A project also denounced by Impala which j

Held since Wednesday in Berlin, the Popkomm, which brings together professionals of the disk, was once again an opportunity for independent producers from Europe, to rise against too much concentration in the industry of music. After the decision of the Court of justice of Luxembourg to cancel the approval of merger between Sony Music and BMG, Impala, the European Union of independent producers, was confirmed in his analysis: the current market for recorded music, with four players (Universal Music, Sony BMG, EMI and Warner Music) representing about 80 of the global market, does not work under conditions satisfactory to allow small and medium producers live properly.

The hope generated by this Court is immense, as the Commission prepares to consider another project, that the redemption of musical Bertelsmann by Universal Music Publishing, a subsidiary of Vivendi. A project also denounced by Impala, which j. heavy consequences for the disk, in view of the place of Universal Music in this market. "With the decision of the Court of Luxembourg, we won a battle but not the war, because the majors want to dominate the market, insists Martin Mills, patron of Beggars Group, one of the most important British labels and President of the Board of Directors of Impala.". For me, the merger between Sony Music and BMG is cancelled and we ask the practical application. "Sony and BMG should re - notify their project to the Commission, but, given the novelty of the situation (a merger effective but which leave has been cancelled), no visibility is possible on the calendar. According to some producers, the Commission could seek to examine two operations at the same time to find a comprehensive solution that satisfies everyone.

Collective dominant position

With one voice, Impala members denounce their difficulties to access the market, its effective control by the majors being, according to them, well above their official market share taking into account their financial surface. It is on this principle of collective dominant position that builds the association to ban the reconciliations.

According to producers, the distance between the independent majors rises, making life more difficult for the latter. "Impala is not against the majors, Impala is for the market. "But each consumer must have the option to purchase discs that he wants to, but this is not the case," lamented a Horst Weidenmüller, boss of the label round table German K7 and Vice-President of Impala. Access to the media including the radio and music television, which are essential to give recognition to the artists stores to press... reproach not lacking against the powers of the majors, which, according to them, consumes too much cake. "Small producers are on a niche, but we do not want this niche to become a prison," added another Vice-Chairperson of Impala, Hein Van Der Ree.

Created by independent producers to better make their voices heard, the Union had succeeded, very quickly, to abort the project of marriage between EMI and Warner. In the last Midem in Cannes, a big brother of Impala, WIN (for Worldwide independent Network), was formed to federate the producers at the global level.