During a pivotal week in Stockholm, we met with Spotify, YouTube Music, and leading voices from the independent music world to tackle one question: how do we protect and empower indie music in an increasingly consolidated digital landscape? This blog reflects on the conversations, concerns, and what must come next.
🎧 Stockholm Recap: A Strategic Week for the Future of Independent Music
Last week in Stockholm, we took part in a series of high-level meetings and events focused on the challenges and future of independent music — both as a representative of BMYD (Turkish Trade Association for Independent Labels) and as a member of IMPALA’s Digital Committee.
🎯 Our visit included:
🔹 A focused session at Spotify’s global HQ, where we raised critical concerns about fairness and access for independent artists — especially in underrepresented regions like Turkey. We addressed ongoing issues around editorial playlisting, cover placements, and the broader inequalities in Spotify’s evolving royalty system.
🔹 A strategic meeting with YouTube Music’s Nordic team, discussing how to better support and elevate independent labels and artists within their platform ecosystem.
🔹 The IMPALA Digital Committee meeting, where we dove into urgent industry topics:
Streaming reforms by Spotify, Apple, Deezer & Amazon
The MusixMatch–LyricFind litigation and its impact on metadata transparency
AI regulation, digital marketing, and new revenue models like superfans
A new EU-funded digital project focusing on better tools, strategies, and knowledge-sharing for the indie sector
🔹 We also joined the Manifest Talks 2025, hosted by SOM (Swedish Independent Labels Association), celebrating their 50th anniversary. The panels brought together voices from across Europe to talk about:
How to build sustainable indie businesses
Navigating market consolidation and Big Tech
The role of ethics, community, and collaboration in today’s music economy
💡 Why it matters:
Independent music today faces growing obstacles — from editorial gatekeeping and algorithmic bias to unequal royalty distribution and metadata monopolies.
If we want culture to evolve, independent music must be able to compete.
This isn’t just about fairness — it’s about building a healthier, more diverse global music industry.
That means speaking up, collaborating across borders, and developing real solutions — not just for artists, but for the ecosystem that surrounds them.
We’re grateful to IMPALA, SOM, and all our peers across Europe for their work and vision.
Parydise remains committed to representing the independent voice — especially from markets that are too often overlooked — and contributing to the global conversation with clarity and action.
#parydisemusicnetwork #Stockholm2025 #IMPALA #IndependentMusic #Spotify #YouTubeMusic #DigitalCommittee #StreamingReform #ManifestTalks2025 #MusicTech #ArtistFirst #TradeAssociations #MusicIndustryInsights
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