Merlin and Pipeline Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver Advances for Merlin Members

23 January 2026 - Press release

“Merlin’s Partnership with Pipeline is a Gamechanger,” says Merlin CEO Charlie Lexton

Merlin, the digital music licensing partner for the world’s leading independent labels and distributors, today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Pipeline, a specialist provider of innovative financing solutions for the independent music sector.

Under this initiative, Pipeline will provide Merlin member companies with advances against digital royalties generated by Merlin. This marks a significant expansion of Merlin’s suite of member services.
This new relationship will see Pipeline, which officially launched earlier this week with over $200m in capital raised, offering Merlin members efficient access to advance funding without the bureaucracy of traditional financing sources or the need to hand over rights as the price of access to funds. This new tool is designed to enable Merlin members to grow their businesses and unlock the value of future revenues without disrupting existing commercial relationships.

Importantly, the service is entirely optional and participation does not prevent Merlin members from entering into financing or commercial arrangements with other parties. Merlin members retain full flexibility and complete control over their broader business dealings.

Pipeline provides B2B financing solutions aligned with performance rather than rigid loan structures. It provides access to growth capital while allowing independent music companies to retain their rights and assets. This ethos of this partnership is to offer fast decision-making and an efficient process, enabling the provision of advances with minimal paperwork.

Pipeline was founded by Jamen Capital, a global media and IP-focused investment firm with deep experience across music, technology, and rights-based businesses. Pipeline represents Jamen Capital’s flagship operating platform in music and creator finance.

“Merlin’s partnership with Pipeline is a gamechanger,” said Charlie Lexton, CEO of Merlin. “We can now offer Merlin members a streamlined path to advance funding that doesn’t require them to compromise their rights or business plans. We’re supporting our members’ ability to compete, while preserving their freedom to work as they choose. Merlin members work on their own terms. They need support that speeds them up, not processes that slow them down. With Pipeline, we have found a partner that understands that, and together we have developed an offering that meets that challenge.”

Matt Spetzler, Founding Partner of Jamen Capital and Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Pipeline, added: “Merlin represents the heart of the independent music sector, and we’re proud to partner with them on a solution that addresses a long-standing gap in the market. Advances against digital royalties for the independent music community are now not only possible, but practical and scalable. Our goal with Pipeline is to provide transparent, creator-friendly capital, and this partnership allows us to deliver that value directly to Merlin members worldwide.”

The Pipeline advance offering will be made available to Merlin members as part of Merlin’s ongoing commitment to developing innovative, member-first solutions in a rapidly evolving digital marketplace.

Charlie Lexton concluded: “As the independent sector continues to grow it is essential that our members have access to sophisticated financial tools on fair, transparent terms. This partnership with Pipeline is about removing friction, empowering independence, and ensuring our members are best positioned to invest in their businesses and their artists with confidence.”