Merlin has appointed Jon Glass as its General Counsel.
The digital music licensing partner for independent labels and distributors said Glass will lead its Business & Legal Affairs function and take on responsibility for its Partnerships team.
Glass is based in New York and will report to Merlin CEO Charlie Lexton.
Glass joins Merlin after nearly two decades in senior business and legal affairs roles across the recorded music business.
He was most recently Senior Vice President, Head of Digital Legal Affairs at Warner Music Group, which he joined in 2010.
He held several roles at Warner, including Associate Counsel and Vice President, before that promotion.
Before Warner, he worked in digital business and legal affairs at Sony Music Entertainment, and practiced law at several firms, including Morrison & Foerster LLP.
“I want to thank Charlie for this opportunity. Merlin has built an extraordinary reputation across the industry, and I’m excited to be joining at such an important time for independent music.”
Jon Glass
The appointment places Merlin‘s Business & Legal Affairs and Partnerships teams under one leader.
Merlin described the change as part of its “continued progression,” combining “two closely aligned partner-facing functions.”
“Jon is one of the most respected legal executives in the digital music business,” said Charlie Lexton, CEO of Merlin.
“He brings an exceptional combination of legal expertise and commercial judgement with a highly developed understanding of the opportunities and complexities facing Merlin.
“As the digital playing field continues to evolve, we need to ensure we are coordinated in the way we think about the relationships we build with our partners. Bringing our Business & Legal Affairs and Partnerships teams together under Jon’s leadership is designed to do exactly that and will help us deliver even greater value for our members.
“I am delighted to welcome Jon to Merlin.”
“He brings an exceptional combination of legal expertise and commercial judgement with a highly developed understanding of the opportunities and complexities facing Merlin.”
Charlie Lexton, Merlin
Lexton became CEO of Merlin on January 1, 2026, succeeding Jeremy Sirota, who had spent nearly two decades at the company
About his appointment, Glass added: “I want to thank Charlie for this opportunity. Merlin has built an extraordinary reputation across the industry, and I’m excited to be joining at such an important time for independent music.
“Over the course of my career, I’ve watched the digital business develop from downloads to streaming, social platforms, and now AI services.
“I’m looking forward to putting that experience to work for Merlin, its members, and the independent artists those members represent, and working alongside the team here on the organisation’s future legal and partnerships strategy.”
The Partnerships team now moving under Glass has been expanded through a series of recent senior promotions.
Merlin promoted Emma Robinson to VP, Partnerships as part of a series of senior appointments.
That team manages Merlin‘s relationships with digital platforms, including Apple, Canva, ElevenLabs, Meta, Spotify, and YouTube.
Merlin has also continued to expand its licensing relationships across digital and AI platforms.
Recently, Spotify signed a licensing agreement with Merlin for its upcoming fan-made covers and remixing tool, which will allow fans to create covers and remixes of songs from participating Merlin members.
Merlin renewed its multi-year global licensing partnership with Spotify in September 2025.
The company also signed licensing deals with AI platforms including Udio in January 2026.
Under that agreement, Merlin members can opt in to license their recordings to Udio.
Merlin also signed a licensing deal with ElevenLabs for its Eleven Music platform in August 2025.
Merlin says its membership represents around 15% of the global recorded music market, with members in more than 70 countries.
Merlin‘s membership includes independent labels such as Domino, Epitaph, Ninja Tune, Secretly, Sub Pop, and Warp Records.
The organization is funded entirely by a 1.5% admin fee charged to its members.Music Business Worldwide
Merlin, a digital music licensing partner for independent labels and distributors, has appointed Jon Glass as its General Counsel. In this role, Glass will oversee the Business & Legal Affairs function and the Partnerships team, which is integral to Merlin’s operations. He will be based in New York and report directly to Merlin CEO Charlie Lexton.
Glass brings nearly two decades of experience in business and legal affairs within the recorded music industry. His most recent position was Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Legal Affairs at Warner Music Group, a role he held since joining the company in 2010. During his time at Warner, he progressed through various roles, including Associate Counsel and Vice President. Prior to Warner, Glass worked in digital business and legal affairs at Sony Music Entertainment and practiced law at several law firms, including Morrison & Foerster LLP.
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Glass stated, « I want to thank Charlie for this opportunity. Merlin has built an extraordinary reputation across the industry, and I’m excited to be joining at such an important time for independent music. » The consolidation of the Business & Legal Affairs and Partnerships teams under one leader signifies a strategic move for Merlin to enhance its operational efficiency and strengthen its partner relationships.
CEO Charlie Lexton commented on Glass’s appointment, noting, « Jon is one of the most respected legal executives in the digital music business. He brings an exceptional combination of legal expertise and commercial judgment with a highly developed understanding of the opportunities and complexities facing Merlin. » He emphasized the importance of coordinating relationships with partners as the digital landscape continues to evolve, which is a key reason for Glass’s leadership role.
Lexton took on the CEO position on January 1, 2026, succeeding Jeremy Sirota, who had a long tenure at the organization. Glass expressed his enthusiasm for contributing to Merlin at a pivotal moment for independent music, highlighting his career journey through the evolution of the digital music business from downloads to streaming and now to AI services. He looks forward to leveraging this experience to benefit Merlin’s members and the independent artists they represent.
The Partnerships team, now under Glass’s leadership, has recently undergone several senior promotions, including the elevation of Emma Robinson to Vice President of Partnerships. This team is responsible for managing Merlin’s relationships with major digital platforms, such as Apple, Canva, ElevenLabs, Meta, Spotify, and YouTube.
Merlin has been proactive in expanding its licensing agreements across digital and AI platforms. Notably, Spotify recently signed a licensing agreement with Merlin for an upcoming fan-made covers and remixing tool, which will enable fans to create their own versions of songs from participating Merlin members. Additionally, in September 2025, Merlin renewed its multi-year global licensing partnership with Spotify, further solidifying their collaborative efforts.
In January 2026, Merlin also entered into a licensing agreement with Udio, allowing its members to opt in to license their recordings to this AI platform. Another significant licensing deal was made with ElevenLabs for its Eleven Music platform in August 2025.
Merlin represents about 15% of the global recorded music market and has members from over 70 countries. Its membership comprises independent labels such as Domino, Epitaph, Ninja Tune, Secretly, Sub Pop, and Warp Records. The organization operates solely on a 1.5% administrative fee charged to its members, which funds its initiatives and services.
As Merlin continues to evolve in the digital music landscape, Jon Glass’s appointment as General Counsel will play a crucial role in enhancing its legal and partnership strategies, ensuring that the organization remains at the forefront of supporting independent music in an increasingly complex industry.
