Karla is the Project and Network Development Coordinator at IMPALA, the European association of independent record labels, based in Brussels. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change and increase access to finance. Karla is the lead person on sustainability topics at IMPALA, including IMPALA’s bespoke carbon calculator and on IMPALA’s network development activities, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, providing support to (future) members in the region. When out of projects to coordinate in her free time, Karla likes to keep herself busy organising events in Brussels and volunteering at music festivals across Europe.
Formed in 2000 by prominent independent music companies and national trade associations, IMPALA is a non-profit making pan-European organisation with a scientific and artistic purpose, dedicated to small, micro and medium sized music companies and self-releasing artists. With nearly 6,000 members, IMPALA has a broad ranging agenda. You can read more about IMPALA’s mission, what the association is currently working on and an overview of its milestones, as well as more detail and accompanying documents on specific priorities on IMPALA’s resources page.
It is also important to underline the importance of structures such as labels in the music sector who bring risk taking, stability, scale, investment, brand, experience, as well as the all important “belonging“ or identification with what a label stands for and how that adds huge value to creators. This is totally unique and is on top of many other indispensable services that labels provide. This is also the case in other cultural sectors of course. In the music sector for example over 80% of all new releases in Europe are on SME and also micro labels. This is still not enough for demand. These labels are solicited more today than ever before by artists looking to work with a label. It is vital that the role of these structures is reinforced. As mostly small businesses, they need the right market and financial conditions to grow.
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