Merlin, a digital music licensing and membership group for impartial labels, distributors, and different rightsholders, has appointed Neil Miller as its new Normal Counsel.
Miller brings a wealth of expertise within the music trade, becoming a member of Merlin from worldwide legislation agency Greenberg Traurig LLP, the place he suggested main know-how, gaming, social media, and digital leisure corporations on music rights and licensing.
Previous to that, he led the worldwide music licensing authorized workforce as Director & Affiliate Normal Counsel for Meta, and served as SVP & Normal Counsel for six years at SoundCloud. Miller additionally held management roles at CBS Interactive and Viacom/MTV, amongst others.
As Normal Counsel, Miller shall be a key member of Merlin’s govt workforce. Based mostly within the firm’s UK workplace, he’ll play a job in supporting new initiatives like Merlin Join, a brand new device that gives rising know-how platforms with entry to impartial music created by actual artists.
“Merlin is a dynamic group working in a posh and ever-changing authorized and business atmosphere. Neil’s wealth of expertise throughout music and digital leisure is strictly what we have to meet these challenges.”
Charlie Lexton, Merlin
He may also be instrumental in strengthening Merlin’s relationships with its members, companions, and rights organizations around the globe, the group stated.
Merlin represents “tens of 1000’s” of impartial labels and “lots of of 1000’s” of artists globally, who collectively account for over 15% of the worldwide music market share.
Merlin negotiates licensing offers with main digital service suppliers on behalf of its members, making certain truthful compensation for his or her music. Merlin’s members embody independents like Beggars Group, CD Child and Downtown Music (together with FUGA), Domino, Reservoir Media, Symphonic Distribution, and extra.
“I couldn’t be happier to welcome Neil to Merlin on this essential and strategic position, the place he’ll lead an extremely proficient enterprise affairs workforce,” stated Merlin COO Charlie Lexton.
“Merlin is a dynamic group working in a posh and ever altering authorized and business atmosphere. Neil’s wealth of expertise throughout music and digital leisure is strictly what we have to meet these challenges. He’s extremely revered throughout the trade and brings a useful mix of long-term considering, technical expertise, and spectacular management.”
Merlin CEO Jeremy Sirota added: “Neil is an especially proficient govt. His authorized and business experience will make sure that Merlin can ship on its mission of constructing an moral, sustainable, and indie-centric world. His management expertise carry a brand new dimension to our govt workforce the place he’ll make a big contribution throughout Merlin, our members and companions.”
The appointment comes after Merlin struck new offers with streaming platform Deezer, Amazon-owned livestream platform Twitch, streaming service Audiomack, and graphic design platform Canva.
Music Enterprise Worldwide
