ORCA - “Setting the Stage: How Music Works”

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Cette semaine a vu le lancement du groupe de réflexion ORCA (Organization for Recorded Culture and Arts). La mission de l’ORCA est de développer et de promouvoir la recherche, les données et les preuves qualitatives et quantitatives qui soulignent la valeur économique, sociale et culturelle significative de la musique. L’initiative est coordonnée par le Centre pour les écosystèmes musicaux. Dans le cadre de son lancement, l’ORCA a publié son premier rapport sur le rôle unique des labels indépendants et la valeur sociétale de la musique, intitulé « Setting the Stage : How Music Works ».

ORCA est un groupe de réflexion composé de maisons de disques indépendantes.

  • ORCA s’engage à développer des recherches, des données et des preuves qualitatives et quantitatives pertinentes et traduisibles au niveau mondial, qui démontrent et soutiennent les actions visant à accroître la valeur économique et sociale de la musique.
  • ORCA s’engage à investir et à favoriser le développement de la musique en tant que culture et commerce.
  • ORCA estime que la musique a le pouvoir unique de soutenir toutes les communautés et les personnes qui y vivent, et souhaite favoriser un secteur avant-gardiste qui offre des opportunités aux artistes, aux entreprises et aux communautés du monde entier.
  • ORCA pense qu’à travers la recherche et les preuves, elle peut démontrer l’avantage d’investir dans les artistes et de prendre des risques, et aider à soutenir et à développer des écosystèmes musicaux prospères dans le monde entier.

À qui s’adresse ce rapport ?

Ce rapport est d’abord destiné aux personnes en dehors de l’industrie musicale.

Les agences intergouvernementales, les organismes multilatéraux, les ministères de l’économie, les chambres de commerce, les offices de tourisme, les agences de développement économique, les ministères de la culture, les maires, les conseils municipaux ou les institutions de financement du développement mondial, entre autres.

Les décideurs politiques commencent à comprendre l’écosystème économique soutenu par l’industrie musicale et les services fournis par ses principaux acteurs, tels que les maisons de disques. L’ORCA souhaite approfondir cette compréhension par le biais de ses recherches. La musique, si elle est incluse dans les programmes politiques, peut produire des avantages considérables.

L’ensemble de l’industrie musicale est invitée à y prendre part mais l’objectif ici est plus particulièrement que les personnes extérieures au secteur se saisissent ce rapport et agissent en conséquence.

READ THE REPORT

Belgian Music Sector concerned about Spotify

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Several Belgian music industry organisations have joined forces and launched an appeal to Spotify.

In a letter adressed to Spotify, The Belgian music industry have expressed its concern about recent developments Spotify Benelux and reach out to engage a dialogue. We are very concerned about the dismissal of an editor who was in touch with the Belgian music market and the disappearance of editorial playlists that highlight Belgian talents.

Streaming and in particular the Spotify platform plays a crucial role in this. Paying attention to and discovering local repertoire is today more important than ever for a healthy ecosystem. It goes without saying that local curators with a broad vision of the Belgian music scene can play a decisive role in this.

This letter is a joint initiative of several important organizations from the Belgian music sector

BIMA (Belgian independent music association)
FLIF (Fédération des labels indépendants Francophones)
MMaF (Music managers federation)
VI.BE (Support centre for artists and the music industry in Flanders and Brussels)
Conseil de la Musique (Support centre for artists and the music sector in Wallonia and Brussels)
BMPA (Belgian music publishers association)
ClubCircuit (Umbrella organization of Flemish music clubs & concert organizers)
Cult! (Network organization for cultural houses in Flanders and Brussels)
Court-Circuit (Association of music venues and concert organizers & Support Centre for the Live Music Sector in Wallonia and Brussels)
SABAM (Collective management organization of Authors, Composers and Publishers)
PlayRight (Belgian society for the collective management of neighbouring rights for performing artists)
Facir (Fédération des Auteur·rices, Compositeur·rices et Interprètes Réuni·es)
BSCG (Belgian screen composers guild)
Muziekgilde (Association for songwriters & performers in Flanders & Brussels)
COMAV (Association for Composers in Flanders)
FEAS (Fédération des Employeurs des Arts de la Scène)
BWMN (Belgian Worldwide Music Network)
ASSPROPRO (Association des programmateurs professionnels)
BeFEM (Belgian federation for electroacoustic music)
Museact/Fazz (Association des musiques d’expression actuelles)
FCM ( Forum de la création musicale)
NOVA (Networking organization of united authors and artists)
Vlamo (Flemish association for instrumental music bands & musicians)
Koor&Stem (Flemish association for choirs and vocal music)


IMPALA Summer Newsletter

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In case you missed it, have a look on the IMPALA summer newsletter covering all of IMPALA’s activities over the past few months. A mine of informations, always inspiring to develop your business.

READ THE SUMMER NEWSLETTER

Strategic Primer : APPLE MUSIC Q&A session recording

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Following the release of Strategic Primer on Apple Music, you can now watch the recording of our Q&A session with IMPALA’s board, the digital committee, and Music Ally.
The recording is available here: https://bit.ly/3VG4UUz

How can you maximise your visibility and revenue on Apple Music?

The objective of  Strategic Primers’ project is to provide independent labels with comprehensive intelligence on how to maximise key streaming opportunities for their artists, and ensure that they get proper visibility on streaming platforms. This one is dedicated to Apple Music.
The first two Primers, on Spotify and Amazon Music can also be found in the members-only section of IMPALA website.
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Comment maximiser votre visibilité et vos revenus sur Apple Music?
Voici un guide des meilleures pratiques et conseils stratégique de marketing pour les labels indépendants. Troisème guide stratégique dans le cadre du projet « Strategic Primers » mené conjointement par Impala et Music Ally avec le soutien de Merlin.

L’objectif du projet  est de fournir aux labels indépendants des informations complètes sur la manière de maximiser les opportunités de streaming pour leurs artistes et de s’assurer qu’ils bénéficient d’une bonne visibilité sur les plateformes de streaming.

Deux autres Strategic Primer sont déjà disponible consacrés à Spotify et Amazon Music.

A télécharger ici. (accès réservés aux membres BIMA)
Pas encore d’accès, contactez remi(at)bima.be

Q&A Session Recording on Apple Strategic Primer

Music Declare Emergency

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This June 10th, Independent trade associations, A2IM (USA) and IMPALA (Europe) in partnership with Julie’s Bicycle are launching a free one-year pilot project of IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator in the USA with the support of Merlin. Occasion to remind you about « Music Declares Emergency » mouvement & encourage you to act now.

Music Declares Emergency is a group of artists, music industry professionals and organisations that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency and call for an immediate governmental response to protect all life on Earth.

We believe in the power of music to promote the cultural change needed to create a better future.

BIMA is already member of MDE…join the mouvement.

10 STEPS TO MAKE YOUR RECORD LABEL MORE SUSTAINABLE

1. Prioritise Sustainability
Make environmental sustainability a priority in your
business, nominate someone on your team who is
responsible for greening your activity. Put in place an
environmental policy and action plan with a net zero
target (e.g. by becoming carbon neutral by 2026).
Make opportunities for members of your teams to
get involved.

2. Green Your Pension
Switch pension scheme to one that does not invest in
fossil fuels. This is probably the most effective thing
you can do to act on the climate emergency, see Make
My Money Matter for more info. In the UK, Nest, Royal
London have schemes that don’t invest in fossil fuel
companies. Always check with your financial advisor.

3. Banking
Switch your banking to a bank that doesn’t invest in
fossil fuels see: switchit.green. If you can’t switch
(e.g., these more ethical banks don’t offer international
currency accounts yet), then ask your bank and pension
supplier for their sustainability policy and ask them to
divest from fossil fuels – every little bit of lobbying
helps! Switch funds on deposit to a greener bank. Make
My Money Matter have an open letter to send to the
worst offenders.

4. Energy
Switch to a renewable energy supplier or ask your
landlord to switch. Find out if your suppliers are
sourcing renewable energy – supplier rating here
switchit.green. Get an energy efficiency assessment
carried out on your building. Explore the potential to
install solar panels on your office and/or home. Install
a battery to make best use of the electricity generated.
Replace gas boiler with air source heat pump and
mechanical ventilation system. You’ll need to get an
energy assessment carried out on your premises by
a professional.

5. Communications
Set up a green team who can focus on key areas and
motivate each other. Use your social media platforms to
raise awareness of the climate crisis and related issues.

6. Campaigning
Get involved in campaigning organisation and/or local
environmental groups e.g. AIM Climate Action Group,
Music Declares Emergency, Climate action network
groups, Extinction Rebellion, Fridays for Future,
Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth

7. Carbon accounting
This allows you to record the carbon footprint of your
operations to create a baseline from which to reduce
your emissions, and getting a clear understanding of
where your largest impacts are in order to make the
most effective reductions.
Carbon Accounting Tools:
• Julie’s Bicycle have launched a record label specific
tool as part of the IMPALA sustainability programme.
Sign up here. For more information contact
krogozar@impalamusic.org
• Julie’s Bicycle Creative Green Tools
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s tool

8. Travel
Track your business travel and calculate the carbon
emissions using ecolibrium.earth. Use public transport
or electric hire cars, bike or foot where possible. Avoid
purchasing new vehicles, particularly those that run on
fossil fuels (the manufacture of new vehicles creates
significant footprint whether electric or otherwise).
Reduce or eliminate air travel where possible – use
video conferencing. Sign up to the Cycle To Work
Scheme and offer staff tax breaks to buy a bike. Offer
staff extra holiday to give them the time to take trains
instead of flying for their holidays:sign up to Climate
Perks and encourage others in the industry to do the
same.

9. Freighting Vinyl and CDs
Careful planning can help minimise any unnecessary
transport e.g., shipping direct to distributors from
pressing plants rather than via a distribution centre.
Use sea freight rather than air freight to ship to the USA,
it takes 3-4 weeks longer but is much cheaper and
much lower footprint e.g. sea-freight shipping agents
Woodland, Davies Turner

10. Digital footprint
For servers or server space you use for your own
websites – switch to servers that use 100% renewable
electricity. IMPALA are talking to the main digital service
providers about their sustainability policies. There is a
huge grey area around the footprint of digital servers,
see this article by our web developer Spork on the topic.

SUSTAINABLE RECORD MANUFACTURING 101:

Manufacturing
Ask your pressing plant (and other suppliers) for their sustainability policy, in particular:
• Are they compliant with ISO14001 (internationally
agreed environmental management system)?
Also ISO50001 (certified energy management
system) and ISO9001 (quality management)
accreditation?
• What power supply do they use (electricity, gas),
do they use renewable energy? Nuclear?
• Do they have waste reduction and recycling targets
in place? For example, see Optimal’s policy and
disclosures by scanning the QR code.

CDs & vinyl
The most important thing is not to press too many
copies, overstocks are expensive to make, transport,
store and recycle – and of course all this creates an
environmental footprint. Keep talking to your
distribution network to make the best assessment
of quantities required.

Local pressings
If possible manufacture in EU and USA to minimise
transport footprint. If manufacturing in Europe
(including UK) the EU’s REACH regulation ensures that
the pressings are made from a less toxic PVC. When
speaking to manufacturers in USA check if they are
pressing in the USA or in Europe – many manufacturing
brokers in the USA use pressing plants in Europe and
then air freight to USA. Also ask USA pressing plants for
the provenance of the vinyl raw material they are using.

Material choice
Use less material where possible – a 140gram vinyl has a
proportionally lower carbon footprint than 180gram with
regard to manufacturing and shipping, and no loss in
audio quality.

Recycled vinyl
100% recycled vinyl pressings with sound quality
comparable to non-recycled coloured vinyl are now
available at some plants, and most plants can press
on partially recycled vinyl. Generally this is the plant
recycling their own offcuts and waste. They can be
produced in black, other specific colours are possible
depending on availability, or a mix of colours with every
copy being different/unique which can be a selling
point. Research is currently ongoing into using
post-consumer plastic waste for audio pressings.

CD jewel cases
(which are made from polystyrene) have a high footprint
to manufacture and are not easily recyclable. Card
sleeves have 95% lower carbon footprint, and they
can look beautiful!

Record sleeves
Should be printed on recycled card or if not certified
by Forest Stewardship Council or Programme for the
Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) (FSC and
PEFC certification ensures that the wood is sourced
from sustainably managed forests.)
Avoid mixing materials or using additional processes,
which makes it difficult or impossible to recycle sleeves
and packaging (including the waste left over from
manufacture) for example:
• Use vegetable-based inks and water-based
varnishes
• Avoid UV varnishes, laminates or foil finishes
• Avoid CD digipacks consisting of card outer and
plastic tray
• Use card fitments to keep box-set contents in
place rather than foam fitments

Shrink-wrap
Footprint is small and using it can reduce returns and
resulting additional manufacture & transport footprint,
so it’s not clear that it is always best to avoid shrink-wrap.
• Consider alternatives such as a more durable PVC
dust cover or paper belly band (banderole)
• Or a peelable sticker to seal the sleeve with text e.g:
“This record has not been shrink-wrapped to better
protect the planet. Please don’t return this record
if the sleeve has sustained some damage in transit.
The records inside should be perfect!”
• Compostable wraps/envelopes are now available,
but check with supplier on their toxicity when
biodegrading, and the conditions required to
biodegrade. These will require the consumer
to dispose of them appropriately so they should
be labelled accordingly.
Mail order
• Ensure packaging materials for mail order are made
from recycled card or FSC / PEFC sourced card, not
a mix of plastic and card.
• Use paper sticking tape rather than plastic.
• Offer discounts to mail order customers to retain
records which sustain damage to the sleeves in
transit. (Another part of stopping the culture of
returning records if there is a small dink on sleeve.)
MUSIC INDUSTRY CLIMATE PACK
202114

Merchandise
Ask your supplier for their ethical & environmental
policy – these suppliers have been recommended:
Rapanui, No Sweat, Teemill (See our merch section)

Offsetting record manufacture
The footprint of each CD or vinyl record manufactured
depends on the specification of each product, and the
amount of carbon offset by each scheme varies
depending on the success and management of each
project. In addition, you may want to build in a cost of
repairing climate damage as well as only offsetting the
carbon produced, so the process is complex. But in order
to simplify the process and prevent accurate carbon and
environment accounting delaying action, we recommend
using these amounts as a rough but fairly generous
guide to the amount you should invest for offsetting
(note these prices are kept in GBP as that is the original
currency of the calculation):
• 140gram LP/12” disc + sleeve = £0.13 (twice for a 2LP
etc)
• 180gram LP/12” disc + sleeve = £0.17 (twice for a 2LP
etc)
• CD + card sleeve = £0.05 (twice for a 2CD etc)
• 7” vinyl and sleeve = £0.05
• Allow additional amounts for bulky packages
Calculate the number of pressings you have made
and the offset price required for the total number of
units manufactured, then choose projects(s) from
Gold Standard website and make donations
accordingly.

Take Action

WIN Network Benefits - Waves + Reeperbahn...

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As a WIN & IMPALA partner, BIMA members have access to a range of benefits throughout the year. Here are the new details and discounts for upcoming events.

Future Independents (Online)

AIM Presents: Future Independents is the free annual music industry knowledge and networking online conference for independent artists, labels and music entrepreneurs, as well as anyone involved in releasing music professionally.See full program and register for free.

  • Open to all BIMA members: Contact information to access discount in MyWIN Benefits.

Indie-Con (Adelaide, Australia)
Member price discount to attend AIR’s Indie-Con, Australia’s leading independent music conference, taking place from July 31 to August 2 in Adelaide, Australia. See conference program and speaker lineup here.

  • Open to BIMA members: Contact information to access discount in MyWIN Benefits.

Going Global Music Summit (Auckland, New Zealand)

20% discount to attend IMNZ’s Going Global Music Summit taking place on August 29-30 in Auckland, New Zealand.

  • Open to all BIMA members: Contact information to access discount in MyWIN Benefits.

 

ADE (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

10% discount to attend ADE taking place from October 16-20. To access the discount, enter the discount code at checkout once you have selected the ticket type. The Pro Passes are now still on sale going for the Early Bird rate and prices go up on July 3.

  • Open to all BIMA members: Contact information to access discount in MyWIN Benefits.

 

WAVES (Vienna, Austria)

40% discount to attend WAVES Vienna taking place from September 5-7.

  • Open to all BIMA members: Contact information to access discount in MyWIN Benefits.

Reeperbahn 2024 (Hamburg, Germany)
Discounted conference ticket to attend Reeperbahn Festival 2024 from September 18-21, available for 319€ (incl. VAT and system fee) instead of the regular price of 499€ for the full accreditation (conference + festival). Enter the code in the online ticket shop in the field « Do you have a promotion code? » and click on « Redeem ». After successful entry, select the « Conference Ticket Partner Discount » with the desired number of tickets.

  • Open to all BIMA members: Contact information to access discount in MyWIN Benefits.

Let us know if you need a new account or have trouble accessing it.

Interested? Just drop an email to info(at)bima.be.


Impact Examples of Streaming Reforms

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As you know, we are working with IMPALA on the question of streaming reform and the impact of the reforms initiated by Deezer, Spotify, and Apple Music (here, here, here and here).

IMPALA is seeking any information from members that can support our arguments when we talk to these platforms. To start with, IMPALA’s streaming group simply seeks any info, following which they can assess what specific detail is useful.

They are looking for anything from firm data to initial impressions, projections, or trends that can help us understand the impact of these reforms. In practice, anything at all that you are able to supply on any level would be useful regarding impact on your revenues, for example:

 

  • by label (eg has overall label income  gone up or down, on a per label basis, what %?)
  • by artist (eg % of your total artists which lose, and % which gain)
  • by track (eg % of your total tracks which lose, and % which gain)
  • by genre (eg can you see differences between genres? Are some losing and others gaining?)
  • by markets (eg can you see differences by country? Are some losing and others gaining?)

 

The services have said that they need evidence of the impact to be able to assess possible next steps.

If you want a recap of the streaming reforms initiated by Deezer, Spotify, and Apple Music. Just drop an email.

Many thanks for your help, the answers will help us and IMPALA in our dealings with services and regulators.


New Challenges of Digital Distribution

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The democratization of music distribution has transformed the way music is created, distributed, and consumed, offering both challenges and opportunities for independent players in the music industry. This session aims to explore the new dynamics of digital music distribution and provide valuable insights for music industry players seeking to adapt to this new environment.

Panel
Quentin Martins //
MERLIN Senior Manager
Mathieu Gheysen //
WINAMP Chief Business
Michel Lambot //
CEO of PIAS
Geert De Blaere //
CEO NEWS

Session 1: The revolution in music distribution
This session will examine the evolution of music distribution, streaming platforms and social networks on the visibility and remuneration of independent labels. More specifically, it will explore Merlin’s role in this revolution, presenting the major challenges of digital distribution and the organisation’s missions, with testimonials from independent labels/distributors using Merlin’s services on a daily basis.

MORE ABOUT MERLIN

Session 2: Challenges and opportunities for independent labels
This session will explore challenges faced by independent labels and highlight emerging opportunities in an ever-changing music landscape. Participants will share their experiences and advices on how to succeed in this competitive field, It will present factors that influence visibility on DSPs and new tools to improve catalogue remuneration.

WATCH WINAMP SERVICES PRESENTATION FOR BIMA

Streaming reform impact

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Suite aux récentes réformes mises en œuvre par Spotify, Deezer et Apple par les plateformes, Impala cherche à recueillir des exemples de l’impact de ces réformes sur la rémunérations et la visibilités des catalogues des indés. Nous vous demandons de partager tous les exemples concrets dont vous disposez et qui peuvent aider à soutenir notre cause (ils peuvent être anonymisés). N’hésitez pas à les envoyer à remi@bima.be. Il est extrêmement important de recueillir de tels exemples afin que nous puissions réagir en conséquence.
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Following the recent reforms implemented by Spotify, Deezer and Apple platforms, Impala is seeking to gather examples of the impact of these reforms on the remuneration and visibility of indie catalogues. We are asking you to share any concrete examples you have that can help support our cause (they may be anonymised). Please send them to remi@bima.be. It is extremely important to collect such examples so that we can react accordingly.

IMPALA members point of view on streaming reform

Les Indés réclament des normes élevées et une approche commune en matière d'IA

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La communauté mondiale de la musique indépendante plaide pour une approche commune sur l’IA générative basée sur la collaboration et des normes mondiales ambitieuses

Le Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), organisation qui connecte et renforce la communauté mondiale de la musique indépendante, a créé de nouvelles lignes directrices sur l’intelligence artificielle générative.

Celles-ci définissent cinq principes clés :

  • Respecter le droit d’auteur
  • Privilégier une approche centrée sur l’humain
  • Mettre l’accent sur la sécurité des créateurs, des amateurs de musique, des consommateurs et des citoyens
  • Faire de la transparence un élément essentiel
  • Appeler au dialogue au travers d’un développement éthique de l’IA, en étroite collaboration avec le secteur de la musique.

Cette initiative collective est le résultat d’une grande consultation menée auprès de la communauté mondiale de la musique indépendante. Elle reconnaît les possibilités offertes par l’IA dans le domaine de la création, de la production, de la distribution et de la promotion de la musique, tout en soulignant que « l’entraînement » de l’IA générative sur la musique et d’autres contenus associés est soumis au droit d’auteur et requiert une permission préalable spécifique. WIN appelle les développeurs d’IA et les responsables politiques du monde entier à collaborer avec la communauté de la musique indépendante pour assurer un développement éthique et responsable de l’IA générative.

Les milliers d’entreprises musicales indépendantes affiliées à WIN jouent un rôle essentiel dans la promotion des nouveaux talents et de la diversité des genres et des langues sur le marché de la musique dans le monde entier. Ces principes illustrent leur appel à la mise en place de normes ambitieuses et cohérentes dans le monde, ainsi que leur volonté de dialoguer avec les développeurs d’IA pour conclure des licences au bénéfice de tous les acteurs.

Noemí Planas, directrice générale de WIN : « La communauté mondiale de la musique indépendante accueille avec enthousiasme les avancées technologiques qui respectent la valeur de la musique et les droits des créateurs. Ces principes sur l’IA générative sont le résultat d’une grande consultation menée auprès des indépendants du monde entier. Ils s’inscrivent dans la lignée des Valeurs Indépendantes Globales que nous avons récemment publiées. Ces principes doivent servir de boussole et nous avons hâte de collaborer sur cette base avec les développeurs d’IA responsables et d’inspirer les décideurs politiques du monde entier. »

Gee Davy, directrice générale par intérim et responsable des questions politiques de AIM : « L’IA est une technologie extrêmement prometteuse aux avantages considérables qui promet de nouveaux débouchés commerciaux et créatifs. Les nombreux outils d’IA générative récemment mis au point sont porteurs de nouvelles possibilités, mais ils soulèvent également des préoccupations légitimes relatives à la protection de la musique et des musiciens contre les acteurs malintentionnés qui cherchent à réduire la valeur de la musique au lieu de dialoguer de façon constructive. Alors que des législations et des régulations sur l’IA apparaissent peu à peu dans le monde entier, il est essentiel de s’assurer que celles-ci soutiennent bien le talent artistique humain et l’innovation. La communauté mondiale de la musique indépendante croit au pouvoir du partage des connaissances et du dialogue inclusif. Ces principes ont été créés en ce sens, afin de jeter les bases d’une collaboration constructive et de créer un futur créatif fructueux pour l’IA dans le secteur de la musique, au bénéfice de tous les acteurs. »

EN SAVOIR PLUS