Merlin unveils 2024 board, prioritizes 'Significant, sustainable and value-driven membership growth'

Merlin, the global digital licensing company for the independent music industry, has unveiled its new board – one that does not include co-founders Martin Mills and Michelle Lambeaut.

The new board is made up of leaders from the independent sector in 12 different countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania, and includes six new faces.

Exclusively revealed by Advertising sign Today (January 10), Merlin welcomes new board members Golda BitterlyVP of Sales, Revelator (Israel); Jeffrey Chiangdirector of global operations, Fluxus (South Korea); Fer Iselafounder and CEO, limbo music (Spain); Irina Lipczyk-Kolakovskadigital distribution distribution, e-muzyka (Poland); Simon Wheeler, director of global commercial strategy, Beggars (UK); and Megan Jasper, CEO, Sub Pop (USA).

They join Merlin's returning board members Pascal Bittarfounder and CEO, IDOL (France); Marie Clausenmanaging director North America, Ninja Tune (US); Tom Deakinhead of EMEA, AudioSalad (UK); Chris MaudCOO, Mushroom Music (Australia); Carlos Millsfounder, Mills Records (Brazil); Louis Posenpresident and CEO, Hopeless Records (USA). Michael UgwuCEO, Freeme Digital (Nigeria); Darius Van Armanco-CEO, Secretly (US); Horst Weidenmueller, CEO & Owner, !K7 (Germany); and Justin Westpresident and CEO, Secret City (Canada);

Van Arman is being reappointed as chairman for a second term after first joining the board in 2015 and playing an “instrumental” role in guiding the strategic direction of the organization, a statement said.

Additionally, Jennifer Newman Sharpgeneral counsel, excellence, and Dorothee Imhoff, CCOs, FUGA, are appointed as board advisors this year.

Merlin's board is elected by and by its members, who represent tens of thousands of independent record labels, distributors and rights holders, including K7!, Why Music, Beggars Group, Better Noise, CD Baby and Downtown Music (including FUGA) , Exceleration, and many others.

Next year, explains Merlin's CEO Jeremy Sirota in a statement to Advertising signthe organization is “committed to fostering meaningful, sustainable and value-driven development of members”.

Its mission, “to support labels and distributors who invest in artists and their unique cultural offering. By partnering with members who invest in high-quality music around the world, Merlin aims to strengthen its network while offering unparalleled access and benefits to our members and enriching the global music landscape.”

Sirota and Merlin also pay tribute to outgoing board members Martin Mills (Beggars), Merlin co-founder, board member and former chairman, and Michel Lambot ([PIAS]), co-founder and board member of Merlin, two giants of the independent music community whose “long-term leadership” has helped members “around the world achieve their independence.”

Also, Sirota points to the completion last year of the initial construction of a Data Warehouse, which will allow Merlin to make “significant strides in data, analytics and insights to further our mission and our members.” In 2024, “we will now begin to provide actionable insights derived from our collective data,” he adds. Part of that plan includes expanding Merlin's data and insights team, which over time should “provide insights that help our members make informed decisions and drive growth.”