Merlin's first trick is Snocap deal

Stephen Withers
Monday, 22 January 2007 07:32

IT Industry - Strategy

An agency formed to represent independent music labels has announced a deal with Snocap, the digital licensing and copyright management company co-founded by Napster creator Shawn Fanning.

Merlin, an arm of the Worldwide Independent Network, is intended to provide independents with the scale needed to compete with the four majors when it comes to securing licensing agreements.

Last September, Snocap entered a partnership with MySpace allowing users to create mini-stores offering tracks for sale, while preserving artists' and labels' ability to set prices and receive payments. A similar agreement with the ReverbNation.com music social networking site was announced last week.

Snocap gives its clients the choice of distributing either unprotected MP3 files for the broadest compatibility, or using Microsoft's DRM which prevents tracks being used on the most popular portable player, Apple's iPod.