Merlin, the digital licensing partner for independent labels and distributors, has created a new Chief Membership Officer role and promoted Jim Mahoney into the position, leading a set of senior elevations across its global membership division.
New Chief Membership Officer
Mahoney joined Merlin in 2014 and was instrumental in establishing its North American presence before taking charge of the global membership function. In the newly created role, he will delegate some operational responsibilities to concentrate on membership strategy, engagement, and development worldwide, ensuring the organisation remains closely aligned with the needs of independent music companies.
His career combines frontline label experience with industry advocacy. Before Merlin, he served as Vice President at the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) and held an independent label seat on the board of SoundExchange. Earlier, he held senior roles at Fat Beats Records, Roadrunner Records, and Profile Records, where he led campaigns for artists including DJ Quik, Camp Lo, and Atmosphere.
“It’s an honor to take on this position at such an important moment for Merlin and for the independent music community more broadly. Our members are at the heart of everything we do and their artists power the successes of our digital partners. I’m excited to continue building on the strong foundation we’ve created, ensuring they have the tools, access, and advocacy they need to compete and succeed on a global stage.”
Additional Membership Team Promotions
Bela Zecker has been elevated to Senior Director, Global Membership Development. Since joining in 2023, she has advanced the company’s international membership strategy, deepening relationships across its growing network. Zecker previously served as Label Manager at Exceleration, Senior Manager of Independent Label Relations at SoundCloud, and Senior Project Manager at Ninja Tune.
In London, Joe Mercer Danher becomes Director, Member Relations, leading global Member Relations efforts and serving as the primary contact for members across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). He joined Merlin in 2020 and has worked to ensure independent labels, distributors, and artist and label services companies fully benefit from Merlin’s offerings. His background includes artist management in the European rock and metal scene, as well as designing grant initiatives at Help Musicians and PRS Foundation. He is also a composer who has delivered projects for brands including Apple, Tesla, Vice, and Wired.
Ben Sperling has been promoted to Manager, Global Membership Development, after more than two years in roles focused on driving member participation in commercial and promotional opportunities tied to Merlin’s global digital service provider (DSP) partnerships. He began at Merlin as an intern during his studies and later moved into a full-time position. Prior to joining, he worked as a Distribution Analyst at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
“I’m incredibly pleased to see Bela, Ben and Joe step into these well-deserved new roles. Each of them has made a significant impact at Merlin. Their expertise, commitment, and understanding of our global community is instrumental in Merlin’s support of our members and driving Merlin’s continued success worldwide.”
Executive Statement
Charlie Lexton, CEO of Merlin, added:
“These promotions reflect the depth of talent at Merlin. Jim’s promotion and the creation of the Chief Membership Officer role recognise Jim’s exceptional leadership and the fundamental nature of Merlin as a member-based organisation. Jim has been instrumental in the growth and development of Merlin’s membership, and his promotion is an acknowledgement of the role he has played for some time. His deep understanding of our sector and Merlin’s core mission is invaluable. Together with the deserved promotions of Bela, Ben and Joe, our Membership team has the strength, expertise and global perspective to continue delivering meaningful, lasting value to our members.”
About Merlin
Merlin is the digital music licensing partner for the world’s leading independent labels and distributors. It has negotiated premium deals with platforms including Apple, Canva, Deezer, Meta, Spotify, YouTube, and 40 other services globally. Its membership spans more than 70 countries and represents 15% of the recorded music market. Merlin operates for the benefit of its members, without investors seeking an exit, and is funded entirely by a low 1.5% administration fee. The organisation helps independents own their digital business through world-class deals and dedicated support.
Merlin’s membership includes independents such as:
- !K7
- AEI Music
- Anjunabeats
- Armada Music Group
- AudioSalad
- Better Noise
- Cinq Music Group
- Curb Records
- Epitaph Records
- Exceleration Music
- Freeme Digital
- GYROstream
- Hopeless Records
- IDOL
- Innercat Music
- Kompakt
- Kontor
