IMPALA Still Battling UMG-EMI

TOO LATE TO STOP NOW? With everyone pretty much conceding the UMG-EMI deal will be approved by the EU and FTC, indie org IMPALA is still in there arguing against the pairing. In a letter sent today to European Commissioners, IMPALA's Helen Smith asked the EC to "stay faithful to its Statement of Objections issued in June, which concluded that the merger was a real danger in nearly all member states.” The org, which represents European indie labels, had been split apart when several members defected and came out in favor of the agreement, including Co-President Patrick Zelnik, who penned a Financial Times editorial backing the merger, then expressed interest in acquiring Virgin Records with Richard Branson. (9/17a)