Editorial

'Without human curation, it’s more challenging for new artists to reach those critical first audiences’

Mahogany co-founder and MD James Gaster on how artists' changing needs have informed the company's expansion in 2024...

By The IMI 11th Dec 2024

Latest from The IMI

'Spending on cosmetic in-game purchases is projected to grow to $100 billion by 2028. Music currently accounts for close to zero of this market.'

With nearly 300 games developers working with its Beta programme, and new licensing agreements with Hopeless and Cherry Red Records, Reactional takes sync in video games to a new level. It wants to make music something players will pay for...

By The IMI 18th Jun 2024

'Music rights have been managed so archaically for years. If human creators are to flourish as licensors, we must modernise'

Music tech entrepreneur Sharooz Raoofi is aiming to disrupt the music licensing space with his new Wavetick platform, which offers a minimum 87.5% share of income to sellers and instant payouts...

By The IMI 8th May 2024

'When artists and their teams are in perfect sync, great things can happen'

Mavin COO Tega Oghenejobo talks about the company’s roster and blazing a trail in the Afrobeats genre…

By The IMI 20th Nov 2023

IDOL on opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa and wider global ambition

We speak to Thibaut Mullings, the services company's Head of Label Development and A&R for Africa, following deals for Afro B and Yemi Alade...

By The IMI 21st Aug 2023

How can indies make the most of the metaverse?

Karta co-founder Tony Barnes talks to The IMI about metaverse strategy as campaigns become more cost-effective in virtual worlds…

By The IMI 16th Aug 2023

‘There’s a tendency to think that every new act is discovered on TikTok. But small venues are still an essential part of any musician's journey’

Following the launch of a new Music In Action grant, we sit down with the Live Music Society’s Cat Henry to take stock of the US’ small venue landscape…

By The IMI 6th Jul 2023

Magroove’s expansion plans after $1.6m boost

CEO Vítor Cunha tells The IMI why combining discovery and distribution has been a hit with listeners and independent artists alike…

By The IMI 4th May 2023

'Imagine hearing an Osunlade or Ron Trent tune in a major motion picture, it would do so much for our genre'

Newly launched Ocha Publishing’s CEO Carlos Mena talks to The IMI about his mission as a cheerleader for underground house music in mainstream media…

By The IMI 24th Apr 2023

Perfect Havoc looking to become a 360 music and social media company following Orchard deal

"There is no definitive timeline, but we are going to be monitoring these areas very closely,” says co-founder Adam Griffin.

By The IMI 4th Apr 2023

VAULT projects $10bn market for Digital Music Collectible format

The company completed a $4m Series A funding round in February, with target to rival vinyl sales within 5 years…

By The IMI 22nd Mar 2023

Silvia Montello on new streaming models and her vision for AIM

The indie trade body’s new CEO officially entered the building on February 1 and wants to work more closely with stakeholders across the music business…

By The IMI 16th Feb 2023

'I wanted to build something that would bring people in and look after them as much as their artists'

Matt Hanner on founding Runway Artists and fulfilling an early artist development role in the live booking space…

By The IMI 10th Jan 2023

Member articles

Key predictions for vinyl and physical music in 2025: Sustainability, special editions and smart products

For the first time in 20 years, physical music sales have grown year-on-year, with a 10% increase in overall sales. Key Production Group's Karen Emanuel and Jamie Slaughter give their tips for the year ahead...

By Key Production 30th Jan 2025

Beyond the Metadata: How Can We Solve the Black Box Royalty Mystery?

Jacob Varghese, Founder and Director at Noctil, a no-code metadata platform, explores the ongoing problem of the black box royalty mystery...

By Noctil 14th Aug 2024

'We need to work together. At the moment, we don’t even speak the same language'

Independent music publishers from around the globe gathered in Palma for IMPF's second Music Summit in October. The stand off between the music industry and AI tech developers dominated conversation. Here's the full report from the conference...

By IMPF 25th Oct 2023

‘You can’t be a musician today without being versatile. You either get with it or get left behind.’

Upon the release of the duo’s fourth album, Ticket To Shangri-La, Young Gun Silver Fox’s Andy Platts talks about spearheading a yacht rock renaissance, streaming as a gateway to physical revenue and why artists can’t be in it ‘just to make music’ anymore…

By Absolute Label Services 24th Oct 2022

'In 2022, there isn't an excuse for the amount of money that isn't getting to creators'

Hundreds of executives from independent publishers around the world gathered with the wider biz for IMPF's first ever industry Summit and songwriting camp in Palma, Mallorca in October. Better data and more complete royalty distribution were among the conference's big talking points...

By IMPF 19th Oct 2022

Tia Kofi: ‘I want to be recognised as an artist beyond being a drag queen on a reality show’

Tia Kofi found fame during the second series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. Since then, she has surrounded herself with respected industry names to help develop a musical career that can stand on its own…

By Absolute Label Services 7th Jul 2022

Marina Elderton: 'You have to be obsessed to get there without a really big team around you'

With a dual career as a sought-after composer for media and a recording artist currently under her ELDR moniker, Marina Elderton reflects on life as an independent artist following the release of a new EP...

By BDi Music 24th May 2022

Charlie Simpson: ‘If I’d have had a tenth of the stuff that kids have now, it would have blown my mind’

From Busted to Fightstar to establishing himself as a solo artist, Charlie Simpson has witnessed arguably the music industry’s most turbulent transition over a 22-year career. Here, he talks about his new album and life as an independent artist in the modern music business…

By Absolute Label Services 3rd May 2022

Roo Panes: 'There's more opportunity than ever for artists to go direct, to get their music heard, and for independents to make an impact'

Three albums and more than 20 singles and EPs into his musical career, Roo Panes has almost 185,000 followers and more than 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. He recently signed a publishing deal with BDi Music but already has a number of high profile, song-boosting syncs to his name...

By BDi Music 16th Mar 2022

How music rights-holders can cash in on performance sports

ClicknClear founder Chantal Epp talks about the difficulties and opportunities that this often overlooked revenue stream presents. From cheerleading to figure skating, licensing sports routines could be a multi-billion dollar market for music rights holders…

By ClicknClear 11th Mar 2022