Just days after Apple agreed to pay artists during the free trial period of upcoming streaming service Apple Music, it has signed significant deals with two leading rights holders of indie music, Beggars Group and Merlin Network. This news means that, at least for now, major indie artists including Adele, Radiohead and Arcade Fire are on board with Apple Music.
In a letter to Merlin Network’s members and obtained by Billboard, Merlin’s CEO Charles Caldas writes that “we are happy to support the deal” with Apple Music following its much-publicized u-turn at the weekend and changes to other terms. He acknowledges, however, that “each member must make its own independent decisions in relation to Apple Music and its business in general.”
Together, Beggars Group and Merlin Network represent more than 20,000 indie music labels and distributors. In another big deal that, according to Billboard, was made just hours later, Apple Music has gained endorsement by Worldwide Independent Network, an independent advocate group set up to help indie artists and the independent music industry in general.
