Independent music community publishes “100 Voices” on why Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings should be blocked

03 October 2025 - Press release

 

• More than 100 business leaders and artist groups from across the independent music community have made fresh appeals to the European Commission on why the deal should be blocked
• Representatives from 20 countries, business leaders and artist groups have shared personal accounts to illustrate the threat this deal poses to their individual businesses
• 100 Voices is a snapshot of the reason why those affected believe the deal should be blocked, adding further weight to over 200 business leaders who signed a joint letter in July, calling for an in-depth investigation into the acquisition
• Publication follows a meeting held on Thursday with the European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Valdis Dombrovskis, and independent music label CEOs and founders outlining their opposition to the deal

 

Independent music leaders today published 100 Voices, a campaign with a clear message - Universal Music Group’s proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings should be blocked.

The campaign site (www.blockthedeal.com) and publication showcase personal accounts from more than 100 business leaders in 20 countries, warning that the deal poses a serious threat to competition, diversity and fair access across the music industry.

Downtown Music Holdings operates a number of platforms and services that are relied upon by the independent music community, including world-leading distribution platforms FUGA and CD Baby, one of the world’s biggest royalty accounting services, Curve, and one of the largest independent publishing administration services, Songtrust, among others. 

The publication was delivered yesterday in person to the European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Valdis Dombrovskis, where independent label founders and CEOs set out their case against the merger. The European Commission is currently conducting a Phase 2 investigation led by Dombrovskis. A final decision was set for December, but the deadline has now slipped into next year with the exact date still to be confirmed.

Martin Mills, Founder and Chairman, Beggars said: “We 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's ability to compete on fair terms.”

Bruno Roze, Founder/Artistic Director, I Love You Records said: “If Downtown's services fall under UMG’s 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.”

Nacho García Vega, President, International Artist Organisation said: “Artists rely on a pluralistic infrastructure that reflects diversity in both ownership and access. Allowing UMG to consolidate control over a major independent player would move the industry further toward a two-tier system, where market dominance—not creative merit—determines visibility and success.”

Francesca Trainini, Vice President, PMI Italia said: “This is a crucial moment for the future of Europe’s music landscape. The Commission’s intervention shows these concerns are being taken seriously. The risks of reinforcing the leader and losing a big competitor are clearer today than ever before. Remedies would be ineffective in today’s music market. We trust the Commission will take the necessary steps to protect competition, access, and diversity across the sector.”

Birte Wiemann, Project Manager, Cargo Records said: “When unchecked growth disrupts an ecosystem, diversity suffers. If UMG acquires Downtown, entire independent structures are absorbed, giving UMG new power over DSPs and data that weakens independents. The result is less diversity, more homogenised output, and a cultural niche increasingly sidelined.”

 

Business leaders have already spoken out about the deal. In July, an open letter was signed by over 200 founders, CEOs and business leaders at independent music companies and trade associations, alongside a further call from the European Composer Songwriter Alliance. Other groups have also raised concerns including managers, featured artists and independent publishers.

100 Voices showcases a sample of those who object, expressing in their own words why they believe the deal should be blocked. Independent music companies, artists and any other concerned groups who agree that the European Commission should block the deal are welcome to share their experiences and add their voice atwww.blockthedeal.com (either anonymously or attributed to them directly).

Business leaders who have shared contributions opposing the deal (some asking to remain anonymous):

Alan Hauser, Jungle Records

Alexander Hirschenhauser, VTMÖ

Alexander Warnke, CEO, PRO Agency  

Alison Wenham, COO, Chrysalis Records

Allen Kovac, Chairman, Better Noise

Andreas Ring Andersen, Legal Counsel, Dansk Artist Forbund

Anthony Cruze, ULX Ultraluxe Group

Anton Teichmann, Founder, Mansions and Millions

ARTNAT

Aymeric Genty, CEO, I.O.T Records

Bantegnie Liza, Artist    

Bernd Giezek, SpeedRepeat

Birte Wiemann, Project Manager, Cargo Records

Björn Mathes, Co-Founder / CEO, FerryHouse

Bori Koczka, COO, Zeneszoveg.hu // Songbook

Borja Torres, Co-founder, Lovemonk Discos Buenos

Brigitte Matula, Professional representation in the Austrian film and music industry

Bruno Roze, Founder/Artistic Director, I Love You Records

Calvin Johnson, Proprietor, K Records

Catharina Boutari, Head Of Label, Pussy Empire Recordings

Charles Caldas and team, Exceleration Music

Christian Mueller, Founder, SPOZZ.club

Cristián Elena, COSO Records

Dan Waite, CEO, Better Noise

Dario Draštata, Executive Director, Dallas Records

Darius van Arman, Secretly Distribution CEO and Secretly Group Co-Founder

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists' Coalition

Dennis Dañobeitia, Manager and Owner, CFA

Diego Monje Coccolo, CEO, Cactus Music

Domino Recording Co.

Dylan Pellett, General Manager, Independent Music New Zealand

Engin Akinci, Zoom Music & Management

Eric Longley, Principal, 25 Hour Convenience Store

Ester Petri, Carus-Verlag

Eszter Décsy, Corner Art Management & Records

Fabienne Schmuki, Irascible Music

Fabio Besomi, Label manager, il domani

Flavian Graber, Spectacular Spectacular

Francesca Trainini, Vice President         PMI Italia

Francisca Sandoval, IMICHILE

Gee Davy, CEO, AIM

Geert De Blaere, N.E.W.S., BIMA

Hannes Tschürtz, Ink Music

Harvey Saward, Director, Remote Control Records

Helen Smith, Executive Chair, IMPALA

Henrietta Bauer, Bretford Records

Henrik Augustin, Co-founder, Villa Management

Joachim Irmler, Musician          

Jonas Sjöström, Chairman, Playground Music Scandinavia AB

Jörg Heidemann, CEO, VUT

Julian Scheufler, Südpark Studio

Katja Vauhkonen, Executive Director, Indieco

Kees van Weijen, Managing Director, HIT4US Entertainment

Kimberly Balthasar                   

Larry Bringsjord, CEO, FONO

Lee Jones, The New Church Records

Lee Jones, The New Church Records

Lio Kanine, Co-owner,   Kanine Records

Manuel Francis Nunes, Stilleto Records

Marciano Cordeiro da Silva,       mARCIANO

Maria Inés Collarte Centeno,      General Manager, Entrebotones

Mario Rossori. ROSSORI Promotion & Music

Mark Chung, VUT board member and musician

Mark Kitcatt,Everlasting, Popstock

Markus Rennhack, Kick The Flame Publishing

Marlon McNeill, Founder, A Tree in a Field Music

Martin Goldschmidt, Cooking Vinyl

Martin Mills, Chair, Beggars Group

Mats Hammerman, Massproduktion

Matthias Möbius, Viamas

Montse Pratdesaba, Vice President, Musicat

Nacho García Vega, President, International Artist Organisation

Neil Grant, Neil Grant Media & Promotion

Nicki Refstrup Bladt, Label Manager,      Celebration Records

Nicky Bomba, Transmitter Records

Noemí Planas,  CEO, WIN - Worldwide Independent Network

Nuno Manuel da Silva Faria, BeDuet     

Nuno Saraiva, Mermaids & Albatrosses Lda.

Patrick Tilg, MA, Feber Wolle Records

Paulo Brissos, Artist, Paulo Brissos

Peter Bonne, CEO, Chayell

PJ Wassermann, Owner, HyperMusic

Rainer Scheerer, CEO, Springstoff

Rebecca Knight, Founder, Audiofunk

Reimer Bustorff, CEO, Grand Hotel van Cleef Musik

Ricardo Frutuoso, Musician and producer          

Riku Pääkkönen, Owner, Ranka Kustannus

Robby Beyer, Supreme Chaos Records

Robi Maurer, MD, Intermusic Network

Roland Zoltan CSIPAI, CEO & Founder, Zeneszoveg.hu // Songbook

Salvo Voucher, Label Manager. Escudero Records

Samuel Martins Coelho, Samuel Martins Coelho

Stephan Bourdoiseau    President, Wagram Stories

Thomas Franke, T3 Records

Thomas Zimmermann, Board member & Treasurer, VUT

Tim Clark, Director, Ferva Music

Toby Egekwu, Manager & Co-founder, Finesse Foreva

Tomas Rimeika Karlsson, Rimeika retorik

Volker Sonntag, TAG-7

Xavier Collin, Directeur Général, Haute Fidélité

Yannick Matray, Director, InFiné

Zsolt Jeges, President, Mamazone Records

Austrian music company                       

Austrian music company                       

British music company              

British music company              

British record label                    

CEO of Finnish record label                  

CEO of German music company                       

CEO of German music company                       

CEO of independent Bulgarian music company              

CEO of Swedish music company                       

CFO of Dutch music company               

Co-founder of Scottish music company              

French record label                   

General Manager of Danish music company                  

German music company                       

German musician                     

German record label                 

German record label     

German record label                 

Ghanaian musician                   

Independent Bulgarian music company              

Independent German artist                   

Independent German music company owner      

Independent German record label                     

Independent Portuguese musician                     

MD of British record label          

Polish music company              

Portuguese musician                

Swiss music producer               

Swiss record label