Merlin, the global rights agency for the independent label sector, has inked a partnership with South Korea-based music streaming app FLO.
FLO was launched in 2018 by South Korea-headquartered Dreamus Company, a consolidated subsidiary of SK Square, an investment business arm of South Korean conglomerate SK Group, and in cooperation with music labels such as JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment.
FLO currently has over 8.5 million listeners in South Korea on digital music services, says Merlin.
The service is only available in South Korea.
FLO users will now have access to music from Merlin members, including Hong Kong-based Euphoria Media, Latin American online digital distributor FaroLatino, Brazilian regional music and entertainment platform Sua Música, and California-based, indie label Hopeless Records.
Merlin now has deals with nearly 40 digital services, including partners like Adaptr, Apple, AWA, Boomplay, Deezer, FLO, JioSaavn, JOOX, KKBox, Lickd, Meta, NetEase, Pandora, Peloton, Snap, SoundCloud, Spotify, Tencent, TikTok, TREBEL, Triller, Twitch and YouTube Music.
Merlin says that it added nearly 33 members in 2021, including 10 new members from across Asia.
In the same year, African music streaming service Boomplay and Merlin agreed an expansion of their licensing agreement, which extended the availability of Merlin members’ music catalog to 47 additional countries in Africa.
Amazon-owned livestreaming platform Twitch also recently struck a strategic partnership deal with Merlin.
“It gives us great pleasure to be able to offer more diverse music to FLO users.”
Jacob Jaejoon Kim, FLO
Jacob Jaejoon Kim, Headquarter Manager, FLO, said: “It gives us great pleasure to be able to offer more diverse music to FLO users through this deal with major global music licensing partner Merlin.
“This contract with Merlin will be remembered as one of the most important milestones as FLO strives to make more diverse artists and songs available to Korean music lovers.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with FLO as Merlin’s first direct deal in Korea.”
Jeremy Sirota, Merlin
Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with FLO as Merlin’s first direct deal in Korea.
“This partnership will help our members engage new fans across Korea, while delivering greater access to our members’ wide-ranging music from around the world.”Music Business Worldwide
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