"We're 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're doing". Image credit: IMPALA.
IMPALA (a non-profit organisation which seeks to grow the independent music sector sustainably and to promote diversity and entrepreneurship), has announced today that the POWER UP initiative is the first to win its new Changemaker Award.
POWER UP
The MU is a partner of POWER UP, a movement which addresses anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector, and supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives. Co-founded by the PRS Foundation and Ben Wynter, and managed in partnership with YouTube Music, Beggars Group, Spotify and the Black Music Coalition, the initiative was launched in January 2021
Earlier this year we reported how POWER UP’s own Participant Programme, which included grants of up to £15k, mentoring, partner, marketing and network support was open for applications. It stated how it worked to break down barriers to create a fairer, more equitable music industry, and that it wished to achieve better representation in all sectors of the UK music industry by amplifying the work of Black creators and industry professionals.
Changemaker Award
The new award is part of IMPALA’s diversity and inclusion work, and aims to put the spotlight on projects that promote change in the independent sector and inspire others to take action.
Launched in May as part of IMPALA’s schedule for European Diversity Month, the need for a new dedicated award scheme was brought up during the very first meetings of IMPALA’s task force back in 2020, advised by Keith Harris OBE and was one of 12 commitments set out in IMPALA’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter.
Helen Smith, IMPALA's Executive Chair commented:
“We're 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're doing. We hope this will help our members to get inspired and take action locally. We encourage the music sector in each country to have their own POWER UP scheme."
The award will be run yearly, with IMPALA members nominating projects, and IMPALA’s equity, diversity and inclusion task force voting the winner.