The organisation has seen its membership swell to over 12,000 and now represents the repertoires of independent US music market leading labels and distributors, including Koch, Epitaph, IODA, Beggars and Concord.

"We send a clear message to the industry at large that valuable independent content is now more accessible, and more easily licensed than it has ever been," explains Merlin chairman and president of Koch Records Bob Frank.

The rights body is currently in discussions with Last.FM and MySpace in ...