\n\tLeaders across indie music are once again teaming up to speak out against Universal Music Group\u2019s proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings with a new campaign.<\/p>\n
\n\tDubbed \u201c100 Voices,\u201d the campaign argues that the deal, which is currently the subject of an investigation by the European Commission, \u201cposes a serious threat to competition, diversity and fair access across the music industry,\u201d according to a press release. Downtown operates distribution platforms FUGA and CD Baby, the royalty accounting service Curve and the indie publishing admin services provider Songtrust, among others \u2014 all of which are heavily utilized by independent labels and artists.<\/p>\n
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\n\tThe \u201c100 Voices\u201d publication was delivered in person on Thursday (Oct. 2) to Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity. Dombrovskis is leading the current phase of the investigation into the proposed deal, the results of which were originally slated for release in December but are now set to be revealed sometime next year (the probe was halted last month<\/a> because documents were not submitted in a timely manner, according to the Commission.<\/p>\n \n\tThis isn\u2019t the first time the indie music community has rallied against the proposed acquisition. As soon as the deal was announced, independent companies and organizations including IMPALA, Beggars Group, IMPF, A2IM and Secretly Group began releasing statements asking regulators to block it. In July, more than 200 indie music execs from companies including Better Noise, Dead Oceans, Hopeless Records and Sub Pop published an open letter<\/a> urging the European Commission to enter a \u201cPhase II\u201d investigation of the deal. \u201cA concentration of this magnitude would narrow the range of voices, styles and cultures that reach the public,\u201d the letter read. \u201cIt would give UMG further power to shape digital services, influence monetization thresholds and extract more, at the expense of the independent sector.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIn response to the outpouring of concern, Nat Pastor<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0JT Meyers<\/strong> \u2014 co-CEOs of Virgin Music Group, the UMG subsidiary that would acquire Downtown \u2014 sent a memo to staff that rebutted some of the indie community\u2019s claims, stating in part: \u201cOur motivation for the merger and our excitement about it are rooted in this singular opportunity: by combining Downtown\u2019s and Virgin\u2019s unique capabilities, the unified company will offer an even more robust and flexible suite of services to independent labels everywhere.\u201d <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\tDowntown Music CEO Pieter van Rijn<\/strong> also blasted the opposition in an open letter<\/a> published in September, in which he claimed \u201cmisinformation\u201d about the pending acquisition was designed to \u201cundermine our longstanding and trusted client relationships\u201d while ignoring the ways in which the deal would more effectively serve independents.<\/p>\n \n\tA press release announcing the \u201c100 Voices\u201d campaign, unveiled on Friday (Oct. 3), includes quotes from several indie executives arguing against the deal, which can be found below. A full list of signees is available at the campaign\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tMartin Mills<\/strong>, founder\/chairman, Beggars: \u201cWe are now operating in an industry increasingly shaped by global corporations, whose dominance over digital infrastructure effects everything from artist visibility to revenue. This ongoing consolidation amounts to a systematic weakening of the independent sector\u2019s ability to compete on fair terms.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBruno Roze<\/strong>, founder\/artistic director, I Love You Records: \u201cIf Downtown\u2019s services fall under UMG\u2019s control, we fear higher costs, reduced access, and the loss of independence that small labels like ours need to survive. This deal risks creating a music ecosystem where one corporation controls too much of the infrastructure, leaving less room for diversity, innovation, and fair competition. For the long-term health of independent music, it should be blocked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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