Jeremy Sirota will step down as CEO of Merlin, the digital music licensing associate for unbiased labels and distributors, efficient December 31, 2025, the group introduced immediately (Could 13).
The Merlin Board and Sirota stated they’ve developed a transition plan because the group searches for his successor.
“Jeremy has been a rare CEO for Merlin, bringing nice focus, large power and sensible considering to one of the crucial necessary and difficult roles inside the unbiased neighborhood,” stated Darius Van Arman, Chairperson of Merlin and co-founder of Secretly Group.
“His work and management has Merlin extra ready than ever to handle an more and more complicated music licensing panorama and to realize our mission of enabling larger independence for all Merlin members.
“As chairperson, I’ll miss working intently with Jeremy, and on behalf of the Merlin board and the entire Merlin neighborhood, I need to specific immense gratitude to Jeremy for his unwavering dedication to Merlin these previous six years.”
In response to paperwork researched by MBW, Merlin’s annual income collections reached GBP £1.19 billion (GBP $1.48 billion) in 2023.
Merlin costs its members a low admin price, between 1.5% and 3% of collected digital royalties for offers its members have opted into.
Merlin has secured a number of key offers previously 12 months, together with the launch of “Merlin Join” for rising know-how platforms to license unbiased music, a renewed partnership with Meta, and a licensing settlement with Twitch relating to DJs livestreaming music.
The group has additionally undergone challenges, together with the termination of its licensing negotiations with TikTok in October 2024.
As MBW reported, TikTok opted to pursue direct licensing offers with particular person Merlin members. TikTok cited issues about copyright points, whereas Merlin acknowledged this was an try by the Bytedance firm to “fragment the Merlin membership”.
Merlin says its membership – throughout 70+ nations – represents 15% of the worldwide recorded music market.
“Main Merlin and empowering independence has been the privilege of a lifetime,” stated Sirota. “Every single day I get to get up and create significant influence for our members, assist them navigate via disruption, and guarantee they’ve company in a time of extraordinary change.
“I depart with unimaginable pleasure figuring out that Merlin has a vibrant future.”
Jeremy Sirota
“I depart with unimaginable pleasure figuring out that Merlin has a vibrant future. I expect to find my subsequent alternative to steer an organization, drive innovation, and proceed to have a optimistic influence on the earth.”
Sirota added: “Merlin continues to be a very powerful group representing independents. I’m extremely pleased with what the Merlin staff accomplishes every single day on behalf of our members.
“I encourage each main unbiased to use for membership. I’m additionally immensely grateful for the help of Darius Van Arman, Dave Hansen, the co-founders — Martin Mills, Michel Lambot, and the late Horst Weidenmüller — in addition to the complete Merlin Board.”
In response to the announcement, Sirota will proceed in his position via the tip of the yr. The chief staff that can stay contains Charlie Lexton (COO), Jim Mahoney (SVP, Member & Accomplice Success), Adam Wright (CFO), and Neil Miller (Common Counsel).
The Merlin Board has shaped a recruiting subcommittee to seek for Sirota’s substitute.
Throughout Sirota’s time as CEO, Merlin has added new members together with Artist Accomplice Group, Avex, World Sound, and Nettwerk.
The group just lately launched the Weidenmüller Sustainability Fund in partnership with IMPALA.
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