Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the independent label sector, has opened a Japanese office.
Based in the Ebisu district of central Toyko, the move comes at a time of surging global demand for independent music online and with Japan emerging as a key digital market.
The territory is already the world’s second largest music market.
The new office is managed by Haji Taniguchi, formerly President of Avex Music Publishing.
Merlin has also appointed Kaoruko Hill, an experienced licensing and rights administration executive to lead on label and service relation.
Charles Caldas, Merlin chief executive, 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 how digital consumption is unlocking new global markets for independent labels - with 39 per cent of respondents stating that over half their digital revenues originate from outside their home territory.
By comparison, just 16 percent 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 percent to $232m.
Based in the Ebisu district of central Toyko, the move comes at a time of surging global demand for independent music online and with Japan emerging as a key digital market.
The territory is already the world’s second largest music market.
The new office is managed by Haji Taniguchi, formerly President of Avex Music Publishing.
Merlin has also appointed Kaoruko Hill, an experienced licensing and rights administration executive to lead on label and service relation.
Charles Caldas, Merlin chief executive, 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 how digital consumption is unlocking new global markets for independent labels - with 39 per cent of respondents stating that over half their digital revenues originate from outside their home territory.
By comparison, just 16 percent 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 percent to $232m.
