On Earth Day, IMPALA published the fifth installment of its “Faces of the Independent Sector” series, featuring Céline Lepage, general manager of FÉLIN, the French federation of independent labels and distributors. The interview highlights a national record recycling programme that has already processed 1.2 million units and a new metadata initiative designed to improve discoverability for independent artists.
The series, which marks IMPALA’s 25th anniversary, is co-funded by the European Union and spotlights professionals from across Europe’s independent music community.
From scooter deliveries to label management
Lepage’s entry into the music industry began with a summer job at the Tour de France à la Voile, where a band from the Tricatel label performed nightly. She later joined Tricatel in a role that encompassed production, promotion, and distribution, including delivering records to Paris shops by scooter.
“I started with a summer job at the Tour de France à la Voile, where a band from the Tricatel label performed every evening. That experience was a turning point. After finishing my studies, I joined Tricatel in a very hands-on role that allowed me to explore all aspects of an independent label: production, promotion, and even distribution: delivering records myself to independent record stores in Paris on my scooter.”
Today, in addition to leading FÉLIN, Lepage works with Born Bad Records and occasionally collaborates with labels such as Cracki Records and Heavenly Sweetness.
“Being independent is all about artistic commitment: supporting projects that truly resonate with us, beyond their commercial potential. It also means choosing to operate within a demanding ecosystem, where risk-taking and uncertainty are part of the journey.”
Recycling records and the ‘revinyl’ standard
Coinciding with Earth Day, Lepage detailed FÉLIN’s ReDisco project, a recycling initiative for CDs and vinyl that has already recycled 1.2 million records. The programme aims to establish a new “revinyl” standard, expanding to public collection and launching a digital platform to structure the ecosystem.
“Independent players have a unique ability to bring audiences towards greater musical diversity, offering alternatives to the mainstream. They can also lead the way in the ecological transition, by experimenting with new models like revinyl and engaging both artists and audiences around these issues.”
Metadata, AI and the fight for discoverability
Lepage identified discoverability as the main challenge for independent artists, citing an environment saturated with new releases on streaming platforms. She pointed to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated music as a parallel concern, raising questions about regulation, transparency, and the recognition of human-created works.
To address discoverability, FÉLIN is developing Metamusique France, a tool inspired by a Québec model and built on shared, cross-sector governance. Its goal is to improve the quality and circulation of metadata, thereby strengthening the visibility of independent artists.
“A major shift would be the adoption of a user-centric payment model on streaming platforms. This would better connect fan engagement with artist remuneration and create a fairer system, particularly beneficial for independent players.”
Lepage offered advice to independent professionals: build connections, stay curious, trust artistic intuition, and maintain a clear understanding of economic realities.
FÉLIN is also actively engaged in addressing generative AI challenges through advocacy and dedicated working groups that facilitate discussion among professionals and help shape collective positions.
