetting investment options will also be reviewed.

IMPALA’s work is cradled in a climate charter which sets out fifteen commitments for the organisation. IMPALA took another step to implement its charter by asking streaming services to help assess and reduce the carbon footprint of digital music. This is one of IMPALA’s priorities set out in its ten step streaming plan.

IMPALA’s sustainability package was put together by a task force initiated by Horst Weidenmüller from !K7, with Alison Tickell from Julie’s Bicycle appointed as adviser, alongside a range of members including Will Hutton from Beggars Group and Peter Quicke from Ninja Tune who made up the team presenting the recommendations to IMPALA’s board.

 Horst Weidenmüller, Chair of IMPALA’s task force, and CEO of !K7, commented: “IMPALA’s programme means we can plan ahead, provide real sustainability options for artists and develop flexible tools for members. Acting early isn’t just a climate question, it avoids disruption and carbon taxes. Credibility is important, so we are including the supply chain. Our ultimate ambition is to be carbon positive rather than just neutral. This is what sets IMPALA’s work apart in the music sector today.”

Alison Tickell, Founder and CEO of Julie’s Bicycle, adviser to IMPALA’s task force, commented: “Managing carbon targets means a systems shift and IMPALA’s collective effort is the right approach. Mapping what the transition looks like whilst making sure it accommodates the range, size and national differences of the IMPALA membership is a cornerstone of success. Ambitious industry-led collaborations on this scale will not only help the EU deliver its Green Deal, they also help us all rise to the challenge of the climate crisis.”

Peter Quicke, Co-CEO of Ninja Tune added: “It’s fantastic to see IMPALA take on a leadership role in this most important of issues. As an influential cultural industry, music must play its part in leading as well as demanding systemic change. Artists want and expect the record industry to focus on sustainability, IMPALA is helping us do that.”

Will Hutton, Head of Sustainability at Beggars Group commented: “Joining IMPALA’s programme will help members maximise the business benefits of acting quickly and assertively on the climate agenda, and removes the risks associated with inaction. IMPALA is sending a really positive message to all stakeholders across the record industry by encouraging systematic change.”

Helen Smith, Executive Chair of IMPALA concluded: “IMPALA’s mission is for the sector to grow sustainably. Our guidance for members sets out common-sense steps that a company can take voluntarily and expand afterwards if needed. Many of the issues can’t be solved by members acting on their own, but a collective approach will make the difference. We see this programme as part of our role of being a leader and will work with all others in the sector interested in accelerating change.”

IMPALA’s task force also includes  IMPALA’s treasurer Geert de Blaere from News and Belgian association BIMA, Danko Stefanović from Balkans association RUNDA, Paul Pacifico from UK association AIM, Sonia Durán from Spanish association UFI and Zsolt Jeges from Hungarian association HAIL, and additional input from Jacob Bilabel from German THEMA1.

To find out more, join Horst and Alison on IMPALA’s podcast series 20MinutesWith hosted by Juliana Koranteng on 22 April, for Earth Day. This will be a special sustainability podcast explaining IMPALA’s programme.

Today’s announcement continues IMPALA’s earlier sustainability work which includes using its voice in Brussels with Music Declares Emergency and Julie’s Bicycle, meeting European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans and culture commissioner Mariya Gabriel. With the music sector still in the throes of the covid crisis, recovery is also a top priority for IMPALA who continues to seek support for artists, freelancers and small businesses as part of its second wave recommendations.

IMPALA’s Climate Charter can be found here

Music Declares Emergency (MDE)

Music Declares Emergency is a group of artists, music industry professionals and organisations. Launched in July 2019, Music Declares Emergency is an independent group with no party political or commercial affiliations. We believe in the power of music to promote the necessary cultural changes to create a greener, fairer, better future.

For more information about MDE click here

Earth Percent

Earth Percent is a charity providing simple way for the music industry to support the most impactful organisations addressing the climate emergency.

To find out more click here

10 Steps to make the most of Streaming

IMPALA, the European independent music companies’ association in Europe, has published a ten point plan to reform streaming.  We (IMPALA) see music services as partners, and our aim is to make streaming fairer and provide a dynamic, compelling and responsible future for creators and for fans.

For more information click here