Union des Producteurs Phonographiques Français Indépendants


The Union of Independent French Phonographic Producers is a trade organisation that brings together independent record labels and music distributors in France. Its headquarters are based in the nation's capital Paris.
Founded on 12 June 1986 as the Professional Association of Independent Phonographic Producers, the organisation changed the terms of its original statutes during its extraordinary general meeting of 8 June 1993. It was during the same meeting that the organisation changed its name to the UPFI.

Structure

In its current constitution, the UPFI says its current objectives are:
  • to bring together and represent all persons or entities practising the profession of producers, publishers of sound and video recordings, and all those whose activities are linked with the production of these sound and video recordings;
  • to organise, educate and protect their professional, economic, moral, national and international interests;
  • generally, to do everything possible to ensure the promotion of production activities, and that of its members in particular, in France and abroad.
The UPFI is currently headed by its president Vincent Frèrebeau, who was elected during an annual general meeting held on 5 June 2014. He took over from Stephan Bourdoiseau, who headed the organisation from June 2004 to June 2008, and had taken over from Frèrebeau himself in June 2010 for a second term.

Members

The UPFI currently represents 78 independent record labels and music distributors within and outside France.
The administrative council currently has 18 members, who are the heads of 18 of the 78 members of the organisation. The council's current members are:
  • Hervé Bergerat
  • Julien Banes
  • Pascal Bittard
  • Laurent Bizot
  • Stephan Bourdoiseau
  • Emmanuel de Buretel
  • Xavier Collin
  • Béatrice Costermans
  • Laurent Didailler
  • Jean-Michel Doué
  • Pascal Dumay
  • Pierre Forgacs
  • Vincent Frèrebeau
  • Olivier Lacourt
  • Stéphane Laïck
  • Olivier Lebeau
  • Frédéric Temstet
  • Marc Thonon

    Presidents

The UPFI has been headed by five different presidents since June 1993.
  • Claude Berda : 1993–1997
  • Jean-Michel Fava : 1997–2000
  • Patrick Zelnik : 2000–2004
  • Stephan Bourdoiseau : 2004–2008, 2010–2014
  • Vincent Frèrebeau : 2008–2010, 2014–present

    Certification

The UPFI awards certifications at the request of each phonographic society. The submission of a certification is subject to a sales threshold, which must be certified by the organisation's accounting firm after audits with the label. As of 1 July 2009, the certification criteria are as follows: