Merlin Names Jim Mahoney Chief Membership Officer Amidst Broader Team Promotions

Jim Mahoney promoted to new Chief Membership Officer role at Merlin

May 12, 2026 By Rafaela Fornitani

Merlin , the digital music licensing partner for independent labels and distributors, has promoted Jim Mahoney to the newly created role of Chief Membership Officer, alongside a series of senior promotions across its Membership team.

According to the organization’s announcement on Tuesday (May 12), Mahoney will focus on Merlin’s “membership strategy, engagement, and development globally to ensure the organization remains closely aligned with the needs and ambitions of independent music companies”.

He was previously SVP, Member & Partner Success at Merlin, having joined the organization in October 2014 as General Manager, US, leading the establishment of its New York office.

Mahoney was subsequently promoted to VP, Global Operations in 2019, and then to SVP, Member & Partner Success in January 2021 .

Prior to joining Merlin , he was Vice President at A2IM , the trade association for US independent labels, and held an independent label seat on the board of SoundExchange from 2012 to 2014.

> “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and their artists power the successes of our digital partners. I’m excited to continue building on the strong foundation we’ve created.” Jim Mahoney

Mahoney’s earlier career included senior roles at Fat Beats Records , Roadrunner Records , and Profile Records , where the press release says he led campaigns for artists including DJ Quik , Camp Lo , and Atmosphere .

Commenting on his new role, Mahoney said: “It’s an honor to take on this position at such an important moment for Merlin and for the independent music community more broadly.

“Our members are at the heart of everything we do and their artists power the successes of our digital partners. I’m excited to continue building on the strong foundation we’ve created, ensuring they have the tools, access, and advocacy they need to compete and succeed on a global stage.”

Mahoney’s elevation is accompanied by three further senior promotions within Merlin’s Membership team.

Bela Zecker has been promoted to Senior Director, Global Membership Development. She joined Merlin in 2023, with prior label-side roles at Exceleration , SoundCloud , and Ninja Tune .

In London, Joe Mercer Danher has been promoted to Director, Member Relations, where he now leads Merlin’s global Member Relations efforts and is the primary point of contact for members across EMEA . He joined the company in 2020 .

And Ben Sperling has been promoted to Manager, Global Membership Development. He joined Merlin as an intern during his studies and previously worked as a Distribution Analyst at ASCAP .

Said Mahoney of the three appointments: “I’m incredibly pleased to see Bela, Ben and Joe step into these well-deserved new roles. Each of them has made a significant impact at Merlin.”

“Their expertise, commitment, and understanding of our global community is instrumental in Merlin’s support of our members and driving Merlin’s continued success worldwide.”

Charlie Lexton , who took over as CEO of Merlin on January 1, 2026 , succeeding Jeremy Sirota , said: “These promotions reflect the depth of talent at Merlin.”

Added Lexton: “Jim’s promotion and the creation of the Chief Membership Officer role recognise Jim’s exceptional leadership and the fundamental nature of Merlin as a member-based organisation. Jim has been instrumental in the growth and development of Merlin’s membership, and his promotion is an acknowledgement of the role he has played for some time.

“His deep understanding of our sector and Merlin’s core mission is invaluable. Together with the deserved promotions of Bela, Ben and Joe, our Membership team has the strength, expertise and global perspective to continue delivering meaningful, lasting value to our members.”

> “These promotions reflect the depth of talent at Merlin. Jim’s promotion and the creation of the Chief Membership Officer role recognise Jim’s exceptional leadership and the fundamental nature of Merlin as a member-based organisation.” CHARLIE LEXTON, MERLIN

Merlin says its membership spans more than 70 countries and represents 15% of the global recorded music market. The organization is funded entirely by a 1.5% administration fee, according to its press release.

Members include Domino , Epitaph , Mad Decent , Ninja Tune , Secretly , Sub Pop , and Warp Records .

The promotions come as  Merlin  moves to expand the services available to its independent label and distributor members.

In  January 2026 , the organization  struck a partnership with  Matt Spetzler’s  $200m-backed Pipeline  platform to offer Merlin members advances against their digital royalties – with Lexton describing the deal as a “gamechanger” for the indie sector.

That move came alongside continued growth in  Merlin’s  member base. As  MBW   reported in February ,  Merlin’s expansion of its membership – which now includes some of the world’s biggest indie distributors – was cited as a potential factor in the majors-plus-Merlin cohort growing its volume share of Spotify  music streams in  2025 , to  72%  (up from  71%  a year earlier).

Other recent licensing milestones at  Merlin  include a  January 2026 AI licensing agreement with Udio , an August 2025 partnership with  ElevenLabs  for its Eleven Music platform, and the September 2025 renewal of its 17-year licensing relationship with  Spotify . Music Business Worldwide

_Originally reported by [Music Business Worldwide](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/jim-mahoney-promoted-to-new-chief-membership-officer-role-at-merlin/)._