OK, more on this then. That there Association Of Independent Music has called an emergency board meeting after two of its members quit the trade body in protest at its support of the deal done between pan-European indies body IMPALA and Warner Music regarding the major's proposed acquisition of EMI.
As previously reported, IMPALA last week said that it would not oppose a Warner takeover of EMI, should that occur, despite having previously opposed any major label consolidation. IMPALA chiefs said that Warner had pledged to help the independent sector should they acquire EMI, and in return they would not object to an EMI Warner merger if and when such a deal went before European competition regulators.
AIM, which works closely and shares board members with IMPALA, backed that stand, but this weekend two key AIM members - Ministry Of Sound and Gut Records - claimed they had not been consulted about that move, and that they strongly opposed any EMI Warner merger, whatever commitments Warner may or may not be willing to make to the indie sector.
With Ministry Of Sound MD Lohan Presencer threatening to establish a second indie trade body to oppose any EMI Warner merger, AIM bosses have called the emergency meeting for tomorrow, and hope to get all key UK indies represented so that some kind of consensus can be reached regarding the association's position on this matter.
AIM insist the majority of their members do back their support of IMPALA, while Martin Goldschmidt of AIM member Cooking Vinyl cautioned the indie sector about risking losing its united front. Speaking to Billboard he said: "This is a very emotive issue and I completely understand but regret Gut and Ministry's position. I would not leave AIM over this as I think that AIM's achievements are staggering, and the independent community needs AIM. I really hope [Gut boss] Guy [Holmes] and Lohan come along".