Ministry Of Sound Resigns From AIM
Ministry of Sound have tendered their resignation from the Association of Independent Music (AIM), following IMPALA’s decision to back Warner’s bid for EMI. MOS does not feel the trade organization, whose main goal is to protect independent labels, has their best interests at heart.
AIM released a rebuttal to MOS’s abrupt departure: “AIM has had representation on the IMPALA board and has participated in and supported its democratic mergers decisions, including opposing SonyBMG, which continues unaffected by this agreement, and not opposing Warner, in what is perceived as the best commercial interests of the European independent community. As is entirely to be expected in a democratic organisation, not everyone will always agree with positions which are taken on the issues affecting the market, and all companies are entirely at liberty to exercise their own views in whichever way they choose. Nothing has ever prevented others from taking their own position in respect of Warner EMI, or any other music industry merger in front of the Commission over the past seven years.”
The question remains who benefits most from a proposed merger between EMI and Warner? The major labels or the Independent sector? Ministry of Sound obviously feels that AIM’s backing of the merger does not serve their interests and has parted ways with the organization. Privately many indie labels don’t blame them. Could there be more defections in the future?
