Merlin, the global digital-rights agency for the independent label sector, today announced the appointment of Jeremy Sirota as the organization’s new CEO.
Sirota, who joins Merlin from Facebook’s music team, will be based in both New York and London. He succeeds Charles Caldas, who served as Merlin’s CEO since the agency’s founding in 2007.
According to the announcement, Sirota’s leadership was pivotal in helping to shape and implement the company’s digital music strategy. While at Facebook, he led the company’s efforts to license and acquire recorded music rights from independent record labels and distributors around the world, thereby enabling innovative social music features across Facebook, Instagram, Oculus and Messenger.
Sirota previously held a number of senior positions at Warner Music Group, culminating in his appointment as SVP and Head of Business & Legal Affairs for both Warner-Elektra-Atlantic (WEA), Warner’s artist and label services division, and Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA), Warner’s indie distribution arm. Prior to his work at Facebook and Warner Music Group, Sirota was an Associate at Morrison & Forster, LLP, New York, in their Technology Transactions Group.
Merlin’s senior management team is completed by Charlie Lexton (CCO) and Helen Alexander (CFO), both based in the UK, and Jim Mahoney (VP Global Operations) in the US.
In addition to Sirota’s appointment, Dave Hansen, formerly GM of Epitaph Records, will move into a new role as Executive Chairperson. Merlin is also announcing today the results of its biennial board elections, with eight new executives joining the organization’s 15-member board. The new incoming board members are: Alexandria Hock (Better Noise Music), Carlos Mills (Mills Records), Chan Kim (FLUXUS, Inc), Katie Alberts (Reach Records), Marie Clausen (Ninja Tune), Merida Sussex (Stolen Recordings), Michael Ugwu (Freeme Digital) and Pieter van Rijn (FUGA).
Hansen said:
“Having committed to an incredibly rigorous and wide-reaching search, Merlin has found an exceptional individual to lead the organization forward. In addition to his experience at Facebook, Jeremy brings a deep-seated knowledge of independent music and a reputation for embracing new, exciting and transformational technologies. We believe he can build on the groundbreaking work of Charles Caldas and ensure Merlin’s membership continues to thrive in a global digital music market.”
Sirota said:
“I am honored by this opportunity to lead Merlin and serve independents throughout the world. Merlin’s team of executives and employees are widely respected throughout the music and DSP communities, and I look forward to working closely with them to write the next chapter. With the digital music market potentially on the brink of another wave of transformative change, it’s vital that independents continue to have an organization that represents their interests, ensures the value of their repertoire is respected, and keeps pace with innovation.”
Martin Mills, Merlin board member and Beggars Group chairman, said:
“I’m delighted that we’ve found in Jeremy an executive with deep experience in both the tech and music worlds to build upon Charles Caldas’ exceptional work. He has all the credentials to help write Merlin’s next chapter. With our new CEO, the right executive team, and a strong, newly-elected board, Merlin will continue to thrive and empower independents in this new decade.”
Merlin’s board is divided into three territorial blocs with equal representation given to North America, Europe and ROW.
In first name alphabetical order, the full Merlin board is as follows:
North America
- Alexandria Hock, Better Noise Music (US)
- Darius Van Arman, Secretly Label Group (US)
- Justin West, Secret City Records (Canada)
- Katie Alberts, Reach Records (US)
- Marie Clausen, Ninja Tune (US)
Europe
- Emmanuel De Buretel, Because Group (France)
- Horst Weidenmueller, !K7 Records (Germany)
- Martin Mills, Beggars Group (UK)
- Michel Lambot, PIAS Group (Belgium)
- Pieter van Rijn, FUGA (Netherlands)
ROW
- Carlos Mills, Mills Records (Brazil)
- Chan Kim, FLUXUS (South Korea)
- Masahiro “Jack” Oishi, Danger Crue (Japan)
- Merida Sussex, Stolen Recordings (Australia)
- Michael Ugwu, Freeme Digital (Nigeria)
Merlin’s Advisory Board is:
- Paul Hitchman (AWAL)
- Chris Maund (Mushroom Group)
- Nando Luaces (Altafonte Network)
- Jason Peterson (Cinq Music)
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