In a world where Newt Gingrich is being sued for copyright infringement by the composers of “Eye of the Tiger”, lays the hopes and dreams of Indie music labels.  These labels have been making gains in pursuing their goals; the start of which was their “Manifesto” produced on January 29^th.

January 28-31, 2012 marked this year’s Annual MIDEM (“Marché International du Disque et de l’Edition Musicale”) Festival in Cannes, France. At this three-day, internationally renowned trade festival, artists, label representatives and industry professionals gathered, shared ideas, networked, and apparently lobbied their complaints and some responses to those complaints.  This is precisely what a few, big names from independent music labels did at MIDEM and the result was a list of 10 bullet-points which outline and detail a plan to increase the Indie music sector’s rights and reputation.

On January 29, 2012, a special “closed-door” debate was held in a conference room at the MIDEM festival and the topics discussed were numerous issues within the independent music world such as copyright protections, and label recognition.  This three hour debate was considered “crucial” by industry reps. and attracted independent label CEOs and presidents as well as over eighty label executives from Germany, Italy, America, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. While this particular summit of creative minds was chaired by the chairman of Sweden’s SOM, Jonas Sjostrom, yet another independent label executive meeting is expected to be held in New York City in June 2012 in order to further the Manifesto that had begun at MIDEM. While similar meetings have occurred in the past, the industry hopes to achieve notoriety and progress now that they have their objectives written down.

As for the Manifesto itself, the actual 10 points were not publicly available, but the MIDEM website states that it covers the issues of having only 4 major record labels, piracy and copyright within the indie music arena, and government support for indie music in the same way there is for indie films. While some European countries already provide government funding for indie music through tax payers (i.e.: Sweden), the goal is to have many more countries participate in this practice and keep the independent labels afloat.  Essentially, this Manifesto was a first step towards giving a small group a big, legal voice.  They are advocating their beliefs in their creative works and are entitled to just as much protection as major record labels.  On that point, the indie labels are concerned by the fact that there are only 4 of these major labels; they argue that plurality is key to creative success and that the power should not be in the hands of just a few.

However their legal journey plays out, this is certainly the first step for Indie music labels. Now that they have set out a manifesto of their rights and their concerns and seem fully intent on following through with it, let us see what happens between now and June when the group reconvenes in the Big Apple.  I’m hoping for all-out legal debates on piracy issues harming indie artists.  It’s about time someone stood up for the little guy – and this Manifesto has the potential to do just that.  While major label record companies have lawyers upon lawyers on retainer to protect and defend their artists and royalties, indie artists and execs are merely seeking out governmental support and the support of its community.  It certainly is an exciting time in the music industry all around.