Independent music community publishes “100 Voices” on why Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings should be blocked 03 Oct 2025
- 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
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The future of music marketing is no marketing at all (see Features)
AIM states that the independents’ voice is now louder, clearer and impossible to ignore (see News)
Secondary price caps and figuring out fact vs. fiction (see Comment)
Spotify responds to RBX lawsuit over ‘fake’ Drake streams (see Digital)
Spotify perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price (see Features)
Remasters, deluxe editions and greatest hits show back catalogues are a goldmine (see Features)
Universal Music Group and Stability AI announce strategic alliance to co-develop professional AI music creation tools (see News)
UMG and Udio settle lawsuit; announce agreement for new licensed AI music creation platform (see News)
The last days of Utopia (see News)
UK Music introduces 'Five Ps' guide to boost diversity and inclusion across the music industry (see News)
Reservoir Media: A hidden gem? (see Features)
The music industry remains divided on generative AI. Where will that leave us? (see Comment)