Merlin Network

Merlin Network

Type	Non-profit
Traded as	Merlin Network
Industry	Music distribution
Founded	2007
Headquarters	London
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Darius Van Arman, Chairperson Charlie Lexton, Chief Executive
Services	Digital music licensing
Members	Principal member labels Armada Music Because Music/London Music Stream Beggars Group Better Noise Music Cinq Music Group Curb Records Domino Recording Company Entertainment One Music Epitaph Records Fluxus Hopeless Records !K7 Mad Decent Merge Records Mom+Pop Mushroom Group Naxos Records Ninja Tune PIAS Group Polyvinyl Record Co. Pony Canyon Red Bull Records Redeye Distribution Secretly Group Secret City Records Stones Throw Records Sub Pop Symphonic Distribution WARP Records
Website	merlinnetwork.org

Merlin is a digital rights music licensing partner for independent record labels, distributors, and other music rights holders around the world. It was founded in 2007 with Charles Caldas as the chief executive. In January 2026, Charlie Lexton, who joined Merlin at its inception, stepped into the role of Merlin CEO. The company is a member-based organization representing the digital licensing rights for hundreds of independent labels and distributors in nearly every country around the globe and represents 15% of the global music market share. As of 2019, Merlin has paid out over two billion dollars.