Global Independent Network Names Committee Unveils New International Structure

The Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the organization that brings together local independent music trades around the world, has welcomed five new board members while ratifying the re-appointment of its president and treasurer.

Dario Draštata (Dallas Records, Croatia), Fran Sandoval (IMICHILE, Chile) and Marty Ro (Sound Republica, South Korea) are among the new directors appointed to the 20-member WIN board, announced on Thursday, February 8. The other new faces are Alejandro Varela (S-Music, Argentina) and Sridhar Swaminathan (SIMCA, India), who are named as observers.

The trade association warmly thanks outgoing members Francesca Trainini (PMI, Italy), Jeffrey Chiang (Fluxus, South Korea) and Oliver Knust (IMICHILE, Chile).

The board, which is renewed annually, consists of independent representatives of music companies and trade associations from around the world, appointed by WIN members on a geographical basis.

The organization is responding to the changes this year by creating a new international structure based on five regional blocs: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australasia, a move that reflects “the diversity of languages, species and cultures that make up its members . “, it is stated in a statement.

Meanwhile, Zena White (Partisan Records, USA) and Maria Amato (AIR, Australia) are reappointed as president and treasurer, respectively. Melbourne-based Amato, CEO of the Australian Independent Record Labels Assn., in 2022 became WIN's first female chair and the organization's first from the southern hemisphere.

“I am grateful to be given the opportunity to continue as president of WIN, and my congratulations go out to our five new board members,” White commented in a statement. “Our North Star is to strengthen the industry by having an independent music trade association in all countries where there is a commercial music business. The new regional block structure reflects our aim to connect as many territories as possible. I am particularly proud of WIN's work with groups in Latin America and Asia Pacific on their specific agendas, as well as adding associations in India, Paraguay and Bulgaria to our membership.”

The organization was launched in 2006 and became a trade association in 2016, acting as a global coordination and support body for the independent sector and representing thousands of music companies and professionals around the world. It focuses on long-term growth and sustainability.

Each year, WIN commissions and publishes the WINTEL market report which measures the economic and cultural impact of the independent music sector worldwide.

White and Noemí Planas, CEO of WIN, will then join representatives of member associations in other Latin American countries to visit Guadalajara, Mexico in late February and early March for the FIM GDL conference and host a session top independent label and WINHUB networking aggregation.

WIN table for 2024:

North America

Garry West (Compass Records, USA)

Gord Dimitrieff (Aporia Records, Canada)

Jason Peterson (GoDigital Media Group, USA)

Richard Burgess (A2IM, USA)

Zena White (Partisan Records, USA)

Observer: Tony Kiewel (Sub Pop, USA)

Latin America

Francisca Sandoval (IMICHILE, Chile)

Sandra Rodrigues (ABMI, Brazil)

Observer: Alejandro Varela (S-Music, Argentina)

Europe