Jon Glass Named General Counsel of Merlin, Leading Legal Affairs and Partnerships

Merlin has appointed Jon Glass as its new general counsel, bringing him into the role from his position at Warner Music Group (WMG) as senior vp and head of digital legal affairs. The appointment was announced on August 10, with Merlin CEO Charlie Lexton expressing his delight at welcoming Glass to the team. Lexton noted Glass's "exceptional combination of legal expertise and commercial judgement" and his deep understanding of the opportunities and complexities facing Merlin.

As general counsel, Glass will oversee both business and legal affairs and serve as head of the partnerships team for Merlin, the global indie music licensing organization. This marks the first time Merlin has combined these two departments under a single reporting structure. Lexton emphasized that this move aims to better coordinate Merlin's relationships with its partners as the digital playing field continues to evolve.

Glass expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and excitement about joining Merlin at this crucial time for independent music. He highlighted his career-long observation of the digital business's development, from downloads to streaming, social platforms, and now AI services. Glass is eager to apply his experience to Merlin's legal and partnerships strategy, working alongside the team to shape the organization's future.

Glass's tenure at WMG spanned the last 16 years, during which he held various roles in digital business and legal affairs. Prior to WMG, he worked at Sony Music Entertainment and practiced law at several firms, including Morrison & Foerster. Glass holds a J.D. from Northwestern University. Prior to Glass, Merlin's general counsel, Neil Miller, left the organization in January, having served as general counsel for two years. Miller has since become a legal director at YouTube Music.