Independent Up Streaming

Merlin the Independent Music Licensing Agency has published the results of its annual membership survey indicating that revenues paid out to Merlin’sindependent label members increased by 73% year-on-year to $232m,

With 39% of members reporting over half of digital revenues originating from outside their home territory, compared with just 16% reporting the same for physical.

Overall business growth remains consistently high among Merlin members with 79% stating they are optimistic about the future of their business and almost half (46%) of Merlin’s members reporting audio streaming/subscription as their primary source of digital revenue.

Representing the most valuable set of rights outside of those controlled by the three major labels, Merlin’s 700-strong membership commands in excess of 12% of the global digital recorded music market across more than 20,000 labels – including Beggars Group, Domino, Epitaph, Kobalt Label Services, Merge, Ninja Tune, [PIAS], Secretly Group and Warp Records.