Merlin is a member led, music focused organisation providing digital music licensing for independents across the globe. Members benefit from Merlin’s premium deals, but work directly with key digital partners. Merlin’s membership consists of independent labels, distributors, and other rights-holders, representing tens of thousands of labels and hundreds of thousands of artists from every country in the world. Merlin works collaboratively with digital partners, delivers value back to those digital partners, and seeks to drive other incremental benefits to its members.

Members of IMPALA and other associations of independent companies get a discount on Merlin’s admin fees. For more on the fundamental relationship between associations and Merlin, see here.

Merlin’s approach has enabled their membership to grow to represent 15% of the global market share. Merlin’s membership includes independents such as Amuse, Armada Music, AudioSalad, AVL Group (including CD Baby, DashGo and FUGA), Beggars Group, Cinq Music Group, Dim Mak, DistroKid, Domino, Epitaph Records, Foundation Media, Freeme Digital, IDOL, Kontor New Media, Mad Decent, MNRK Music Group, Monstercat, Mushroom Music, Ninja Tune, ONErpm, [PIAS], Pony Canyon, Redeye, Secret City, Secretly, Symphonic Distribution, Sub Pop, Vydia, and hundreds more.

Merlin has deals with nearly 40 digital services, including partners like Adaptr, Apple, AWA, Boomplay, Deezer, JioSaavn, JOOX, KKBox, Meta, NetEase, Pandora, Peloton, SberZvuk, Snap, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent, TikTok, TREBEL, Triller, Twitch, UMA, Yandex, YouTube Music, and many other global, regional and strategic partners, as well as being in conversations with dozens more.

Merlin has resources in London, New York, North Carolina, the Netherlands, and Tokyo. It was set up by IMPALA and others in 2007, as you can see in our milestones.

In 2023, Merlin announced the successful completion of its inaugural Merlin Engage mentorship program specifically for its members. Merlin Engage pairs executive-level mentors with talented mentees to help shape the next generation of female leaders in the independent music space. Read the full statement here.

In 2024, Merlin announced the election of its new board for 2024-2025 and welcomed six new board members. Read the full statement here.

In June 2024, Merlin launched Merlin Connect, making high quality independent music more accessible to a select group of promising tech platforms & enabling members to experiment with the next generation of digital partners.

Merlin is also the supporter of our One Step Ahead, Strategic Primers and Carbon Calculator project.

Find out more about Merlin here. 

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