Pascal Bittard re-elected to Merlin’s Board of Directors
[Update 13.01.2026: Pascal Bittard has now been re-elected to the Merlin Board of Directors for a third consecutive term, confirming the trust placed in him by Merlin’s members and reinforcing IDOL’s long standing involvement in international independent representation.]
Founded in 2008 under the leadership of Charles Caldas, formerly CEO of Shock Entertainment and now a founding partner of Exceleration Music, Merlin has negotiated landmark licensing agreements with major digital platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, Deezer, Pandora, TikTok and Meta, as well as strategic partnerships in China with NetEase Cloud Music, Ali Music Group and Tencent Music Entertainment. In January 2026, Charlie Lexton assumed the role of Merlin CEO.
Today, Merlin represents around 15 percent of the global digital music market and is often described as the “virtual fourth major”. By pooling the collective strength of independent rights holders, the organisation negotiates strategic agreements with leading streaming services and other digital platforms, enabling independent labels and distributors of sufficient size to work directly with DSPs. This role has been crucial in securing better deals for independents and in defending diversity in global music production.
Merlin’s Board of Directors is elected by its members every two years and currently has 16 members, with five from North America, six from Europe and five from the rest of the world. The board sets priorities and provides guidance for the Merlin team in its mission “to help independents stay independent.
Pascal Bittard, founder and president of IDOL:
“I’m honoured to be re-elected to the Merlin Board and grateful for the continued trust of the membership. Merlin plays a critical role in securing high-value, market-leading deals that enable member companies to compete at the highest level. I’m proud to continue working alongside such a diverse and experienced group of peers to ensure our members remain well represented, and able to thrive in an ever-evolving digital ecosystem.”
Read the article on Music Week
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