Merlin is a licensing body that represents tens of thousands of copyright holders and distributors.
Via press releases and other company information, it’s possible to monitor the membership size of Merlin globally.
When Merlin was founded in 2008, it classed itself as a “not-for-profit agency” owned by its members via a Netherlands-based incorporated entity.
This changed in 2020, when Merlin re-registered as an Eire-based company: Music and Entertainment Rights Licensing Independent Network Ltd.
The below data visualization represents the changing shape of Merlin’s worldwide membership since the body was founded in 2008.
As of 2024, Merlin represents over 30,000 copyright holders releasing music through approximately 500 labels/distributors.
