Merlin
Martin Vovk is a seasoned professional in insights and research, currently serving as the Director of Insights at Merlin since January 2024. Prior to this role, Martin held various positions at Sony Music Entertainment from June 2011 to April 2023, including Director of Insight and Head of Insight, where leadership was provided to a dynamic UK Insight team, focusing on audience engagement strategies for eight labels. Martin's extensive experience also includes roles as Senior Insight Manager at Sony Music, Researcher at JRA Research, Research Consultant at Loudhouse Research, Consultant at Kantar Media, and a Freelance Journalist. Martin began a career in research as a Research Executive at mmr research worldwide after completing a BA in English from the University of Oxford in 2004.
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 our digital partners, delivers value back to those digital partners, and seeks to drive other incremental benefits to our members. Merlin’s approach has enabled our membership to grow to represent 15% of the global market share. Merlin’s membership includes independents such as Amuse, Armada Music, AudioSalad, CD Baby and Downtown Music (including FUGA), Beggars Group, Cinq Music Group, Dim Mak, DistroKid, Domino, Epitaph Records, Freeme Digital, IDOL, Kontor New Media, Mad Decent, MNRK Music Group, Monstercat, Mushroom Music, Ninja Tune, ONErpm, [PIAS], Pony Canyon, Redeye, Secret City, Secretly, Symphonic Distribution, Sub Pop, Vydia, and hundreds more. Merlin has deals with nearly 40 digital services, including partners like Apple, AWA, Boomplay, Canva, Deezer, FLO, JioSaavn, KKBox, Meta, NetEase, Pandora, Peloton, Snap, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent, TikTok, TREBEL, Twitch, YouTube Music, and many other global, regional and strategic partners, as well as being in conversations with dozens more. Merlin has resources in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Thailand.