Merlin Strikes Deal With Catch Media
MERLIN, the global rights agency and virtual fifth major, representing major independents including Domino, Beggars Group, KOCH (now E1 Music), Epitaph and [PIAS], whose artist rosters include Arctic Monkeys, Adele, Anthony & The Johnsons, Basement Jaxx, Bjork, DJ Khaled, Franz Ferdinand, Maxïmo Park, Röyksopp, and Vampire Weekend, has announced a deal with Catch Media, for their Play AnywhereTM system.
The system - which was one of the winners of the second Music Ally/MidemNet "New Business Showcase" in January 2009 - puts people's music onto the "cloud" and allows them to access and play it across multiple devices regardless of DRM and formats. Play AnywhereTM allows its subscribers to always have access to their personal music collections via their registered devices which could include mobile phones, set-top boxes, PC or in-car systems, no matter where they are.
Merlin is the third major rights holder to enter into a Play AnywhereTM licence with Catch Media, which expects to debut its service across the USA initially, within the next three months.
Said Charles Caldas, Merlin CEO "The Play AnywhereTM system is an exciting new development. Not only does it provides consumers with a convenient, safe and practical way to access their collections, but it generates new revenue for our labels that simply did not exist before. We are delighted to have the world's most important independent repertoire that we represent included in this groundbreaking initiative."
Yaacov Ben-Yaacov Catch Media CEO commented "We are very excited to partner with such a forward thinking company like Merlin, which has not only rapidly grown to be one of the most commercially significant source of independent music, but is also at the forefront of revolutionizing the licensing of digital music. "
Merlin commenced operations in May 2008. Since then it has been actively involved in negotiations with a number of digital services and in October 2008 announced its first deal with the newly launched music streaming service Spotify. With over 12,000 labels on its books, Merlin represents the largest and most important collection of independent music rights in the world, with a US market share of over 9%, equivalent to that of the smaller majors.
Catch Media has developed the revolutionary Play AnywhereTM system that allows consumers to listen to and play their content across multiple devices regardless of DRM and formats. Catch Media monetizes a consumer's post-acquisition consumption while encouraging new acquisition through super-distribution. Carriers, operators, and retailers will offer consumers the ability to listen to their existing music collection across cell phone, set top box, and in-car infotainment systems seamlessly, with acquired content automatically and immediately accessible. Moreover, for the first time, all key participants in the ecosystem will participate in the revenue stream, and receive real-time usage reporting to drive targeted marketing.
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ABOUT MERLIN
Merlin, the virtual fifth major, represents the world's most important independent music to new generation digital media services. Artists signed to Merlin member labels include Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Adele, Anthony & The Johnsons, Basement Jaxx, Battles, Bjork, Cat Power, DJ Khaled, Franz Ferdinand, Infadels, Jose Gonzalez, Maxïmo Park, Mogwai, Morcheeba, Royksopp, Soulwax, Stereo MCs, Tom Waits, Vampire Weekend and The White Stripes.
Merlin offers rights users the opportunity to license collectively the individually unlicensable by creating a single point of contact for those wishing to license from the vast global output of its membership, as well as ensuring its members have effective access to new and emerging revenue streams and that their rights are properly protected. Merlin represents by far the largest and most compelling basket of global independent rights, and so offers the most efficient means of licensing this repertoire.
A global organisation, its members' market share in the US alone is over 9%, equivalent to that of the smaller majors, whilst in Europe member labels released 72% of the top 60 independent albums released in the past three years and commanded a 75% UK market share of the top 75 independent albums in 2007.
Merlin's burgeoning membership includes some of the music industry's most iconic labels. In the UK, Beggars Group (the largest independent in the UK which includes XL Recordings, Matador Records and 4AD), Rough Trade, Domino, Cooking Vinyl, Century Media, Cherry Red, Kitchenware Records and Warp Records are all members. In the US KOCH (the largest independent in the US), Concord, Tommy Boy, Razor & Tie, Saddle Creek, Robbins Entertainment, Dualtone Music Group, Ghostly International and Stones Throw are represented.
In Europe members include [PIAS] Group (the largest pan-European independent), Blanco Y Negro (the largest independent in Spain), Epitaph, Edel, Naive, Wagram, Aggro Berlin, !K7, Kontor Records, Ministry of Sound (Germany), SPV and Gazell. In the rest of the world Merlin represents labels like Brazil's MCD and South Africa's Bula Music. Members also include distributors and aggregators such as Finetunes, State 51, Shock Entertainment, Virtual Label and Kontor.
Announced at MIDEM in 2007, Merlin launched for business in May 2008 when it received its members' mandate. Merlin immediately opened negotiations with a number of services and announced its first deal, with newly launched music service Spotify, in October 2008.
Merlin operates outside the space occupied by Collecting Societies and distributors, redressing the false assumption that for emerging media, only the majors need to be licensed, with the rest free to air.
Merlin operates as a stand-alone company owned by a not for profit foundation.
