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.

What a year at @winformusic.org!

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.

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.

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...

❌ We see the recently published GPAI Code of Practice, the GPAI Guidelines, and the Template for disclosure of a sufficiently detailed summary as a missed opportunity to provide real protection of IP rights in the context of #genAI. This outcome does not deliver on the promise of the EU AI Act.

❗ Together with a broad coalition of rightsholders active across the EU’s cultural and creative sectors, we express our strong concerns about the EU AI Act implementing package, which does not provide a meaningful implementation of the GPAI obligations under the AI Act. ➡️ Read: bit.ly/3H8lCsC

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...

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.

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...

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

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

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.

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

Worth a listen! What Liz uncovered about “ghost artists” and Discovery Mode quite possibly constitutes deceptive practices and/or unfair methods of competition, the kind of thing that FTC could take on with an enforcement action/rulemaking.

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

In a new post titled "Copyright Chaos in California," our CEO @keithkup.bsky.social takes a look at the outcomes for Bartz v. Anthropic and Kadrey v. Meta to assess why there were two very different decisions handed down for these #AI infringement cases. copyrightalliance.org/copyright-ch...

Asociaciones musicales independientes solicitan a Teresa Ribera que intervenga en la compra de Downtown Music Holdings por parte de Universal (vía @dodmagazine.bsky.social)

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...

It's not that hard: •break up Ticketmaster •rein in predatory resellers •cap resale at or near face value.

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.

@winformusic.org sets out its case against UMG / Downtown deal in EC letter (via @musically.com)

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.

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...

“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.

🗞️ 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...

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

Heading to Barcelona 🇪🇸 tomorrow to participate in #primaverapro activities, including speaking at the Digital Licensing and Sync Sessions. Looking forward to seeing so many friends and colleagues there!

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

Impala publishes a ‘remuneration playbook’ for policymakers European indies body Impala campaigns on a lot of issues, from antitrust and AI to the climate emergency and diversity.

The ubiquity of #AI training licensing deals between #copyright owners and AI developers shows that a free-market approach, based on a respect for existing copyright laws, is a workable and necessary solution. Learn more here: copyrightalliance.org/generative-a...

In Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷 for #Rio2C. A week full of meetings, panels and networking. If you're around, see you here!

Our CEO @noemiplanas.bsky.social is at RIO2C 2025 to connect with key organizations from the region including our member ABMI. Don’t miss her panel "The Majors in Control: The Consolidation of the Independent Music Market” ️ 🗓️ May 30, 17:15 📍Cidade das Artes (Sala Soundbeats) ℹ️ rio2c.com

This month's newsletter for members has just landed in your inbox! 📬 Get the latest from WIN, including news on the launch of BRIDGE, an in-person LatAm Network meeting, updates on WINCON & WINHUB, as well as new benefits, resources and the usual press roundup!

If your business model doesn’t work without breaking the law, then you’re not in business. You’re in organized crime.

About time! Bandcamp Playlists now available.

We were proud to be part of Music Awards Japan 2025 🇯🇵! Our CEO Noemi Planas served on the selection committee, voting for amazing Japanese & Asian artists, and members of the WIN community joined the celebration in Kyoto yesterday. Congrats to all the winners! ▶ www.musicawardsjapan.com/awards/

The former US Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter is suing Trump for unlawful firing (a day after releasing a report on AI and copyright that largely sided with rightsholders).