UK: Charlie Lexton appointed CEO of Merlin

Lexton will succeed Jeremy Sirota, who has led the organisation since 2020. He has been part of Merlin since its inception, working initially with founding CEO Charles Caldas, and has served as Chief Operating Officer since April 2020.

During his tenure, Lexton has played a central role in shaping Merlin’s global operations. His contributions include negotiating key partnerships with digital service providers and social media platforms, and leading the organisation’s recent collaboration with AI audio company ElevenLabs. He was also involved in several landmark moments for the independent music sector, including Merlin’s settlement with LimeWire, the redistribution of parts of the Parlophone Label Group to independent labels following Universal Music Group’s acquisition of EMI, and the sale of Merlin’s equity stake in Spotify, which resulted in a pay-out of more than $125 million to its members.

Lexton began his career in music as a DJ, writer and producer before co-founding the London-based independent label Dorado Records. After qualifying as a lawyer, he held senior positions at Universal Music Group and EMI, where he led Business Affairs for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (excluding the UK). Before joining Merlin, he co-owned another independent label, City Rockers.

Merlin recently reported record revenue of $1.64 billion for 2024 and an administration fee reduced to a historic low of 1%.

In a statement, Lexton said he was “delighted” to take on the new role, adding that his focus would remain on supporting Merlin’s members and team.

Merlin chairperson and Secretly Group co-CEO Darius Van Arman said the board was confident in Lexton’s leadership, noting his “consistent record of delivering value” to members. Marie Clausen, a Merlin board member and North America managing director at Ninja Tune, described Lexton as a “brilliant strategist and negotiator” well placed to guide the organisation through a changing industry landscape.

Outgoing CEO Jeremy Sirota said Lexton had been “a great partner in evolving Merlin,” citing his work on the ElevenLabs agreement and initiatives such as Merlin Insights.

Merlin represents independent music companies from more than 70 countries, accounting for about 15% of the global recorded music market. Its members include Beggars Group, Ninja Tune, Armada Music, Secretly, Warp Records, and Sub Pop, among others.