Merlin opens in Japan

Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the world’s independent label sector, has opened a Japanese office. It significantly expands the organisation’s operations in the fast-evolving Asian digital music market.

Japan is the world’s second largest music market and emerging as a key digital market of the future. Based in the Ebisu district of central Toyko, Merlin’s move comes at a time of surging global demand for independent music online.

The new office, opened two years after Merlin launched its New York office, is being managed by Haji Taniguchi, formerly President of Avex Music Publishing Inc and considered one of the most experienced executives in the Japanese and Asian music business.

Taniguchi joined Avex when it was a small independent record company and built it up to one of Japan’s leading entertainment businesses,

Haji has also served as Chair of the MPAJ (Music Publishers Association of Japan), Vice Chair of PROMIC (Foundation for Promotion of Music Industry and Culture) and as Director of ICMP (International Confederation of Music Publishers).

Merlin has also appointed Kaoruko Hill as licensing and rights administration executive to lead on label and service relations – helping local independents understand the practical aspects of participating in Merlin’s licensing deals.

Confirming the appointments, Charles Caldas, Merlin CEO, said: “Merlin was conceived as an outward-looking global organisation, and the Japanese market will be of paramount importance to our international membership.

“Over recent years, we have also seen a marked increase in members from the Asian territories, while in 2015 Merlin signed its first ever pan-Asian specific deal with KKBOX.

“For these reasons, the decision to open a Japanese office as an initial step into this region makes strong strategic sense.

“That we have an executive as experienced as Haji to guide our membership through the idiosyncrasies of the Asian market, and to bring more local labels and distributors under the Merlin umbrella is a perfect combination.

“I would like to welcome both Haji and Kaoruko to the team, and look forward to years of further growth ahead.”

Merlin’s most recent member survey, published in June 2016, revealed conclusively how digital consumption is unlocking new global markets for independent labels – with 39% of respondents stating that over half their digital revenues originate from outside their home territory.

By comparison, just 16% reported the same for physical.

Driven by uptake of streaming and subscription services, year-on-year revenues (April-March 2014/15 to April-March 2015/16) paid out to Merlin’s independent label members increased by 73% to US$232 million.

Representing the most valuable set of rights outside of those controlled by the three major labels, Merlin’s 800-strong membership commands in excess of 12% of the global digital recorded music market across more than 20,000 labels, spanning 46 countries and all continents.

These include the likes of Beggars Group, Domino, Epitaph, Kobalt Label Services, Merge, Ninja Tune, [PIAS], Secretly Group and Warp Records.

On behalf of these members, Merlin has global licences in place with the world’s leading new-generation music services, including Deezer, Google Play, KKBOX, Pandora, SoundCloud, Spotify and YouTube Red.

The organisation has existing offices in London and New York, with a head office in Amsterdam.

In June 2016, Merlin was crowned Independent Champion for the second year running at the A2IM Libera Awards.