20MinutesWith IMPALAmusic

Michel Lambot and Kenny Gates, co-founders of [PIAS] reflect on their 40th anniversary as one of the world’s largest independent music companies. This podcast comes as [PIAS] receives IMPALA’s Outstanding Contribution award in 2023 for their work promoting and developing the diversity of European independent music over the last 40 years. In what was our late podcast curator Juliana Koranteng’s last ever recording, Michel and Kenny talk about their ambitions, challenges and solutions over the years, as well as winning IMPALA’s award.

On Michel’s playlist: Television, Nick Cave, Arno, Meskerem Mees and more.
On Kenny's playlist: Confidence Man, Neil Diamond, Donald Byrd, Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown, Hank Mobley, Thelonious Monk, Wes Montgomery

Remi Harris and Tamara Gal-on, co-founders of Music Leaders Network, the two-year-old women’s leadership programme that aims to boost the career development of women in the music sector. They talk about how the programme can help women and gender minorities to grow their career, how to reach their full potential and value their work in the sector, which impressive results they noticed following up with participants of previous years, their ambition to see the programme developing in Europe, what’s on her playlist and more.
On Remi’s playlist: Kabantu – Freehand album featuring Delia Stevens
 On Tamara Gal-on’s playlist: Fever 333, P!nk

Ben Wynter and Joe Frankland, co-founders of POWER UP, along with Paulette Long OBE (Executive Steering Committee Member), on the initiative’s efforts to support Black British music creators, industry professionals and executives, while also addressing anti-Black racism and other racial disparities in the music sector. Launched in January 2021, POWER UP became the very first recipient of IMPALA’s Changemaker Award in May 2022. The discussion revolves around POWER UP’s work to break down barriers, its ambitions to build a fairer music industry and their reflections on receiving the award and next steps. 
On Ben’s playlist:  Sounds of Blackness, Bebe & Cece Winans, 50 Cent, Johnny Hartman, Mace the Great & Jay Z
On Joe’s playlist :  Flohio, Sarathy Korwar & Swindle
On Paulette’s playlist: Jonathan McReynolds, Kirk Franklin, DOE, PJ Morton, Guvna B & Still Shadey

Suzanne Bull MBE, founder of Attitude is Everything, on improving disabled people’s access to live music. Suzanne talks about the work done in the last 22 years and how Attitude is Everything has become the UK live-music industry’s trusted source of expertise on inclusion and inclusiveness for disabled music fans, artists, volunteers and professionals. She shares the main challenges which need to be tackled, resources available for the industry, her advice to start the work and what’s on her playlist.

On Suzanne’s playlist: Gaelynn Lea,  Cola Boyy.

Vlad Yaremchuck from the Ukrainian Association of Music Events (UAME), co-organiser of the Music Saves UA initiative and Atlas Festival’s organiser, on the situation in Ukraine and how to help. Vlad attended conferences and events to raise awareness of the plight of the Ukrainian music business, he’s also raising funds to help local industry including the release of a 136-track Drum’n’Bass compilation.  He talks about how the music community can bring support, what initiatives are already in place and what’s on his playlist.

On Vlad’s playlist: Together with Ukraine, Kendrick Lamar.

Eve Horne, founder of Peak Music UK and creator of We Are the Unheard podcast series, on equity, diversity and inclusion in the music industry. She is part of numerous initiatives making change including Keychange, Moving the needle and UK music. She talks about her career, discrimination in the sector and how to tackle it, current projects she’s working on and her advice to take action. Eve is also a producer under the name MAGPIE and she shares what’s on her playlist.
On Eve’s playlist: ABBA, Kate Bush (check out MAGPIE’s cover of “Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush)