Indie Global Licensing Agency Merlin Appoints Board

Merlin, the new non-profit new media licensing agency which represents many of the world’s top independent labels and artists (White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Tom Waits, De La Soul and Cat Power to name a few) has appointed an interim board.

USA –

• Tom Silverman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tommy Boy Records (USA), Board member A2IM
• 
  Glen A. Barros, President & CEO, Concord Music Group Inc. (USA)

Europe –

• Martin Mills, Chairman, Beggars Group (UK), Chairman, IMPALA
• Michel Lambot, Co-President, PIAS (Belgium)
• Horst Weidenmüller, CEO, !K7 Records (Germany), Vice-President, IMPALA

Rest of the World –

• Takashi Kamide, Senior Adviser, MS Entertainment (Japan)
• Mark Kneebone, Tardus Music (New Zealand), Chairman, IMNZ (Independent Music Trade Body, New Zealand)

Non-Regional –

• Alison Wenham, President, WIN, Chairman & CEO, AIM (Association of Independent Music, UK)
• Charles Caldas, CEO, Merlin (formerly CEO Shock Entertainment Group, Australia)

The board will oversee writing a constitution, appointment of staff and initial operations; and will eventually elect a full Board which will likely be larger to allow broader representation. The Interim board members were nominated by international trade groups The World
Independent Network (WIN), American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), and European Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA).

Merlin will be based in London, with Charles Caldas relocating from Australia next week. It’s mission is to act as a single point-of-contact for indie lisences replacing countless individually brokered deals creating a more level playing field with majors. Thus far only a deal with SnoCap had been announced and talks with YouTube and others have thus far failed to bear fruit.