Merlin has extended its partnership with analytics application OTTO in a move designed to “drive innovation” for its members.
Launched in 2014, OTTO’s bespoke programme allows independent labels and distributors under Merlin to track and manage their activity, including deal information, royalty reporting, market analysis and financial statements.
Merlin’s head of technology and development, Chaida Kapfunde (pictured), said: “We’re excited to announce the renewal of our partnership with OTTO. As the digital music market evolves, we look forward to our continued collaboration and the opportunity to drive innovation for Merlin members and our partners around the world.”
Eric Namour, founder and CEO of Ottomate Ltd, added: “Having worked with and seen an organisation such as Merlin grow in the past five years has been a great challenge and of course an honour to be backing our independent community with simplified processes. We are extremely happy to be able to work together for another cycle of data processing and provide further services to the Merlin team and its member base.”sc
As the digital music market evolves, we look forward to our continued collaboration with OTTO
Chaida Kapfunde, Merlin
It’s been a busy period for Merlin, as the OTTO news follows last week’s revelation of a 63% year-on-year increase in revenue distributions, while CEO Charles Caldas stepped down.
Merlin paid out $845m from April 2018-March 2019.
Merlin licenses to more than 25 DSPs worldwide and has paid out more than $2bn to members since opening in May 2008.
Working across reporting and processing, OTTO started life in 2013 and has built a reporting and analytics interface.
To read Charles Caldas’ 2018 interview with Music Week, click here. To read our investigation into the Parlophone Label Group divestment, click here. To subscribe to Music Week and never miss a vital music biz story, click here.
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