'Let's do a deal,' says Aim chief as indies look towards BPI union. (News).

Aim chief executive Alison Wenham issued a "let's do a deal" challenge to the BPI last week, while also warning that an agreement remains some way off.

She told her group's AGM last Tuesday that, while Aim is keen to reach agreement--with a pan-industry Super Council as the organisation's ultimate goal--the political will was lacking to turn the discussions into reality.

"I would like to go on record that we would like to work with the BPI," she said. "But speculation is growing that this deal cannot be done."

It is understood that the latest obstacle to a deal is a long-standing rule, which means that all members of the BPI automatically become members of global trade organisation IFPI. Aim, which is affiliated to the independents' international association Impala, believes any companies should have a choice over membership of IFPI.

Wenham and her BPI counterpart Peter Jamieson have been in ongoing discussions over the past six months to build a framework for uniting the two record industry associations. But, although both had hoped to deliver a solution to their respective AGMs this month, they have fallen short. The BPI's AGM takes place at the former County Hall in London on Wednesday.

Wenham used the AGM to pay tribute to record industry collection society PPL, which she said had made significant strides in collecting overseas royalties for independent labels over the past year. In turn, she declared war on the international ...