Indie labels combine to form a "virtual fifth major"
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January 25, 2007
at 10:46
(Views: 31)
Independent labels, tired of being treated like second-class citizens at the bargaining table, have banded together to become a "virtual fifth major" label, and they've already started signing deals. Separately, each independent is tiny; together, they could form the largest label in the world.
The new licensing authority is called Merlin, and it was announced four days ago at this year's Midem music conference in Cannes. The group is headed by Charles Caldas, the former head of Australia's largest independent music distributor. Labels from the US, UK, France, Norway, Japan, Brazil, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries have already signed on to use their collective size as a bargaining asset.
