Interview with Ian Harrison (A2IM): You’re Only as Independent as the Rails You Run On

This interview with A2IM’s CEO Ian Harrison was originally featured in the WIN Annual Report 2025-26.

Independence means different things to different people. What does it mean to you in 2026, and why does it matter?
Independence is ownership and control outside the major label system. It means making your own decisions, staying close enough to your artists and fans to actually care, and constantly innovating as the market changes. The indie sector has the most exciting artists, entrepreneurs, and executives.

You’ve just taken the helm at A2IM. What are your priorities, and how do you see the role of trade associations in ensuring independents have a seat at the table where decisions are made?

Independents make up over 44% of the US market by ownership, and roughly half worldwide. Bigger than any major. But that scale requires coordination, and that’s what a trade association is for. Nobody clears a seat at the table for you; you organize your way into it. In Washington we are fighting for fair treatment and clarity around AI and Big Tech with the reintroduction of the Protect Working Musicians Act (collective bargaining for independent creators), plus the NO FAKES Act (voice and likeness), the CLEAR Act (AI training transparency), and the AI labeling program launched with the RIAA and IFPI. Being US-based, close to the companies shaping music’s future, is rare access, and we have a duty to use it. We are working closely with DSPs and AI companies on fair access, compensation, and visibility. We are also focused on building community. Indie Week, the Libera Awards, and many other events throughout the year bring our community together.

The infrastructure that moves music through the market is increasingly controlled by a small number of players. How serious is this threat, and what does the independent sector need to protect its autonomy?

You’re only as independent as the rails you run on. When distribution, royalty infrastructure, and data concentrate in a few hands, autonomy is eroded. The Downtown acquisition made this concrete: the scrutiny around it led to the Curve divestment, and to Merlin stepping in to invest. Keeping the ecosystem open is core work for every trade organization in this network.

Independent labels have always been defined by long-term investment in artists and a willingness to discover pioneering talent ahead of the market. What makes this model resilient, and what sets it apart from what the majors offer?

Independents are built inside the cultures and genres they serve, so investing in new artists isn’t a strategy, it’s the reason we exist. That closeness produces constant invention in business models, marketing, and the music itself, out of passion, necessity, or usually both. A structure answering to public markets can’t hold risk that long. Ours can, and long-term artist development takes exactly that endurance.

You are joining the WIN board as the organization celebrates its 20th anniversary. How do you see A2IM’s role within the global network, and what is your vision for what WIN can achieve in the years ahead?

WIN started 20 years ago as a bet that independents worldwide share more than divides them, and the bet keeps paying off. Our position in the world’s largest music market gives us access, insight, and a voice that greatly benefits the WIN network. A2IM’s job in the network is to be a dependable pillar: share what we learn, back common positions, and support smaller markets.

About A2IM
The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade organization that serves as a central voice for a diverse community of over 600 independently owned record labels operating within the United States. A2IM  represents their interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. As an organization, A2IM is committed to protecting the value of independent musical contributions and influence on a policy level.