Merlin Partners with B2B Financing Solutions Provider Pipeline

Merlin, the digital music licensing partner for independent labels and distributors, has entered into a partnership with Pipeline, a specialist provider of innovative financing solutions for the independent music sector.

What it means:

• Pipeline will provide Merlin member companies with advances against digital royalties generated by Merlin.

• It offers efficient access to such funding without members having to hand over rights.

• The new tool is designed to enable Merlin members to grow their businesses and unlock the value of future revenues without disrupting existing commercial relationships.

• The service is optional, and participation does not prevent Merlin members from entering financing or commercial arrangements with other parties.

New launch:

• Pipeline officially launched earlier this week with $200m in capital raised.

• As per Digital Music News, it offers advances to “labels with over $500k in annual revenue and digital distributors with over $1M in revenue.”

• It then “takes an agreed percentage of monthly royalties until the advance is recouped, subject to a monthly minimum.”

• It seeks to offer “fast decision-making and an efficient process, enabling the provision of advances with minimal paperwork.”

What they said:

• Charlie Lexton, CEO of Merlin: “Merlin’s partnership with Pipeline is a gamechanger. We can now offer Merlin members a streamlined path to advance funding that doesn’t require them to compromise their rights or business plans. We’re supporting our members’ ability to compete, while preserving their freedom to work as they choose. Merlin members work on their own terms. They need support that speeds them up, not processes that slow them down. With Pipeline, we have found a partner that understands that, and together we have developed an offering that meets that challenge.”

• Matt Spetzler, Founding Partner of Jamen Capital and Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Pipeline: “Advances against digital royalties for the independent music community are now not only possible, but practical and scalable. Our goal with Pipeline is to provide transparent, creator-friendly capital, and this partnership allows us to deliver that value directly to Merlin members worldwide.”