Worldwide unbiased pioneers Michel Lambot and Kenny Gates obtained IMPALA’s Excellent Contribution award to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the [PIAS] group. The award was introduced on Tuesday (July 4).

During the last 4 many years, [PIAS] has grown from a vinyl report importer on behalf of UK unbiased report labels right into a key European and international recording, advertising and marketing and distribution outlet. [PIAS] presently has 19 workplaces and 280 staff lively globally.

Lambot and Gates additionally based IMPALA in 2000 to develop a single voice for the unbiased music sector in Europe. They had been instrumental in creating Merlin in addition to Worldwide Impartial Community (WIN), with a view to supporting and increasing the unbiased music ecosystem internationally.

Lambot and Gates had been introduced with their awards by Helen Smith, govt chair of IMPALA, at their BXL CENTRAL – CHEZ [PIAS] report store and workplace positioned on Rue Saint Laurent in Brussels.

“Michel and Kenny’s story is an inspiration to all emerging independents starting out in the sector,” Smith stated in an announcement. “The contribution of [PIAS] to the European music sector is totally unique. [Their] amazing 40th-anniversary re-releases speak for the artists and great music, and IMPALA, Merlin and WIN speak for their approach on collaboration making everyone stronger.”

“Back some 25 years ago, we had the idea to combine forces of a handful of independent companies to increase our market leverage and playing field,” Lambot stated in an announcement. “That sounded crazy and naive: trying to unify independent companies owned and run by people fiercely independent was antinomic… And now getting an award by IMPALA which has become a kind of institution makes me feel so proud and so happy. The recognition by our peers of what we did all these years and are still doing, Kenny and myself, as [PIAS] on one hand, and for the independent world on the other hand, is very moving”.

Gates, who serves as CEO of [PIAS] added: “Our goal at [PIAS] has always been to expand our dreams by creating a company of holistic values that reflects a pan-European diversity. It’s been an incredible journey of constant adaptation, and we couldn’t receive this award without thanking all our staff and friends.”

IMPALA’s Excellent Contribution Award is designed to place a highlight on European unbiased music and those that drive it, in addition to initiatives that deserve explicit recognition. Earlier recipients embrace Tony Duckworth, Didier Gosset, FONO, Kees Van Weijen, Keith Harris OBE, Tom Deakin, Love File Shops, Music Declares Emergency, Markus Tobiassen and newspaper Dagens Næringsliv, Jonas Sjöström, Plus 1  Refugees welcome!, Alison Wenham, Label Love, Eurosonic Noorderslag, Sabine Verheyen MEP, Armada Music/Armin van Buuren, Martin Mills OBE, Mary Moneyball MEP, Charles Caldas and Mario Pacheco.

Lambot and Gates beforehand obtained the Indie Champion award on the AIM Music Awards 2022 in London.

Late British media journalist Juliana Koranteng beforehand invited Lambot and Gates to share their story on her 20MinutesWith podcast. On this episode, the 2 executives talked about their ambitions, successes and challenges in rising the [PIAS] community through the years. (Sadly, it turned out to the final episode Koranteng recorded. The journalist died in February at age 64.)

IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents almost 6,000 unbiased music corporations. The group’s mission is to develop the unbiased music sector sustainably, return extra worth to artists, promote range and entrepreneurship, enhance political entry, encourage change and improve entry to finance.