New York/London, 7th October 2026,
This month, Merlin marked the completion of another successful year of Merlin Engage, its flagship mentorship initiative created to champion, celebrate, and connect female leaders across Merlin’s global independent music community.
Merlin Engage pairs rising professionals from Merlin’s global network with top executive mentors. Over six months, participants take part in one-on-one mentorship, peer connections, and targeted leadership workshops designed to foster the next generation of female leaders in independent music.
Francesca Caldara, MENTOR, Vice President, Recorded Music, UNIFIED Music Group commented:“Joining Merlin Engage as a mentee last year gave me a network of generous women in independent music. Returning as a mentor this year, I got to pass that on. Few programs let you grow from both sides of the table.”
Amira Arar, MENTEE, Head of Artist & Label Relations, Random Sounds stated:“Coming from Paraguay, I especially value having access to a global network that can contribute to the growth of our local music scene and create more opportunities for women within it.”
Facilitated once again by executive coach Miriam Meima, the initiative combined core mentoring with workshops on leadership identity, communication, and career growth. New for 2026, the program integrated practical AI best practices into the curriculum while expanding onboarding support for mentors.
This year’s mentor and mentee cohort featured an influential group of senior executives alongside the next generation of independent music leadership representing Merlin member companies worldwide.
About Merlin
Merlin is the digital music licensing partner for the world’s leading independent labels and distributors. We’ve negotiated premium deals with Apple, Canva, Deezer, Meta, Spotify, YouTube, and 40 other innovative platforms around the world. Our global membership is from 70+ countries around the world, representing 15% of the recorded music market. Merlin operates for the benefit of its members, without investors looking for an exit, and is funded entirely by our low 1.5% admin fee. Merlin helps the world’s leading independents to own their digital business through world-class deals and white-glove support.
Merlin’s membership includes independents such as !K7, AEI Music, Anjunabeats, Armada Music Group, AudioSalad, Better Noise, Cinq Music Group, Curb Records, Epitaph Records, Exceleration Music, Freeme Digital, GYROstream, Hopeless Records, IDOL, Innercat Music, Kompakt, Kontor New Media, Lex Records, Mad Decent, Many Hats, Merge Records, MNRK Music Group, Mushroom Music, Nettwerk, Ninja Tune, ONErpm, Polyvinyl Records, Pony Canyon, Redeye, Secret City, Secretly, Stones Throw, Sub Pop, Symphonic, UnitedMasters, Wagram Music, Warp Records, Zebralution, and hundreds more.
About IMPALA
IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents over 6000 independent music companies in Europe. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. Known as the independents, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. IMPALA works on a range of key issues for its members and started a new co-funded work programme as an EU cultural network in 2025. IMPALA runs various award schemes and has a programme aimed at businesses who want to develop a strategic relationship with the European independent sector – Friends of IMPALA
