AIR works closely with Merlin and is an advocate of their work. AIR encourages its members to seek more information about Merlin and to consider becoming a member of the network to take advantage of their superior bargaining power when dealing with music platforms around the world.
Merlin seeks to ensure its members have effective access to new and emerging revenue streams and that their rights are appropriately valued and protected. With members in over 25 countries, Merlin is the first rights body focusing purely on the interests of the global independent music sector.
Merlin exists because the independents need their own body to ensure their commercial interests are properly represented by an organisation focused wholly on their sector.
Merlin offers the most efficient means for digital music services to license repertoire from the largest and most compelling basket of independent rights in the world.
Merlin’s global membership include the world’s leading independents, including Rough Trade, Warp Records, Epitaph, Naïve, Domino, Tommy Boy, One Little Indian, Yep Roc/Red Eye, Kontor New Media, Naxos, XL Recordings, Beggars Group, Merge, Sub Pop, The Mushroom Group, !K7, [PIAS], Domino and Koch/E1 amongst thousands of others.
Merlin is not an aggregator. Its remit is to represent its members in new media deals that can’t be easily negotiated locally or individually or are not covered adequately by existing arrangements. It is run as a non-profit organisation, with all dividends from its commercial investments being shared among its members.
With a globally representative board elected by its community, Merlin ensures that independents finally have a vehicle which can protect and enhance the strength, diversity and unique interests of its members and enhance their ability to compete and access new revenue streams in the everchanging world of digital music.