Merlin board members 2024

Photo Credit: Caitlin Mitchell

Independent digital music licensing partner Merlin announces its new 2024 board, welcoming six new board members.

Merlin, the independents’ digital music licensing partner that’s negotiated deals with Apple, Deezer, Peloton, Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and many more, announces its new board for 2024, welcoming six new board members. The new lineup brings leaders from the independent music industry in 12 different countries. Merlin’s board is elected from and by its membership, representing thousands of independent record labels, distributors, and rights holders across the globe.

Newly elected to the board this year are Golda Bitterli, VP of Sales at Revelator (Israel); Jeffrey Chiang, Director of Global Business at Fluxus (South Korea); Fer Isella, Founder and CEO of limbo music (Spain); Irina Lipczyk-Kolakovska, Digital Distribution Lead at e-muzyka (Poland); Simon Wheeler, Director of Global Commercial Strategy at Beggars (UK); and Megan Jasper, CEO of Sub Pop (US). Also appointed this year are board advisors Jennifer Newman Sharpe, General Counsel at Exceleration, and Dorothee Imhoff, CCO at FUGA.

“We are pleased to welcome our new Board Members, each of whom brings a vital and unique perspective to Merlin,” said Merlin CEO Jeremy Sirota (pictured). “As Merlin continues to grow — both in terms of our global membership and our partnerships — their collective expertise in various facets of the music industry is invaluable. Their strategic insights will be crucial to help us navigate new opportunities and challenges for music rights holders in the ever-evolving digital music landscape.”

Returning members to Merlin’s board are Pascal Bittard, Founder at CEO at IDOL (France); Marie Clausen, Managing Director North America at Ninja Tune (US); Tom Deakin, Head of EMEA at AudioSalad (UK); Chris Maund, COO at Mushroom Music (Australia); Carlos Mills, Founder of Mills Records (Brazil); Louis Posen, President and Executive Director at Hopeless Records (US); Michael Ugwu, CEO of Freeme Digital (Nigeria); Darius Van Arman, Co-CEO of Secretly (US); Horst Widenmueller, CEO and Owner of !K7 (Germany); and Justin West, President and CEO of Secret City (Canada).

Merlin’s global membership spans 68 countries, representing 15% of the recorded music market, and is funded entirely by its low 1.5% admin fee. Operating for the benefit of its members, Merlin helps the world’s leading independents own their digital business across global deals.