If you missed our Celebrate Music event on January 13th, you can watch an event recap above, or watch a recording of the full event below. Thank you to our members, our digital partners, and our board for making this possible. Here’s to celebrating independent music throughout 2021 and beyond!
Merlin: Strategically Guiding Independents During a Year of Unprecedented Upheaval
2020 was a disruptive year for the world. We all stood witness to a global pandemic that shook the entire music ecosystem, virtually shut down the live industry, and drove labels and distributors to explore the boundaries of ingenuity and creativity. It was also a year in which artists used an increasing array of new technologies to connect with fans …
Joining a Trade Association Helps Members to Maximize their Merlin Membership
What are trade associations? Trade associations (TAs) are a vital piece of the independent music ecosystem, offering advocacy, education, and community resources to independents. TAs operate as a global network, and consist of independent labels, distributors, and rights-holders from specific regions around the world. WIN connects and supports independent music trade associations globally, and IMPALA works on behalf of associations …
Celebrate Music with Merlin On January 13th
Please use this link to join us on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, for a virtual celebration of what brings us all together: Independent Music! We’ll reveal Merlin’s new brand, the new ways Merlin will showcase our members through our social channels, and a few exciting updates. See you there! #CelebrateMusic #MerlinMusic
Merlin Member Updates – !K7
In recent months, we’ve had the privilege to interview many of our members about the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has impacted the music ecosystem and their businesses. Even as our resilience is being tested, our members have pivoted their businesses and found new ways to support their artists. It’s been genuinely inspiring to hear about many of their successes. …
“Our Members’ Success Is Our Success”: Merlin Makes Key Hires to Deliver More Value to its Growing Member Base
2020 has been a dynamic year of challenges, innovation, and hard work for Merlin, the independent’s digital music licensing partner. In January, Merlin welcomed Jeremy Sirota as the new CEO from his prior role as a senior executive on the Facebook Music team. Jeremy has helped to guide Merlin through a year of evolution and expansion. As a digital-only company, …
Tencent Music Entertainment and Merlin Renew Multi-Year Licensing Agreement
Tencent Music Entertainment Group (Tencent Music or TME, NYSE: TME), the leading online music entertainment platform in China, and Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the world’s independents, jointly announced that the two parties have renewed their multi-year licensing and cooperation agreement. As part of the renewal, TME and Merlin will deepen their longstanding strategic partnership, explore ways to …
Merlin: Enabling Provocative Music Since 2008
Written by Jeremy Sirota Independent music is provocative. It can be audacious, disruptive, and defiant. Independent music can shake you out of your comfort zone. It can rattle your assumptions. For myself, I’ve always been attracted to the provocateurs. Artists like Fugazi, Johnny Cash, Nirvana, The Stooges, and other rebels who cause us to think about the world in new ways. …
Amuse Joins Merlin To ‘Secure The Most Artist-Friendly Terms’ from Spotify, TikTok and More
Fast-growing, Stockholm-based distribution company Amuse – which also runs its own in-house record label – has joined independent collective licensing agency Merlin. The move means that Amuse’s artists will benefit from commercial terms of Merlin’s multi-territory licensing deals with the likes of Spotify, TikTok, Pandora, Facebook, Boomplay and Deezer, as well as China’s Alibaba, NetEase Cloud Music and Tencent Music. Merlin strikes agreements with …
Merlin Promotes Charlie Lexton to Chief Operating Officer
In an expanded role, Lexton will continue to oversee Merlin’s deal-making efforts. New remit includes oversight of Merlin’s Data Analytics practice alongside commercial and business affairs. Merlin, the digital licensing hub for the world’s independent music sector, has today announced the promotion of Charlie Lexton to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Lexton now oversees a London-based …
Merlin and TikTok Agree to a Landmark Global Music Licensing Partnership
Merlin, the digital licensing hub for the world’s independent music sector, has entered into a multi-territory partnership with TikTok, the world’s leading destination for short-form mobile video with a mission to inspire creativity and bring joy. The deal is effective immediately and represents a significant music partnership. It means the world’s leading independent music repertoire will be licensed for use …
Merlin Appoints Jeremy Sirota as the New Chief Executive Officer
Sirota joins from Facebook’s Music Team Merlin diversifies its board, adding eight new executives from Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, the Netherlands, North America and South Korea Epitaph’s Dave Hansen appointed Merlin’s Executive Chairperson Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the world’s independent label sector, has today announced the appointment of Jeremy Sirota as the organisation’s new CEO. Sirota, a widely …
Merlin’s Jim Mahoney Promoted to VP, Global Operations
Merlin, the global rights agency for the independent label sector, today announced that Jim Mahoney is promoted with immediate effect to the newly created role of VP, Global Operations. Joining the Merlin team in October 2014 as General Manager US, Jim has overseen the establishment and growth of the organisation’s North American operation – providing a primary contact for Merlin’s …
Merlin Extends Otto Partnership for Another 3 Years
Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the independent label sector, has extended its partnership with OTTO, the analytics and reporting application that powers its members online dashboard and processes all Digital Service Providers’́ sales reports and streaming activity. Launched in 2014, the bespoke dashboard allows Merlin’s global membership of independent labels and distributors to securely track and manage all …
Merlin Reveals Record Revenue Distributions in New 2019 Membership Report
– Since opening for business, Merlin has paid in excess of $2bn to thousands of independent la-bels and distributors worldwide. While it took 9 years to distribute our first billion dollars, it has taken only 18 months to distribute our second – $845m was paid to independent label and distributor members between April 2018 and March 2019 – including more than …
Charles Caldas to Step Down as Merlin Ceo
Charles Caldas has announced that he will step down as CEO of Merlin at the end of 2019 after more than 12 years at the helm of the global digital rights agency. Continuing his current duties until then, Charles is working with the Merlin board to ensure a smooth transition for the organisation. Charles relocated to the UK from Australia in 2007 …
Akira Nomoto Appointed as General Manager, Merlin Japan
– Spotify Japan’s former Director of Licensing and Label Relations to spearhead expansion of Merlin’s activities – Kaoruko Hill promoted to Head of Member Services and Operations for Merlin Japan Merlin, the global music rights agency for the independent record label sector, is delighted to announce the appointment of Akira Nomoto as full-time General Manager, Merlin Japan. Effective immediately, Akira …
Mixcloud and Merlin Network Announce Direct Licensing Deal
London, 27 November 2018– Mixcloud, the audio streaming platform that’s fostering a global community for audio culture, has signed a multi-year direct licensing agreement with the Merlin Network, the global music rights agency representing the independent record label sector. Mixcloud’s agreement with Merlin brings independent labels and their recording artists into the mix, alongside Mixcloud’s recent agreements with Universal Music Group …
Merlin Reveals Streaming Growth for Independent Label Members in Japan
– Merlin’s Tokyo office celebrates its second anniversary as distributions to Merlin’s Japan-based members increase 200% year-on-year – Merlin CEO, Charles Caldas, to deliver keynote speech on “global growth” today at TIMM 2018 Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the independent label sector, celebrates two years since the opening of its Japanese office – with Chief Executive, Charles Caldas, …
Merlin Responds to Global Demand for Independent Music With UK & Americas Appointments
– Emma Robinson (Member Services Manager) & Leeza Panayiotou (Manager, Legal and Business Affairs) join the London office – Poppy Waring promoted to Member Services Assistant – Bela Zecker to join Merlin’s New York office on October 29th as Member Services & Operations Manager, Americas Merlin has today announced the appointment of three new staff members, boosting both its Member Services …
Merlin 10th Anniversary “Impact Report” to Celebrate Global Success of its Independent Members
MERLIN PUBLISHES 10TH ANNIVERSARY “IMPACT REPORT” TO CELEBRATE GLOBAL SUCCESS OF ITS INDEPENDENT LABEL MEMBERSHIP – HIGHLIGHTS KEY MARKET TRENDS FOR INDIE LABELS, FEATURING CASE STUDIES & NEW DATA FROM MERLIN’S ANNUAL MEMBER SURVEY – ANNUAL REVENUES SURGE TO $0.5BN+ – MEMBERS WITNESS TENFOLD EARNINGS GROWTH FROM LATAM AND EIGHTFOLD FROM ASIA OVER LAST THREE YEARS – ½ TN STREAM ANALYSIS …
Ten Years: Merlin Expands Global Team and Celebrates A Decade of Growth
– Marta de la Hoz, Chaida Kapfunde and Quentin Martins will extend the level of service and expertise offered to Merlin’s independent label members – 2017 saw highest influx of new members. Today, 24th May 2018, Merlin celebrates its tenth anniversary as global digital rights agency for the independent label sector with the announcement of three key new hires; Marta …
SXSW 2018: Merlin to Reveal Global Consumption Boom for Independent Record Labels
Merlin’s 2017 Latin American earnings increase five-fold in three years – US member labels see streaming revenues from LATAM territories almost double as a percentage of their business Brazil is now the 6th biggest-earning territory for Merlin’s independent label members – ahead of France, Australia and Canada Merlin CEO Charles Caldas to be interviewed on 10 years of Merlin at SXSW today …
Merlin Sets A New Path in China
Landmark non-exclusive partnerships with NetEase, Alibaba and Tencent lay long-term foundations for the world’s most important independent record labels Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the independent label sector has today announced its first participation in the fast-evolving Chinese music market – agreeing a series of strategic non-exclusive licensing partnerships with the country’s five leading digital music services: NetEase …
