Independent music company CEOs around the world call for end to further anti-competitive, consolidation attempts in the music industry

07 July 2025 - Press release

 

• Hundreds of independent record labels and trade associations have raised significant concerns about Universal Music Group's acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings.
• Deal is the latest in a line of serial acquisitions from UMG in the independent sector
• Together they have signed an open letter to the European Commission calling for a detailed investigation ("phase two") to be opened

 

A coalition of leading European and international independent music companies and trade associations have today issued an open letter to Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera at the European Commission, urging the Commission to conduct a deep investigation of Universal Music Group's (UMG) proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings. 

The letter - signed by more than 200 CEOs, founders and business leaders across the independent music industry - highlights serious concerns that the acquisition would threaten the effective competition, innovation, and growth of the EU's music industry, further entrenching UMG's already significant market power. UMG is already the world's largest music company, controlling more than 40% of the recorded music market in Europe – nearly twice the share of its nearest competitor.

Downtown Music Holdings operates world leading distribution platforms FUGA and CD Baby (the DIY platform for artists) as well as the biggest royalty accounting service Curve and Songtrust (the DIY platform for composers). While major labels such as UMG often carry out these services in-house, most independent labels, publishers and artists rely on these types of services to distribute their music to streaming services, track royalties, manage rights, and to get paid accurately.

This deal is also the latest in a long line of serial acquisitions from UMG in the independent sector, having recently acquired PIAS, 8Ball Music, Hyperion, Outdustry and Oriental Star Agencies, among others.

The letter warns that the acquisition of Downtown would place "a significant chunk of essential infrastructure under the control of the market leader", forcing many independent companies to rely on their biggest competitor to connect artists and their music to fans. 

They argue that this deal "would reduce choice for consumers, stifle experimentation, and undermine Europe's role as a vibrant incubator of musical and artistic expression." They advocate that "we must keep music open" to support a thriving music ecosystem that delivers benefits for the economy, culture and innovation. 

 

The full letter and signatories is available below. 

Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera 

European Commission

Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200 

1049 Brussels

Belgium

 

4 July 2025

 

Dear Ms. Ribera,

We are the founders and CEOs of leading European and international music companies as well as trade associations. We normally write about music and culture and today we are also reaching out about competition. 

On behalf of the independent music community, we are writing to express our serious  concerns regarding the proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings LLC ("Downtown") by Universal Music Group N.V. ("UMG"), currently under investigation by the European Commission – Case M.11956.

The music industry in the EU is a cultural and economic success story, with recorded music revenue growing at 8.7% in 2023 and valued at €5.2 billion. It is home to some of the most recognisable names in music, alongside thriving independent businesses. 

But we can't take this for granted. While the EU's music industry is indeed growing, this growth is uneven and lags behind other global markets. At the same time, changes are being made to how streaming revenues are shared, over which the independent sector has no say. A level playing field is essential to support a thriving music ecosystem that delivers benefits for the economy, culture and innovation.

Everyone has a role to play – from the biggest music company in the world to the independent disruptive start-up uncovering new genres and sounds. But when acquisitions like this one occur and start to tip the scales too far, we must act.

The proposed acquisition by UMG represents a serious risk to that balance. Across Europe, UMG already controls over 40% of the recorded music market – near double the second biggest player. By absorbing Downtown's distribution, royalty accounting, and rights management capabilities – services used by thousands of companies and artists across the independent sector – UMG would further entrench its already significant market power. 

The deal would place a significant chunk of essential infrastructure under the control of the market leader. Many independent music businesses are already tied to Downtown's services, meaning that we would have to rely on our biggest competitor to connect our artists and their music to their fans. 

That's why it's critical that the deal is reviewed through the lens of its "control share" over the digital markets economy, as well as the physical market, not just share by revenue.

This isn't just a simple "investment" in one of the world's most prominent independent companies; it is about control. 

The implications are profound. This consolidation would further enable UMG to act as a gatekeeper to some of the sector's best services, shaping which music is heard, promoted, and monetised. Such power carries risks not only to the commercial fortunes of independent businesses, but to the creative breadth and diversity of music itself.

A concentration of this magnitude would narrow the range of voices, styles, and cultures that reach the public. It would give UMG further power to shape digital services, influence monetisation thresholds and extract more, at the expense of the independent sector. That would reduce choice for consumers, stifle experimentation, and undermine Europe's role as a vibrant incubator of musical and artistic expression. Fans will hear less of the new and more of the same. Artists working outside the commercial mainstream will struggle to find traction. And a once-thriving creative economy will begin to stagnate.

This acquisition also provides a key competitive advantage by allowing UMG to collect data from rivals using its services. This data is far reaching, from distribution information - including artists and song trends, and performance on digital platforms - all the way through to critical business information such as pricing, contractual terms and strategic relationships. Being able to access all of this data would give UMG backdoor access to other competing businesses in the market and strengthen its already advantageous position even further. 

Independent music companies play a vital role in promoting music innovation, fostering diversity and protecting culture. To fulfil that role, we must have fair and non-discriminatory access to the best  infrastructure in  the music economy. And not be forced into structural dependence on our biggest competitor who is also shifting payment models on digital services.  

We therefore urge the European Commission to open a detailed phase two investigation to examine  the deeper structural consequences of this transaction. The proposed acquisition poses a clear threat to effective competition, innovation, and the growth of the music industry across the EU and globally. 

We must keep music open.

Sincerely,

Ludovic Le Strat, President, 23.23

Manuela Nikele, General Manager, 375 Media GmbH

Ed Horrox, Managing Director, 4AD

Cecilia Crespo, General Manager, A.S.I.Ar - Asociación de Sellos Independientes de Argentina

Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE, President and CEO, A2IM - American Association of Independent Music

Felippe Llerena, Director, ABMI - Associação Brasileira da Música Independente

George Seay, Owner, Acrophase Records

Petra Deka, Head of Publishing, ACT Music+Vision GmbH+CO.KG

Magnus Bjerkert, CEO, Adrian Recordings

Gee Davy, Chief Executive, AIM - Association of Independent Music

Joe Clarke, Interim Chair, AIM Ireland - Association of Independent Music Ireland

Maria Amato, CEO, AIR - Australian Independent Record Labels Association

Toni Verona, President and General Manager, Alabianca

Sam Valenti, Co-CEO; CEO, All Flowers Group; Ghostly Intl

Sergi Roig Torrubiano, Director - Chief Officer, Altercat records

Cormac O’Halloran, Director, Always The Sound

Joana Negrão, AMAEI - Associação de Músicos Artistas e Editoras Independentes

Ruth Koleva, President, ANMIP-BG - Association of Independent Music Publishers and Producers in Bulgaria

Andrzej Dąbrowski, Board Member, ANPM - Alians Niezależnych Producentów Muzycznych

Boris Horvat, Director, Aquarius Records

Sebastian Cowan, Owner, Arbutus Records

Petra Reiter, Manager, Artist Factory Music

Stéphane Laick, Cofounder, AT(h)OME; FELIN - Fédération Nationale des Labels et Distributeurs Indépendants

Pär Winberg, Owner, Atenzia Records

Lars Leverenz, Head of Label, Audiolith

Marco Rossi, Owner, Azzurra Music

Johann Günther, Founder, Backlash Music

Arne Thamer-Steinwärder, Co-Founder & CEO, Backseat PR & Labelservices

Christoph Hallerberg, PR & Coaching, Backseat PR & Labelservices

Sebastian Król, Founder, Backseat PR & Labelservices

Mathieu Dassieu, CEO, Baco Music

Karl Bader, CEO, Bader/Molden Recordings

Kai Florian Becker, Founder - Label Manager, Barhill Records

Katie Garcia, Founder, Bayonet Records

Martin Mills, Chair, Beggars Group

Paul Redding, CEO, Beggars Group

Nils Kacirek, Musician, Bello Neon Records

Dan Waite, CEO, Better Noise

Danny Akalepse, Owner & Musician, Big Crown Records

Leon Michels, Owner; Musician & Producer, Big Crown Records; El Michels Affair

Miguel Angel Sancho, Director, Blau Producciones

Dietmar Hoscher, Founder, Blind Rope Records

Jeremy Lascelles, CEO and Co-Founder, Blue Raincoat Music/ Chrysalis Records

Hadi El Azzi, Chairman, BMYD - Bağımsız Müzik Yapımcıları Derneği

Randy Melibajew, Managing Director, Book of Raw GmbH

Henrietta Bauer, CEO / Managing Director, Bretford Records / What Is Happening? I Feel It Everywhere! GmbH

Phil Hill, Owner & Founder, Cargo Independent Distribution

Dario Giovannini, Managing Director, Carosello Records

Liza Bantegnie, Cofounder, Cartelle

Anne-Laurence Chambon, Director, Carton Records; Maison Tempête

Ester Petri, Managing Director, Carus-Verlag GmbH & Co. KG

Jeff Bratton, Owner, Cascine

Ben O'Connor, Label Manager, Chapter Music

Guy Blackman, Label Manager, Chapter Music

Andrew Cash, President and CEO, CIMA - Canadian Independent Music Association

Christof Ellinghaus, Founder - CEO, City Slang

Ian Ilavsky, Co-Owner, Constellation

Martin Goldschmidt, Co-Founder and Chairman, Cooking Vinyl

Jordi Freixa, Director, Cooperativa Montgri

Alexander Gramlich, Founder, copaseDisques

Robert Litsen, CEO, Cosmos Music

Simon Platz, Managing Director, Cube Records Ltd

Eduardo Jordão, General Manager, CultManagement Lda.

Bianca Eysenbrandt, Owner, Dackelton Records

Dario Draštata, Executive Director, Dallas Records; RUNDA - Regional Association of Independent Discographers in Adria

Javer Tomas Y Tio, General Manager, Darlalata

Phil Waldorf, Co-CEO, Dead Oceans

Borja Torres, Music Supervisor, Discos Buenos

Antonio Céspedes Pérez, Director General, División Sonora Producciones

Ricardo Fernández Arroyo, Communication Director, División Sonora Producciones

Clare Whitlock, Director Commercial & Business Affairs, Domino Recording Company Ltd.

Laurence Bell, CEO, Domino Recording Company Ltd.

Nigil Mack, CEO, drink sum wtr

Verena Boessmann, Co-Owner, Dunstan Media

Manuel Sanz, Director, Ecléctica Records/ Ecléctica Management

Dr. Sabine Meier, Managing Director, Edition Roland Musikverlag GmbH

Pierangelo Mauri, Founder, Edizioni ZYX Music; Net's Work's & Songs

David Aguado, Director, El Tragaluz

Denis Kappes, Co-owner, Eliterecords

Dario Raimondi, Founder - Label Manager, Energy Production

Ines Collarte, Director, Entrebotones

María Pellicer Lara, Director, Eo Música

Roger Dorresteijn, Managing Director, Epitaph Europe

Enrique Perea, A&R, Everlasting Records

Mark Kitcatt, Co-owner & chair, Everlasting Records; Popstock

Charles Caldas, Partner, Exceleration Music       

Patrick Tilg, Producer, Feberwolle

Björn Mathes, Co-Founder / CEO, FerryHouse GmbH & Co. KG

Adeline Ferrante, Publishing director, Fougue

Marcus Herbert, Label Manager, From Lo-Fi to Disco!

Silvana Battisti, Label Manager, From Lo-Fi to Disco!

Serafino Perugino, Founder, Frontiers Records

Ian Westley, Co-Owner, Full Time Hobby Music LTD

Nigel Adams, Co-Owner, Full Time Hobby Music LTD

Carl-Fredrik Häggqvist, CEO, Owner, Gazell Records AB

Nenad Borovčak, CEO, Geenger Records

Pavle Eftimovski, Managing Partner, Glitch Records

Chris Eckman, CEO, Glitterbeat Records

Alexander Waldron, Owner & CEO, Greco-Roman Ltd

Simon Kessler, Director, Greenpiste Records

Lenz Hein, Label Manager, Grönland

Louise Sansom, Director, founder, Hidden Track Records

Louis Posen, President, Hopeless Records

Per Faeltenborg, CEO, Hot Stuff AB/Svenska Energy Rekords & Publishing AB

Aymeric Genty, CEO, I.O.T Records

Stephen O'Malley, Label Owner, Ideologic Organ

Francisca Sandoval, President, IMICHILE - Asociación Gremial Industria Musical Independiente de Chile

Dylan Pellett, General Manager, IMNZ - Independent Music New Zealand

Helen Smith, CEO, IMPALA - European association of independent music companies

Katja Vauhkonen, Executive Director, Indieco - Suomen riippumattomien levy- ja tuotantoyhtiöiden yhdistys

Anca Lupes, Executive Director, INDIERO - Asociatia a producatorilor si editorilor de muzica independenti din Romania

Andreas Ryser, Founder, IndieSuisse - Association of Swiss independent music labels and producers

Alexandre Cazac, Artistic director, cofounder, InFiné

Hannes Tschürtz, Founder & Managing Director, Ink Music

Pedro Marques, Director, Invict Sound & Vision

Darius Van Arman, Co-CEO, Jagjaguwar; Secretly Distribution

David Morel, Director, Jarring Effects

Calvin Johnson, Founder, K Records

Tom Nieuweboer, CEO, K7!

Lio Cerezo, Owner / A&R, Kanine Records

Tony Presley, Label Manager, Keeled Scales

Rajk Barthel, Founder - Owner, Kick The Flame Publishing GmbH

Gilles Dutrève, Director, La Granges à Sons

Isabella Viertbauer, Founder, Label 4

Peter Cronemeyer, Owner, Laika-Records

Daryl Fidelak, Founder, Lampshade Media

Andreas Jantsch, CEO & Founder, Las Vegas Records

Helmut Heuer, Owner, Légère Recordings

Tanja Michaelis, Founder - Managing Director, Made_in_Germany - music GmbH

Robert Stieler, Owner - Managing Director, Major Label

Zsolt Jeges, Founder, Mamazone Records; HAIL - Hungarian Association of Independent Labels

Mats Hammerman, CEO, Massproduktion i Sundsvall AB

Chris Lombardi, C-founder, Matador

Gerard Cosloy, Co-founder, Matador

Patrick Amory, Co-founder, Matador

David Buder, Co-Founder & CEO, Matches Music

Oliver von Felbert, Founder, A&R and label manager, Melting Pot Music GmbH

Mac McCaughan, CEO, Merge Records

Mik Christensen, Label Manager and Partner, Mermaid Records

Jorge Otero, Director, Meseta Records

Anders Mörén, Owner, Misty Music AB

Adam Weisman, Musician, Mixed Salad

Walter Gröbchen, CEO, Monkey Music

Marta Sampaio, Manager, Monster Jinx

Miran Rusjan, Founder, Moonlee Records

Theresa Langner-Schibranji, Founder, Morinoko

Larry Bringsjord, CEO, Owner, MTG Music; FONO - Norwegian Association for Independent Record Labels

Javier De Esteban, CEO, Music Adders

Annalea Bertelsen, Board Member, Music For Dreams

Geert De Blaere, Founder - Owner, N.E.W.S. nv; BIMA - Belgian Independent Music Association

Carol von Rautenkranz, Managing Partner, Napa Sounds GmbH

Mario Limongelli, Founder, Nar International PMI - Produttori Musicali Indipendenti

Neil Grant, Founder - Manager, Neil Grant Media & Promotion

Bruno Cariou, Director, Neomme

Elin Trogen, CEO, NONS Records

Jon Madsen, Managing Director, Nordic Music Society

Christian Pliefke, Founder, Nordic Notes / CPL-Musicgroup

Derek Birkett, Director, One little Independent Ltd.

Beatriz Concepcion, Director, Oso Polita

Vittorio Cigala, Managing Director, OYEZ!

Dagobert Böhm, Director, Ozella Music

Ciaran Conroy, Co-CEO, Paragon Records

Brian Scally, Co-CEO, Paragon Records

Andy Widder, Founder, Part Records / Rockin‘ Rollin‘ Products

Mario Rossori, Founder, Pate Records

Vedran Meniga, CEO, Pdv Records

Maria Romana Trainini, Managing Director, Peer Southern Productions

Fabian Burbano, Director, Play Abc Sl/Abc Music

Jonas Sjöström, Chairman and Founder, Playground Music Scandinavia

Johan Alm, co-owner, PNKSLM Recordings AB

Matthias Broeckel, Director, PORK PIE

Mathias Schwarz, Managing Director, Powerline Agency OHG

Martin Koller, Owner, ProMedia GmbH

Stefan Groß, Owner, Q-rious Music

Axel Franzén, Owner, Rama Lama Records

Daniel Meteo, Founder & Co-Owner, Random Musick Publishing GmbH

Eva Pyko, Managing Director, Random Musick Publishing GmbH

Riku Paakkonen, Founder & Managing Director, Ranka Kustannus

Paulina Parvanov, CEO, Raspberry Soda

Elaine McCann, Head of Label, Reckless Records

Nelly Santamarta, Owner & Chair, Registros de Cultura

Eva Santamaría Molina, Publishing Manager, Republic Network Oü

Etienne Tricard, Cofounder, Rescue + Return Records

Anne-Flore Levacher, Head of projects, Roche Musique

Geoff Travis, Founder, Rough Trade

Jeanette Lee, Founder, Rough Trade

Jeff Casazza, Owner / A&R, Run For Cover

Matt Werth, Owner/CEO, RVNG Intl

Caleb Braaten, Founder, Sacred Bones Records

Branko Paić, Managing Director, Scardona

Henrik Guemoes, Managing Director, Schubert Music Publishing GmbH

Nuno Saraiva, Founder-Director, SCL / Lusitanian

Justin West, CEO, Secret City Recordings

Ben Swanson, Co-CEO, Secretly Canadian

Chris Swanson, Co-CEO, Secretly Group

Filip Lundgren, CEO, Septembernatt

Eva Wilke, CEO, Owner, Silence AB

Barbara Preisinger, Founder - Owner, Slices Of Life

Joakim Haugland, Owner, Small Town Supersound

Eva Karman Reinhold, CEO, Owner, Smilodon/Karman Innovative Consulting; SOM - Svenska Oberoende Musikproducenter

Alejandro Varela, Owner & Chair, S-Music Records

Maurice Summen, Owner, Staatsakt / Fun in the Church

Fredrik Holmgren, CEO, StarTracks AB

Margit Sarholz, Musician, Sternschnuppe Verlag GbR

Werner Meier, Musician, Sternschnuppe Verlag GbR

Kees van Weijen, President, STOMP - Stichting Onafhankelijke Muziekproducenten

Gugai MacNamara, CEO, Strange Brew

Jonathan Poneman, Co-Founder, Sub Pop

Megan Jasper, CEO, Sub Pop

Tony Kiewel, Co-President, Sub Pop

Bo Magnusson, co-owner, Subspace Communications AB

Julian Scheufler, Producer, Südpark Studio München

David Dickenson, Founder, Suicide Squeeze Records

Wolfgang Koch, Owner, syborgmusic

Volker Sonntag, CEO, TAG-7

Tue Kjerstein, Partner and co-managing Director, Tambourhinoceros

Kristoffer Rom, Partner and co-managing Director, Tambourhinoceros; DUP - Danske Uafhængige Pladeselskaber

Detlef Engelhard, CEO, Termidor Musikverlag & Timba Records GmbH&Co.KG

Jakob Sørensen, CEO and Founding Partner, The Bank

Tony Morley, Managing Director, The Leaf Label Ltd

Ken Shipley, President, The Numero Group

Rob Sevier, CEO, The Numero Group

Mauro Farina, Founder, The Saifam Group

Gerald Oppermann, Founder - Owner, Timezone GbR

Teddy Maier, Founder, Tonzoo

Tweety Gonzalez, Owner & Chair, Twittin records

Sonia Duran, General Manager, UFI - Unión Fonográfica Independiente

Ari Stern, Founder, Underwater Peoples / Stern Records

Ina Schulz, Head of Label, Unique Musikverlag GmbH

Guilhem Cottet, Director-General, UPFI - Union des producteurs phonographiques français indépendants

Christoph Dohr, Owner, verlag dohr köln

Matthias Möbius, Owner, viamas gmbh

Alexander Hirschenhauser, Board Member, VTMÖ - Verband unabhängiger Tonträgerunternehmen, Musikverlage und MusikproduzentInnen Österreich

Jörg Heidemann, Managing Director, VUT - Verband unabhängiger Musikunternehmer*innen

Stephan Bourdoiseau, President, Wagram Music

Kevin Fleming, Managing Director, Warp Records

Brian Sampson, Owner, Western Vinyl

Doug Warner, Owner, Wharf Cat Records

Noemí Planas, CEO, WIN - Worldwide Independent Network

Jared Jones, Owner, Winspear

Ben Beardsmore, Managing Director, XL Recordings

Caius Pawson, Founder, Young

Tobba Andersson, Owner, Zorch Production