Merlin represents 12% of the digital recorded music market and represents more than 20,000 independent record labels and distributors from 51 countries, and is often referred to as "the virtual fourth major", after Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. According to the joint announcement made by Merlin and MQA, "the partnership with MQA will boost the uptake and growth of master quality audio streaming, and paves the way for Merlin member labels and their artists to remain at the forefront of the market."
MQA is an award-winning technology, which delivers master quality audio in a file small enough to stream or download. By delivering the sound of the studio, MQA enables the listener to step into the artists’ original performances. Launched commercially in 2015, the MQA format is currently available on TIDAL streaming service, and is compatible with a rapidly growing list of hardware products including Pioneer, Technics, Onkyo, Bluesound, NAD, Meridian, Mytek, Kripton, Brinkmann, Aurender, Cary Audio and MSB, with many more announcements in the pipeline. MQA is in ongoing discussions with other delivery partners to enable streaming of master quality files.
Merlin acts collectively on behalf of thousands of independent record labels and distributors from more than 50 countries, allowing them effective access to new and emerging digital revenue streams. On their behalf, Merlin has agreed global deals with the world’s most important new-generation digital music services, including Deezer, Google Play, KKBOX, Pandora, Soundcloud, Spotify, VEVO and YouTube.
Merlin's representation catalogue includes music from Beggars Group, Secretly Group, Domino, Sub Pop, Epitaph, Anti Records, Entertainment One, Redeye Worldwide, !K7, Kobalt Music Recordings, [PIAS], Merge, Warp, Hopeless Records, Armada Music, Mad Decent, Eleven Seven Music, Naxos and Curb Records, representing some of the world’s most important and successful artists. Merlin has offices in London, New York, and Tokyo, with a head office in Amsterdam.
According to the CEO of MQA, Mike Jbara, “MQA’s commitment is to provide exceptional sound quality from the studio recording all the way through to the consumer. We’re excited to work with the leaders of the independent community to further fuel the availability of master quality recordings for music fans.”
On behalf of Merlin, its CEO, Charles Caldas, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with MQA. From our own data, we know that Merlin members’ repertoire performs best on paid-for subscription tiers*, and it’s to this high-spending consumer demographic that hi-resolution audio will have the greatest appeal. Consequently, today’s future-facing agreement makes perfect sense – offering our independent label members a fast track entry point to an exciting segment of the streaming market, and ensuring they remain at its forefront.”
According to Merlin market survey for 2016, the usage of Merlin members’ repertoire on audio streaming/subscription services is 27% higher on paid tiers compared to free ad-funded tiers.
www.mqa.co.uk | www.merlinnetwork.org
