Merlin Membership Survey 2015: Surge In Music Streams Delivers Digital Growth For Independent Labels

Growth For Indie Artists

MERLIN, the global digital rights agency for the independent label sector, has published results of its 2015 member survey. MERLIN’s membership commands in excess of 10% of the global digital market across more than 20,000 labels -- including the likes of BEGGARS GROUP, COOKING VINYL, DOMINO, EPITAPH, KOBALT LABEL SERVICES, MERGE, NINJA TUNE, [PIAS], SECRETLY GROUP and WARP RECORDS.

Drawing on anonymised responses from MERLIN members across 26 countries, the survey highlights 4 clear trends:

• Independent labels have crossed a digital tipping point. For the first time, more than half of respondents report that income from digital services accounts for over 50% of their overall business revenues. For one in three, digital income accounts for over 75% of their overall revenues.
• Streaming/subscription income is driving digital growth. One in three respondents report that income from audio streaming & subscription services now accounts for over 50% of their digital revenue -- up from one in five in 2014.
• Total digital revenues increased in 2014 for almost 75% of respondents. 17% reported their overall digital revenues increased by over 50%.
• The majority of MERLIN members report overall business growth. Despite a fall in download sales, 65% of respondents reported an increase in overall business revenues in 2014 (compared to 62% in 2013). Only 16% of respondents reported a decrease in overall 2014 business revenues, compared to 18% the previous year.

With 82% of respondents feeling “optimistic” about the future of their business, these findings correlate with analysis of MERLIN’s own internal data -- which reveals a 43% increase in year-on-year revenues (APRIL 2014 - MARCH 2015) to $137.8 million. In MARCH 2015 alone, audio tracks by MERLIN members were streamed more than 2.5 billion times -- an increase of over 1 billion from the same period last year.

MERLIN CEO CHARLES CALDAS said, “The MERLIN membership survey again shows how strongly the world’s leading independent labels are faring in the global digital market. This year’s results highlight the speed at which music fans are transitioning towards streaming and subscription services, and how independent labels are leading that change, and growing their audience in the process -- with the vast majority growing their digital revenues and expanding their business overall.”

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