\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n IMPALA is launching a new award scheme, known as the Changemaker Award<\/strong>. Part of IMPALA\u2019s diversity and inclusion work, the award aims to put the spotlight on projects that promote change in the independent sector and inspire others to take action. It is being launched in May as part of IMPALA\u2019s schedule for European Diversity Month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first recipient of this new award is the POWER UP<\/a> initiative, which supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives, as well as addressing anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector. POWER UP was launched in January 2021, co-founded by PRS Foundation<\/a> and Ben Wynter<\/a> and managed by PRS Foundation in partnership with YouTube Music<\/a>, Beggars Group<\/a>, Spotify<\/a> and the\u00a0Black Music Coalition<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The need for a new dedicated award scheme was brought up during the very first meetings of IMPALA\u2019s task force back in 2020, advised by Keith Harris OBE and was one of 12 commitments set out in IMPALA\u2019s Diversity and Inclusion Charter<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The award will be run yearly, with IMPALA members nominating projects, and IMPALA\u2019s equity, diversity and inclusion task force voting the winner. IMPALA also launched a new dedicated webpage to highlight other initiatives that promote equity, diversity and inclusion in the music sector (see here<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Wynter<\/strong>, Co-Founder of POWER UP, Founder of Unstoppable Music, and AIM Entrepreneur and Outreach Manager commented:<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThank you to the IMPALA Taskforce for honoring POWER UP as the first recipients of this award. <\/em>I\u2019d like to thank members of our steering group, focus groups, participants, partners and Senior POWER UP Manager Yaw Owusu, as well as Charisse at Black Lives in Music, Paulette Long, and Danny D for giving me the strength, wisdom, and support to carry on when at times the burden felt too much to bear. I would also like to shine a light on and encourage all of the other organisations and initiatives working to create a fairer and more diverse industry for all across Europe. Their work does not go unnoticed and inspires us all at POWER UP. <\/em>\u00a0(continues below)<\/em>\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Joe Frankland<\/strong>, CEO, PRS Foundation added:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a real honour to be the first recipients of an award which celebrates changemaking initiatives in a way we hope inspires the independent sector to go further to actively combat discrimination. Since launching our programme for Black music creators and industry professionals in the UK, we have received almost 1,000 applications and over \u00a310m in support has been requested. Demand for a fairer and equitable music industry from those hitting glass ceilings and experiencing racial barriers is undeniable. The POWER UP participants are creating a powerful network and prove that everyone benefits from this targeted, changemaking approach. <\/em>(continues below)<\/em>\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Eva Karman Reinhold<\/strong>, SOM\u2019s CEO, IMPALA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion task force\u2019s co-chair commented:<\/p>\n \u201cThis new award is one of our charter\u2019s commitments and I\u2019m really happy we\u2019re launching it. Real change takes time, also in the music industry, and this is not a one-off. We\u2019re still working on equity, diversity and inclusion with IMPALA\u2019s task force and this award will take place yearly. POWER UP is a great initiative, and we also take this opportunity to highlight others by launching a <\/em>new changemakers webpage<\/em><\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Keith Harris OBE<\/strong>, adviser of IMPALA\u2019s Equity Diversity and Inclusion task force continued:<\/p>\n \u201cI am impressed by the work POWER UP has done in past two years and I\u2019m pleased that they are committed to building better long-term support and infra-structure for Black creators and professionals in the music industry.\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Helen Smith<\/strong>, IMPALA\u2019s Executive Chair commented:<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re delighted to see POWER UP as first recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker Award. Our new award scheme is the perfect opportunity to highlight the great work they\u2019re doing. We hope this will help our members to get inspired and take action locally.\u00a0 We encourage the music sector in each country to have their own POWER UP\u00a0<\/em>scheme.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Paul Pacifico<\/strong>, AIM\u2019s CEO and IMPALA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion task force\u2019s co-chair added:<\/p>\n “P<\/em>OWER UP<\/em> has shown that impactful programmes can start to have significant effects in a short timeframe.\u00a0 It would be amazing to see other initiatives inspired by their approach develop in other European countries and this award is well deserved. It\u2019s great to share best practices and there is much to learn from all of the ones IMPALA is featuring. I\u2019m also very pleased to see Women In CTRL on the list, founded by Nadia Khan, AIM\u2019s Chair.\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Joe Frankland <\/strong>continued:<\/p>\n \u201cWe are grateful to the many partners who believed in the initiative help to drive things forward. And I would like to thank Ben, Yaw and other inspiring Executive Steering Committee members, plus the dozens of Black music creators and professionals who helped to shape and steer the initiative from the beginning. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Meaningful and lasting change requires support from several partners, and we welcome further collaboration across the independent sector.\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n