Helen Smith

Helen Smith is IMPALA’s Executive Chair. Originally from Scotland, Helen is based in Brussels. She drives the organisation's key strategies with the board on a political, commercial and promotional level. Helping put thousands of independent companies and artists on the map of Europe by leveraging collective strength, IMPALA's milestones is an impressive read, from Europe's first ever class action court case on a merger and its tough stance on digital platforms who don't play ball, to its various action plans and awards schemes. IMPALA IMPALA was established in April 2000 to represent independent music companies in Europe. 99% of European music companies are SMEs. Known as the “independents”, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists - they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector's jobs. IMPALA's mission is to grow the independent music sector, return more value to artists, promote cultural diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access and modernise perceptions of the music sector. IMPALA has its own award schemes to help promote cultural diversity and new talent and highlight the artistic contribution of independent music.