Spotify & Merlin Renew Deal, Backing 15% of Global Music Market
Spotify and Merlin have renewed their global, multi-year licensing partnership, which accounts for 15% of the global music market. This deal is a key part of Spotify's strategy to support independent music and reflects its commitment to the sector.
The renewal sees both Spotify and Merlin committed to growing the value of music for creators on streaming platforms. Merlin's CEO, Jeremy Sirota, views the partnership as empowering independent labels to own their future. The agreement ensures continued access for Merlin members to Spotify's global platform, which boasts over 365 million monthly active users.
Spotify's co-president and chief business officer, Alex Norström, sees independent music as crucial for discovery on the platform. The renewal comes as Spotify announces a change in leadership. Founder Daniel Ek will step down as CEO at the start of 2026, with two new Co-CEOs, Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström, taking the helm from January 1, 2026.
The renewed partnership between Spotify and Merlin is a significant move in the music industry, ensuring the continued growth and support of independent labels and artists on the world's largest audio streaming platform. With a new leadership duo set to take charge, Spotify remains committed to its mission of unlocking the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by it.
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