Merlin Swoop Over SoundCloud

In preparation for the launch of SoundCloud’s forthcoming subscription service, Merlin the global digital rights agency, has announced a landfill sorry “Landmark” partnership deal!

Merlin, whose membership includes some of the biggest independents including Beggars Group, Domino, Secretly Group, Epitaph, Ninja Tune, PIAS, Warp Records, Armada Music, Kontor Records and many more, represents the most valuable set of rights outside of those controlled by the three major labels, commanding in excess of 10% of the global digital market.

The deal with SoundCloud enables more than 20,000 labels and distributors worldwide to extend their existing relationship with the service and benefit from new commercial and promotional opportunities. SoundCloud currently has 175 million unique users each month.

Significantly, via this commercial partnership Merlin members now have access to a full range of reporting and content management tools and by joining On SoundCloud, SoundCloud’s new creator partner programme, an opportunity to unlock new revenues, triggering monetisation of their own uploads to the SoundCloud platform, in addition to those posted by SoundCloud users.

CEO of Merlin Charles Caldas commented: “The independent label community has long embraced SoundCloud as an innovative marketing and discovery platform, and Merlin is pleased to partner with the service at the next stage of its evolution. Our deal significantly extends this existing relationship, and ensures Merlin members can participate fully in the long term value of SoundCloud’s future”.

SoundCloud’s founder & CEO Alexander Ljung said: ”I’m excited to announce our largest independent label partnership to date with Merlin. Independent creators have always been at the core of SoundCloud and with this partnership we’re thrilled to extend new revenue generating opportunities to thousands of independent labels”.

The new service is due to launch in 2015.