Deal Unlocks Independent Music Catalogs for Early-Stage Startups
(San Francisco, CA August 3, 2021) Feed Media Group, the leading B2B music licensing subscription service, announced today that it has signed a music licensing deal with Merlin, the independent music community’s digital music licensing partner for its Adaptr product. Adaptr is a subscription-based platform that makes it easy for startups to use popular music, and this deal provides access to an enormous catalog of licensed music from independent record labels and their artists.
Adaptr was designed for startups that have raised less than $7.5 Million and earned less than $4.5 Million in revenue. Under the terms of the new agreement, record labels and distributors within Merlin’s vast global collective can make their music available via Adaptr beginning immediately. Merlin represents tens of thousands of labels and hundreds of thousands of artists from every country in the world.
“We are thrilled that Adaptr clients will now have access to some of the best independent music in the world via our new deal with Merlin,” said Bryn Boughton, VP of Music for Feed Media Group “In so many cases independent music is perfectly suited for our clients, who are on the cutting edge of technology.”
"The deal with Adaptr is an innovative opportunity for Merlin to expand our member’s reach across sectors and services while giving early-stage startups access to diverse music from around the world,” said Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin.
“Adatpr solves a key problem our industry faces – ensuring that innovators have easy access to properly licensed music for their startups,” said Charlie Lexton, COO of Merlin.“As a tech-oriented organization, Merlin sees the value in enabling our members and their artists to participate in exciting startups at the earliest stages of their development, and to receive proper licensing fees in return. We’re thrilled to enable our members to power Adaptr.”
Adaptr has previously announced licensing deals with other record labels, distributors, and publishers around the world. Adaptr is brought to you by Feed Media Group, a pioneer in connecting music rights holders and tech innovators. Its initial offering Feed.FM is a B2B platform that helps brands leverage music to connect with their customers.
About Feed Media Group
Feed Media Group is for businesses that need licensed popular music to create the most engaging customer experiences in their digital apps and physical spaces. Unlike navigating complex, time-consuming negotiations with music labels and publishers, Feed Media Group’s proprietary streaming platform and SDKs deliver pre-cleared music—compiled by the industry’s best curators—complete with user analytics, payments to rightsholders, and legal indemnification for our customers. Feed.fm powers music for the world’s leading brands including American Eagle Outfitters, Mayo Clinic, Mirror, Nautilus and Tonal; and up-and-coming startups use Adaptr to create unique music-based experiences. Our music partners include WMG, ADA, eOne, A-Train Entertainment, Vio Distribution and Insomiac and publishers including Warner Chappell, Kobalt, BMG, The Royalty Network, Southern Music (peer), MCPS and Audiam. Learn more at Feed.FM.
About Merlin
Merlin provides independents the means to own their future. Merlin is a member-led, music focused organization providing digital music licensing for independents across the globe. Members benefit from Merlin’s premium deals, but work directly with key digital partners. Our membership consists of independent labels, distributors, and other rights-holders, representing tens of thousands of labels and hundreds of thousands of artists from every country in the world. Merlin works collaboratively with its digital partners, delivers value back to those digital partners, and seeks to drive other incremental benefits to its members.
Merlin’s approach has enabled its membership to grow to represent 15% of the global market share. Merlin’s membership includes independents such as Amuse, Armada Music, AVL Group (including CD Baby, DashGo and FUGA), Beggars Group, Cinq Music Group, Dim Mak, DistroKid, Domino, Entertainment One, Epitaph Records, Foundation Media, Kontor New Media, Mad Decent, Monstercat, Mushroom Music, Ninja Tune, [PIAS], Pony Canyon, Secret City, Secretly, Symphonic Distribution, Sub Pop, Ultra Records, Vydia, and hundreds more.
Merlin now has deals with over 30 digital services, including partners like Apple, AWA, Boomplay, Deezer, Facebook/Instagram, JioSaavn, JOOX, KKBox, NetEase, Pandora, Peloton, SberZvuk, Snap, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent, TikTok, Triller, Yandex, YouTube Music, and many other global, regional and strategic partners, as well as being in conversations with dozens more.
Merlin has offices in London, New York, and Tokyo.
Find out more at www.merlinnetwork.org
MEDIA CONTACTS
For Feed.FM/Adaptr:
John Vlautin at SpinLab Communications
jv@spinlab.net
For Merlin:
Dawn Kamerling at The Press House
dawn@thepresshouse.com
