Global independent label agency Merlin has hired former Warner Music Group exec Roger Gold in an advisory role.
Gold’s expertise will be used to bolster Merlin’s commercial and licensing activities in the USA alongside CEO Charles Caldas and Head of Business Affairs Charlie Lexton. In addition to this advisory role, Gold will continue to pursue other business interests outside of Merlin.
The basket of recorded rights represented by Merlin currently accounts for more than a 10% share of the US digital music market..
Having recently departed Warner Music Group after 17 years of service, Gold brings with him a wealth of commercial experience. Following his first decade at the major where, as senior member of the legal and business affairs team he handled many of the company’s biggest deals, Gold transitioned into operations and management. In partnership with Recorded Music Chairman & CEO Lyor Cohen he pioneered Warner’s move into the 360 and D2C businesses.
Gold established the Independent Label Group (ILG) as part of a strategic move to partner more effectively with independent labels. Among ILG’s many successes was Warner’s original deal with John Janick’s Fueled by Ramen label (Paramore, Panic! At The Disco, Fun).
Charles Caldas, Merlin CEO said: “For Merlin this is a really significant appointment. As an executive, deal-maker and entrepreneur, Roger combines an extensive knowledge of the US market with a successful track record working with independent labels. With so much of our activity focused on the emergence of new US-based platforms, Roger’s experience will be a hugely valuable asset for Merlin and its members.”
Roger Gold added: “I am honored by this opportunity to work with Charles and Charlie to help support Merlin and its independent label membership. Historically, independent labels have represented the best examples of entrepreneurialism and have been the greatest early champions of musical artistry. This has never been more true than today and one need only look at the charts to see that this is the era of the independents.”Music Business Worldwide
