Merlin announces 200% rise in distribution to Japanese members
In a keynote speech at the 15th Tokyo International Music Market (TIMM) later today, global digital rights agency Merlin CEO Charles Caldas will announce that streaming has increased distribution to Japanese members by over 200% year-on-year.
Caldas said: “Opening our Tokyo office in 2016 was a landmark in the global growth of Merlin.
“As well as being the world’s second largest music market, Japan has a thriving music culture with huge export potential.
“Our data underlines that Merlin is helping our Japanese members extract maximum value from the global demand for their repertoire. “
Some of this increase is the result of growth in Merlin’s Japanese membership in the last 12 months.
The rest can be attributed to average payments to members increasing by over 70% between January 2017 and January 2018.
Japan remains a CD-orientated market but Caldas believes that the rise of streaming will generate more global interest in Japanese music as a result.
Merlin’s Tokyo office, based in the Ebisu district, opened in October 2016 and is managed by experienced executive Haji Taniguchi.
Kaoruko Hill provides an international point of contact, supporting local independent labels and liaising with colleagues in Merlin’s London, New York and Amsterdam offices.
Merlin’s membership encompasses tens of thousands of independent labels in 57 countries across all continents.
The organisation’s total membership commands in excess of 12% of the global digital recorded music market