26:
311:. In January 2020, Jeremy Sirota stepped into the role of Merlin CEO. The company is a member-based organization representing the digital licensing rights for hundreds of independent labels and distributors in nearly every country around the globe. As of 2019, Merlin has paid out over two billion dollars.
501:
In early June 2024, the organization announced the launch of Merlin
Connect, a solution for emerging technology platforms to license fully cleared, quality independent music handpicked by Merlin members. Later that month, Merlin renewed its strategic partnership with Meta in a deal that covers Meta
448:
In August 2021, Feed Media Group, the B2B music licensing subscription service, signed a music licensing deal with Merlin, for its Adaptr product. Adaptr is a subscription-based platform. The deal provides access to a catalog of licensed music from Merlin member labels, distributors, and their
494:
In May 2023, Merlin unveiled a global licensing deal with
Soundcloud. In late June, the company announced a partnership with all-in-one visual communication platform Canva to grant Canva customers in many countries access to use music clips in their designs.
435:– for digital music distribution in China. In May 2018, the company sold all of its Spotify shares for an estimated $ 125 million-plus, passing the proceeds on to its members. A landmark global licensing deal in December 2019 saw Merlin partnering with
456:
announced that they had extended and enhanced an existing music licensing partnership. The expanded partnership enabled Merlin’s membership to increase their presence in South Asia and expanded JioSaavn’s catalog offering to its worldwide audience.
464:, the maker of a licensed music app with on-demand and offline play sponsored by brand advertisers. The company ended the year by announcing an expanded licensing agreement with African music streaming service
814:
1406:
1174:
1354:
488:
announced a deal to bring Merlin members' musical repertoire to its platform. That month also saw a partnership announced with China-based short-form video platform
Kuaishou.
1302:
320:
1200:
1071:
822:
1473:
1148:
871:
1045:
1226:
970:
774:
417:, to transfer 30% of that label's value to Merlin and IMPALA members. The divestment ended with the transfer of rights to the independent sector.
491:
Merlin announced two new partnerships in
December of 2022: first with VR fitness app Supernatural and then with STYNGR, a gaming music platform.
1097:
1020:
471:
In
January 2022, Merlin partnered with UK-based Lickd to allow creators to legally use Merlin members' music in their YouTube videos.
1433:
896:
445:
In
January 2021, Merlin held a "Celebrate Music" event. At the event, it unveiled a new brand, a new logo, and an updated website.
995:
442:
In 2020, Jeremy Sirota joined Merlin as its second CEO. The organization expanded its deals to include Apple, Snap, and
Triller.
406:
1252:
1329:
1277:
1468:
948:
788:
1381:
498:
March 2024 saw a renewed partnership with Deezer. The following month, Merlin announced a partnership with
Audiomack.
844:
658:
307:, distributors, and other music rights holders around the world. It was founded in 2007 with Charles Caldas as the
633:
685:"Merlin Pays Out $ 845 Million to Labels and Distributor Members in 2018, Reaching Over $ 2 Billion in Payouts"
478:, the interactive live streaming service for content spanning gaming, entertainment, sports, music, and more.
1330:"Canva Inks Deals With Warner Music Group, Merlin to Let Users Incorporate Song Clips in Their Visual Designs"
684:
923:
1355:"Indie artists shift to artist-centric payments on Deezer, as streaming service signs new deal with Merlin"
1407:"Meta renews licensing deal with Merlin for independent music across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger"
1175:"Meta renews licensing deal with Merlin for independent music across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger"
1123:
304:
736:
577:
Darius Van Arman, Co-CEO of
Secretly Group (Reappointed as Chairperson of Merlin's Board for 2024)
161:
1463:
1434:"Merlin Unveils 2024 Board, Prioritizes 'Meaningful, Sustainable and Value-Driven Member Growth'"
166:
481:
April 2022 saw the company announce a deal with FLO, a leading streaming application in Korea.
266:
767:
1201:"Pinterest strikes deals with Warner, Merlin and BMG to expand music experience on platform"
354:
The company has negotiated settlements for copyright infringement with distributors such as
256:
8:
251:
241:
1072:"Music service Boomplay and Merlin expand licensing deal to 47 countries across Africa"
461:
424:
410:
363:
146:
1303:"SoundCloud, Merlin strike global deal to bring fan-powered royalties to indie labels"
755:
332:
1382:"Merlin Launches New Initiative to Help Emerging Tech Platforms License Indie Music"
1149:"Indie label agency Merlin strikes partnership with South Korean streaming app FLO"
475:
460:
Merlin added to its list of partners in
October 2021 when it announced a deal with
420:
In 2016, Merlin opened an office in Tokyo, Japan, to expand its global operations.
236:
181:
151:
399:
344:
308:
171:
971:"Merlin Unveils Brand 'Refresh' With New Logo, Website, 'Celebrate Music' Event"
465:
436:
300:
246:
206:
136:
815:"Warner Music Working With Impala, Merlin to Sell Parlophone Assets to Indies"
1457:
616:
383:
351:
as one of the then-regional streaming service's original licensing partners.
340:
328:
211:
196:
141:
132:
42:
872:"Merlin Sells All of Its Spotify Shares for an Estimated $ 125 Million-Plus"
709:
452:
In September 2021, Merlin and South Asian music and audio streaming service
1046:"Merlin strikes strategic partnership with free music streaming app TREBEL"
336:
271:
156:
127:
1227:"Merlin strikes multi-territory licensing deal with TikTok rival Kuaishou"
423:
In March 2018 the company entered into agreements with the three Chinese
355:
231:
897:"Boomplay And Merlin Bring the World's Best Independent Music to Africa"
414:
387:
221:
216:
191:
25:
737:"Indie music labels join together to grab a slice of online revenues"
617:
Merlin Network strikes streaming deals for independent music in China
485:
375:
226:
453:
371:
359:
347:. The organization's first commercial deal was a 2008 license with
201:
474:
Next, in early February 2022, Merlin announced a partnership with
327:. The company was founded by Alison Wenham (WIN), Michel Lambot ,
1098:"Merlin inks multi-year deal with music licensing platform Lickd"
571:
Louis Posen, President & Executive Director, Hopeless Records
432:
428:
391:
348:
261:
379:
367:
324:
176:
735:
correspondent, Katie Allen, media business (22 January 2007).
586:
Simon Wheeler, Director of Global Commercial Strategy, Beggars
395:
285:
845:"Merlin Opens Japanese Office to Expand Global Operations"
550:
Marie Clausen, Managing Director North America, Ninja Tune
537:
The current Board was elected in 2024 and is composed of:
1124:"Twitch partners with indie music licensing group Merlin"
502:
properties including Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger.
186:
949:"Snap strikes deals for licensed music in Snapchat app"
556:
Eniko Gallasz, Managing Director, WM Music Distribution
321:
Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale
599:
Jennifer Newman Sharpe, General Counsel, Exceleration
1021:"Merlin Renews Licensing Deal With India's JioSaavn"
996:"Adaptr platform agrees licensing deal with Merlin"
789:"Merlin Announces 20 Percent Price Cut For Members"
547:
Jeffrey Chiang, Director of Global Business, Fluxus
1253:"Merlin partners with VR fitness app Supernatural"
634:"Merlin Appoints Facebook's Jeremy Sirota as CEO"
1455:
1278:"Merlin teams with gaming music platform Styngr"
515:As of January 2024, Merlin's executive team is:
568:Carlos Mills, Founder & CEO, Mills Records
528:Jim Mahoney, SVP, Member & Partner Success
869:
734:
583:Justin West, President & CEO, Secret City
1474:Music organisations based in the Netherlands
366:. Its content has been distributed through
24:
773:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
590:
319:Merlin was launched in early 2007 at the
1327:
580:Horst WeidenmĂĽller, CEO & Owner, !K7
559:Fer Isella, Founder and CEO, limbo music
1431:
921:
682:
1456:
544:Golda Bitterli, VP of Sales, Revelator
924:"Interview: Merlin CEO Jeremy Sirota"
659:"No. 81: Charles Caldas | Power 100"
553:Tom Deakin, Head of EMEA, AudioSalad
1379:
922:LeBlanc, Larry (3 September 2021).
565:Chris Maund, Co-CEO, Mushroom Music
13:
609:
14:
1485:
1432:Brandle, Lars (10 January 2024).
574:Michael Ugwu, CEO, Freeme Digital
812:
683:Sanchez, Daniel (19 June 2019).
532:
343:); Charles Caldas was the first
1425:
1399:
1373:
1347:
1328:Spangler, Todd (29 June 2023).
1321:
1295:
1270:
1245:
1219:
1193:
1167:
1141:
1116:
1090:
1064:
1038:
1013:
988:
963:
941:
915:
889:
863:
837:
806:
781:
728:
702:
676:
651:
626:
100:Jeremy Sirota, Chief Executive
1:
870:Variety Staff (14 May 2018).
603:
510:
405:In February 2013, Merlin and
96:Darius Van Arman, Chairperson
505:
303:music licensing partner for
7:
1469:Music industry associations
541:Pascal Bittard, Owner, IDOL
10:
1490:
596:Dorothee Imhoff, CCO, FUGA
562:Megan Jasper, CEO, Sub Pop
314:
623:. Accessed February 2019.
409:signed an agreement with
305:independent record labels
280:
115:
107:
86:
76:
68:
60:
52:
40:
32:
23:
1411:Music Business Worldwide
1380:Rys, Dan (5 June 2024).
1359:Music Business Worldwide
1307:Music Business Worldwide
1231:Music Business Worldwide
1205:Music Business Worldwide
1179:Music Business Worldwide
1153:Music Business Worldwide
1102:Music Business Worldwide
1076:Music Business Worldwide
1050:Music Business Worldwide
162:Domino Recording Company
167:Entertainment One Music
122:Principal member labels
111:Digital music licensing
591:Advisory board members
267:Symphonic Distribution
402:and other services.
257:Stones Throw Records
522:Charlie Lexton, COO
252:Secret City Records
242:Redeye Distribution
137:London Music Stream
20:
1078:. 21 December 2021
903:. 10 December 2019
766:has generic name (
689:Digital Music News
519:Jeremy Sirota, CEO
425:streaming services
413:after it acquired
411:Warner Music Group
364:XM Satellite Radio
147:Better Noise Music
56:Music distribution
18:
1282:www.musicweek.com
1257:www.musicweek.com
1233:. 24 October 2022
1207:. 19 October 2022
1104:. 13 January 2022
1052:. 28 October 2021
1000:www.musicweek.com
851:. 10 October 2016
615:(15 March 2018).
484:In October 2022,
294:
293:
1481:
1449:
1448:
1446:
1444:
1429:
1423:
1422:
1420:
1418:
1403:
1397:
1396:
1394:
1392:
1377:
1371:
1370:
1368:
1366:
1351:
1345:
1344:
1342:
1340:
1325:
1319:
1318:
1316:
1314:
1299:
1293:
1292:
1290:
1288:
1274:
1268:
1267:
1265:
1263:
1249:
1243:
1242:
1240:
1238:
1223:
1217:
1216:
1214:
1212:
1197:
1191:
1190:
1188:
1186:
1171:
1165:
1164:
1162:
1160:
1145:
1139:
1138:
1136:
1134:
1120:
1114:
1113:
1111:
1109:
1094:
1088:
1087:
1085:
1083:
1068:
1062:
1061:
1059:
1057:
1042:
1036:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1017:
1011:
1010:
1008:
1006:
992:
986:
985:
983:
981:
967:
961:
960:
958:
956:
945:
939:
938:
936:
934:
919:
913:
912:
910:
908:
893:
887:
886:
884:
882:
867:
861:
860:
858:
856:
841:
835:
834:
832:
830:
821:. Archived from
810:
804:
803:
801:
799:
785:
779:
778:
771:
765:
761:
759:
751:
749:
747:
732:
726:
725:
723:
721:
710:"Merlin Turns 5"
706:
700:
699:
697:
695:
680:
674:
673:
671:
669:
655:
649:
648:
646:
644:
630:
624:
613:
525:Adam Wright, CFO
290:
287:
237:Red Bull Records
182:Hopeless Records
152:Cinq Music Group
97:
28:
21:
17:
1489:
1488:
1484:
1483:
1482:
1480:
1479:
1478:
1454:
1453:
1452:
1442:
1440:
1430:
1426:
1416:
1414:
1405:
1404:
1400:
1390:
1388:
1378:
1374:
1364:
1362:
1361:. 21 March 2024
1353:
1352:
1348:
1338:
1336:
1326:
1322:
1312:
1310:
1301:
1300:
1296:
1286:
1284:
1276:
1275:
1271:
1261:
1259:
1251:
1250:
1246:
1236:
1234:
1225:
1224:
1220:
1210:
1208:
1199:
1198:
1194:
1184:
1182:
1173:
1172:
1168:
1158:
1156:
1155:. 14 April 2022
1147:
1146:
1142:
1132:
1130:
1122:
1121:
1117:
1107:
1105:
1096:
1095:
1091:
1081:
1079:
1070:
1069:
1065:
1055:
1053:
1044:
1043:
1039:
1029:
1027:
1019:
1018:
1014:
1004:
1002:
994:
993:
989:
979:
977:
969:
968:
964:
954:
952:
951:. 3 August 2020
947:
946:
942:
932:
930:
928:CelebrityAccess
920:
916:
906:
904:
895:
894:
890:
880:
878:
868:
864:
854:
852:
843:
842:
838:
828:
826:
825:on 28 July 2019
811:
807:
797:
795:
787:
786:
782:
772:
763:
762:
753:
752:
745:
743:
733:
729:
719:
717:
708:
707:
703:
693:
691:
681:
677:
667:
665:
657:
656:
652:
642:
640:
632:
631:
627:
614:
610:
606:
593:
535:
513:
508:
431:, Alibaba, and
400:YouTube Premium
345:chief executive
317:
309:chief executive
284:
276:
172:Epitaph Records
124:
123:
103:
95:
89:
79:
45:
12:
11:
5:
1487:
1477:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1464:Digital rights
1451:
1450:
1424:
1413:. 12 June 2024
1398:
1372:
1346:
1320:
1294:
1269:
1244:
1218:
1192:
1181:. 12 June 2024
1166:
1140:
1115:
1089:
1063:
1037:
1012:
987:
962:
940:
914:
888:
862:
836:
813:Ugwu, Reggie.
805:
780:
727:
716:. 16 July 2013
701:
675:
650:
625:
607:
605:
602:
601:
600:
597:
592:
589:
588:
587:
584:
581:
578:
575:
572:
569:
566:
563:
560:
557:
554:
551:
548:
545:
542:
534:
531:
530:
529:
526:
523:
520:
512:
509:
507:
504:
437:Boomplay Music
316:
313:
301:digital rights
292:
291:
282:
278:
277:
275:
274:
269:
264:
259:
254:
249:
247:Secretly Group
244:
239:
234:
229:
224:
219:
214:
209:
207:Mushroom Group
204:
199:
194:
189:
184:
179:
174:
169:
164:
159:
154:
149:
144:
139:
130:
121:
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119:
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83:
80:
77:
74:
73:
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66:
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62:
58:
57:
54:
50:
49:
48:Merlin Network
46:
41:
38:
37:
34:
30:
29:
19:Merlin Network
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1350:
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1324:
1308:
1304:
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816:
809:
794:
790:
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776:
769:
757:
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731:
715:
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705:
690:
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660:
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639:
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573:
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555:
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543:
540:
539:
538:
533:Board members
527:
524:
521:
518:
517:
516:
503:
499:
496:
492:
489:
487:
482:
479:
477:
472:
469:
467:
463:
458:
455:
450:
446:
443:
440:
438:
434:
430:
426:
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418:
416:
412:
408:
403:
401:
397:
393:
389:
385:
384:Pandora Music
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
352:
350:
346:
342:
341:Beggars Group
338:
334:
330:
329:Tom Silverman
326:
322:
312:
310:
306:
302:
298:
289:
286:merlinnetwork
283:
279:
273:
270:
268:
265:
263:
260:
258:
255:
253:
250:
248:
245:
243:
240:
238:
235:
233:
230:
228:
225:
223:
220:
218:
215:
213:
212:Naxos Records
210:
208:
205:
203:
200:
198:
197:Merge Records
195:
193:
190:
188:
185:
183:
180:
178:
175:
173:
170:
168:
165:
163:
160:
158:
155:
153:
150:
148:
145:
143:
142:Beggars Group
140:
138:
134:
133:Because Music
131:
129:
126:
125:
118:
114:
110:
106:
99:
94:
93:
91:
85:
81:
75:
71:
67:
63:
59:
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51:
47:
44:
39:
35:
31:
27:
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16:
1441:. Retrieved
1437:
1427:
1415:. Retrieved
1410:
1401:
1389:. Retrieved
1385:
1375:
1363:. Retrieved
1358:
1349:
1337:. Retrieved
1333:
1323:
1311:. Retrieved
1309:. 4 May 2023
1306:
1297:
1285:. Retrieved
1281:
1272:
1260:. Retrieved
1256:
1247:
1235:. Retrieved
1230:
1221:
1209:. Retrieved
1204:
1195:
1183:. Retrieved
1178:
1169:
1157:. Retrieved
1152:
1143:
1131:. Retrieved
1127:
1118:
1106:. Retrieved
1101:
1092:
1080:. Retrieved
1075:
1066:
1054:. Retrieved
1049:
1040:
1030:23 September
1028:. Retrieved
1024:
1015:
1003:. Retrieved
999:
990:
978:. Retrieved
974:
965:
955:23 September
953:. Retrieved
943:
933:23 September
931:. Retrieved
927:
917:
905:. Retrieved
900:
891:
879:. Retrieved
875:
865:
853:. Retrieved
848:
839:
827:. Retrieved
823:the original
818:
808:
796:. Retrieved
792:
783:
744:. Retrieved
741:the Guardian
740:
730:
718:. Retrieved
713:
704:
692:. Retrieved
688:
678:
666:. Retrieved
662:
653:
641:. Retrieved
637:
628:
620:
611:
536:
514:
500:
497:
493:
490:
483:
480:
473:
470:
459:
451:
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444:
441:
422:
419:
404:
353:
337:Martin Mills
318:
296:
295:
272:WARP Records
157:Curb Records
128:Armada Music
69:Headquarters
33:Company type
15:
980:10 February
907:10 February
881:10 February
855:10 February
829:19 February
798:10 February
764:|last=
746:10 February
720:10 February
694:10 February
668:10 February
643:10 February
356:Grooveshark
232:Pony Canyon
78:Area served
1458:Categories
1443:10 January
1287:13 January
1262:13 January
1237:13 January
1211:20 October
1128:TechCrunch
1108:20 January
1082:20 January
1056:29 October
604:References
511:Executives
415:Parlophone
388:SoundCloud
222:PIAS Group
217:Ninja Tune
192:Mad Decent
88:Key people
36:Non-profit
1438:Billboard
1386:Billboard
1025:Billboard
975:Billboard
793:Billboard
663:Billboard
638:Billboard
506:Structure
486:Pinterest
449:artists.
376:Instagram
333:Tommy Boy
227:Polyvinyl
82:Worldwide
43:Traded as
1365:21 March
1159:18 April
1133:18 April
1005:3 August
756:cite web
621:BBC News
466:Boomplay
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