The future of the global #independentmusic community rests on the merits of their music and the power of choice. But that's under threat from growing anti-competitive consolidation. The UMG/Downtown deal must be stopped to ensure every part of the music ecosystem has the best chance to flourish.

CRANEAmúsica is just around the corner! From September 5-7, Asunción will host three days of conference organized by AMI Paraguay and Planea Música. ⏵ craneamusica.com/#programa WIN associations and their members can access a special offer by contacting their national association.

Henry Thomas, a long-time contributor to the WIN Performance Rights Group, shares his views on current challenges and the future of performance rights in our recently released 2024-25 Annual Report! Henry’s piece ⏵ winformusic.org/from-dissona... WIN Annual Report ⏵ winformusic.org/win-annual-r...

Register by September 7 to participate in the exclusive WINHUB CEE + NA online event connecting professionals from Central Eastern Europe and North America. 🗓️ Event: October 7 ⌛ Application deadline: September 7 🎫 Free and exclusive for members of WIN associations

We’ve just published our Annual Report! Take a look for an overview of the projects, events, resources, and trips that set the pace for WIN’s year. And it was a busy one... proving that the independent community is stronger than ever in defending what makes music truly diverse and competitive.

We are excited to welcome Artist Growth as the latest company to join the WIN Supporters program! A leading project and event management software, Artist Growth is purpose-built for the unique demands of artists, labels, and entertainment professionals.

🇳🇿 Kia ora, Going Global! The countdown is on for the 2025 edition of the landmark music summit presented by our NZ association IMNZ in Auckland, 28-29 August. WIN associations and their members enjoy a special offer. Contact your local association. ⏵ Full program: indies.co.nz/going-global/

WIN negotiates special rates for our associations + their members to attend leading industry events. Contact your association for more info! 🇮🇳 All About Music ▸ August 20-22 🇳🇿 Going Global ▸ August 28-29 🇵🇾 CraneaMúsica ▸ September 5-7 🇬🇧 AIM Connected ▸ September 9 🇦🇹 Waves Festival ▸ October 2-4

Congratulations to ABC Music 🏆 for winning Best Independent Label, David Bridie for receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award sponsored by Merlin & all the winners and nominees of this year’s AIR Awards! Hats off to AIR for hosting a fantastic ceremony and a sold-out Indie-Con Australia 2025.

A broad coalition of rightsholders calls on the @ec.europa.eu to revisit the #AIAct implementation package and enforce article 53 dealing with transparency of training data in a meaningful way.

Noemí Planas: "Necesitamos reglas de mercado que permitan que todas las empresas tengan un campo de juego justo" Charlamos con Noemí, CEO de @winformusic.org, con motivo de la operación de compra de Downtown orquestada por Universal Music. ✍️ www.dodmagazine.es/entrevista-n...

We are pleased that the European Commission is responding with a full and much-needed investigation into this acquisition and call on other regulators to follow suit. This deal must be stopped to ensure every part of the global music industry has a fair chance to grow and succeed.

WIN welcomes the 🇪🇺 European Commission’s decision to open a detailed investigation (phase two) into the proposed merger between Universal Music Group (UMG) and Downtown Music Holdings.

Report: EC to launch full probe into UMG Downtown acquisition An official announcement has yet to be made, but it seems Universal Music Group may be facing a full-scale investigation.

Save the date!

Save the date! The 10th edition of WINCON will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Oct. 15-16 during the SoAlive Music Conference. Organized in cooperation w/ ANMIP, WINCON 2025 is supported by Merlin & Prophon and cofunded by the EU through IMPALA. Full program soon! ⏵ winformusic.org/wincon-to-ce...

Curious about what’s happening WIN? Our latest quarterly newsletter is out, offering insights on our work on industry issues & coverage of our participation in A2IM IndieWeek, trips to Latin America, and updates on our projects & resources. Not subscribed yet ⏵ mailchi.mp/9af6859e7c93...

Today I stand with +200 CEOs of independent music companies & associations in calling for further scrutiny into Universal’s acquisition of Downtown. It's time to act to protect choice for fans and support a thriving music ecosystem that delivers benefits for the economy, culture and innovation.

Campaign against UMG / Downtown deal continues with EC letter The latest salvo in the campaign to block Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings comes in the form of another open letter – this time to European Commission executive vice-president Teresa Ribera. It is signed by…

Tack till @aurorelalucq.bsky.social för att hon tog upp detta på EU-nivå, och till @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu för att hon inlett utredningen vid @ec.europa.eu . Vi hoppas att @jessikaroswall.ec.europa.eu också kommer att höja sin röst.

Här är vad som står på spel: ⚠️ UMG tar över infrastruktur byggd för indiereleaser ⚠️ Större inflytande över streamingplattformar som Spotify och Apple ⚠️ Tillgång till känsliga uppgifter från konkurrerande oberoende skivbolag ⚠️ Ett allt mer krympande ekosystem för oberoende kreatörer

Om detta går vidare skulle UMG ta kontroll över tjänster som otaliga artister och skivbolag förlitar sig på för att distribuera musik, hantera royalties och behålla den kreativa kontrollen inom sitt bolag. Det handlar inte bara om konkurrens – det handlar om den oberoende musikens överlevnad.

En av de viktigaste händelserna just nu är att Universal Music Group försöker förvärva Downtown Music – företaget bakom viktiga plattformar som FUGA, CD Baby, Curve och Songtrust. För SOM och deras 340 medlemsbolag som arbetar inom den oberoende svenska musikscenen är detta djupt oroande.

Campaign against UMG/Downtown deal continues with EC letter The latest salvo in the campaign to block Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings comes in the form of an open letter

DUP and several of our members have signed this letter calling for the EC to block UMG's acquisition of Downtown. #stayindependent #independentmusic #dkmusik #eumusic

🇩🇰🇪🇺 Indies rely on services like CD Baby and FUGA – now UMG wants them all. That’s not just a business deal, it’s a threat to fair access and independence. Hoping the EU Commission will say no. @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu @nielsfuglsang.bsky.social @eu2025dk.bsky.social

Över 200 chefer på indiebolag i Europa och övriga världen uppmanar @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu och @ec.europa.eu att granska UMG:s förvärv av Downtown Music Holdings. De har gemensamt skrivit under ett öppet brev där de kräver en fas två-utredning av affären. Läs mer här: tinyurl.com/2fe8p8d2

Today WIN stands with over 200 CEOs of European and international independent music companies & associations in calling for further scrutiny into Universal’s acquisition of Downtown. It's time to act to protect choice for fans & support a thriving music ecosystem. ⏵ winformusic.org/independents...

We are excited to see our Australian and American trade associations, AIR & A2IM, join forces for 2 special events in Adelaide, Australia: Indie-Con Australia Conference (July 31-August 1) & Indie Week Australian Edition (July 30). Full program now announced ⏵ air.org.au/indie-con

A fruitful WIN Board meeting today. Our board is made up of 20 global independent music companies & association representatives, each providing a unique view of the issues affecting our sector. 🌎🌍🌏 We look forward to our next meeting, which will be in person in Toronto, Canada, this November. 🍁

WIN sets out its case against UMG / Downtown deal in EC letter Opposition to Universal Music Group’s planned acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings has been funnelled through the key bodies.

Asociaciones musicales independientes, representadas a través de @winformusic.org, solicitan a Teresa Ribera que intervenga en la compra de Downtown Music Holdings por parte de Universal. www.dodmagazine.es/asociaciones...

A productive meeting with the WIN Public Policy Forum today! This working group brings together copyright experts from our trade associations to monitor local developments, support the WIN Board's strategy, and shape our policy positions.

El País se hace eco de la carta abierta que envié a la vicepresidenta de la Comisión Europea, Teresa Ribera, sobre la compra de Downtown por parte de Universal. Los ojos de la comunidad musical independiente están puestos en Europa para que marque la pauta a nivel mundial y bloquee esta adquisición.

The eyes of the independent music community worldwide are on the European Commission to set the standard globally. WIN CEO Noemí Planas joins IMPALA & UFi in calling for a detailed investigation into the UMG/Downtown acquisition in open letter to Vice President Ribera ⏵ elpais.com/economia/202...

On July 8, AIM's Future Independents online music business conference will return with a full day of expert-led discussions, practical workshops, and networking opportunities tailored for independent artists, labels, and entrepreneurs. Program & tickets ⏵ www.futureindependents.co.uk

🗞️ Great piece today by IMPALA Executive Chair Helen Smith. In her @musically.com guest column she summarizes the issues at stake in the UMG/Downtown deal and explains why the transaction should be blocked. ▸ musically.com/2025/06/25/u...

“Unimaginable in any other sector” – Impala’s Helen Smith on planned Downtown acquisition Guest column: Music Ally publishes guest columns which voice the opinions of notable authors that advance specific perspectives on important issues. These are chosen at the Editorial team’s discretion and are…

WIN negotiates special rates for our 37 associations and their 8000+ members to attend leading industry events. New discounts are now available for the following events and conferences! Contact your local association for more information and other available discounts.

WIN joins IMPALA in welcoming the start of the European Commission's investigation into UMG's purchase of Downtown. We expect other competition regulators around the world to examine this deal and block it outright to ensure balance, harmony and diversity in the music ecosystem.

Voices urging an in-depth review of Universal Music Group’s proposed acquisition of Downtown Music keep growing louder. Professor Amelia Fletcher, a renowned economist, former competition regulator, artist, and co-founder of an independent label, has now submitted a letter to the European Commission

We’re kicking off tomorrow bright and early with our WINHUB x A2IM International Breakfast, powered by our amazing partners @bandcamp.com and @sonosuite.bsky.social and organized in collaboration with @a2im-official.bsky.social, CIMA and its funders @factorcanada.bsky.social and Ontario Creates.

Congrats to our CEO Noemí Planas, Chair Zena White & WIN board members Richard Burgess, Gee Davy, Helen Smith, Ian Harrison, Jason Peterson & Tony Kiewel, as well as all the members of our community for being recognized in Billboard Indie Power Players 2025 list! ⏵ www.billboard.com/p/indie-powe...

An insightful report analyzing developments in the streaming market was published today. It warns that a two-tier industry is emerging, negatively impacting independents and includes a timeline, list of key points of concern & concrete proposals for improvement. 👏 ⏵ impalamusic.org/new-report-h...

What a night at the Libera Awards! Big s/o to all the winners and to Partisan Records, Mexican Summer and True Panther for winning the Label of the Year awards! Very happy to reunite with colleagues from all over the world in a night honoring the career of A2IM CEO & President Richard James Burgess.

Meet our CEO @noemiplanas.bsky.social and Community & Projects Manager Nerea Serrano and a delegation of WIN representatives in NYC during @a2im-official.bsky.social Indie Week! High on our schedule: WINHUB x A2IM Indie Week International Breakfast & Noemi’s participation in the A2IM AGM on June 12.

Labelcamp joins the WIN Supporters program! Developed by global artist and label services company IDOL, Labelcamp brings over 15 years of expertise in distribution management technology. More about the program and how to join our group of trailblazer companies ⏵ winformusic.org/labelcamp-an...

A huge thanks to @sonosuite.bsky.social for supporting this year’s WINHUB x @a2im-official.bsky.social Indie Week International Breakfast.

Don’t miss the panel with our CEO @noemiplanas.bsky.social at Primavera Pro. She will discuss how the indie sector can protect its position amid the majors' aggressive global acquisition strategies squeezing out competition, the implications of a two-tier streaming landscape, and Merlin's vital role