Merlin appoints Jon Glass as general counsel and partnerships lead
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Merlin, the global organisation representing independent record labels and distributors in digital licensing, has appointed Jon Glass as its new general counsel, with Glass also taking charge of the organisation's partnerships team. The move, announced on Monday 10 August by chief executive Charlie Lexton, marks the first time Merlin has brought its legal affairs and partnerships functions under one reporting structure, reflecting a push for greater coordination as the digital music landscape evolves with AI and streaming developments.
Glass joins after 16 years at Warner Music Group, most recently as senior vice president and head of digital legal affairs, having previously worked at Sony Music Entertainment and law firm Morrison & Foerster; he holds a J.D. from Northwestern University. He will be based in New York and report to Lexton, who described him as one of the most respected legal executives in the digital music business. He succeeds Neil Miller, who left Merlin in January after two years in the role and has since become a legal director at YouTube Music.
- Merlin names Jon Glass general counsel, also heading partnerships
- Glass joins from 16 years at Warner Music Group
- First time Merlin unifies legal and partnerships under one lead
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Merlin is the London-headquartered body that represents thousands of independent record labels and distributors, negotiating licensing deals with streaming services such as Spotify and YouTube on their behalf so that smaller labels get terms comparable to those secured by the major music companies. It is led by chief executive Charlie Lexton, and its work sits at the intersection of music rights, technology platforms and contract law.
The general counsel role matters because it oversees the legal side of these licensing negotiations, an area central to how independent labels are paid when their music is streamed. Jon Glass takes on the position after a long career in digital music legal affairs, including 16 years at Warner Music Group and earlier spells at Sony Music Entertainment and a private law firm.
The appointment also changes how Merlin is structured, since Glass will oversee both legal affairs and partnerships, functions that were previously separate. He replaces Neil Miller, who held the general counsel role for two years before departing in January.
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Originally published by Billboard as “Jon Glass Named General Counsel of Merlin, Leading Legal Affairs and Partnerships”.