So what exactly is the state of music these days? DRM or no DRM? Download or buy? Who gets what? These are some of the more pressing questions facing, artists, musicians, and record labels of late. Where music execs have made all the money, artists often get shafted, and forced to generate revenue through heavy touring. Physical sales are almost non-existent and there hasn’t been a viable model to replace this decline in sales. Which is where Merlin comes in. Merlin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping independent music companies steer through the flotsam and jetsam of today’s musical quagmire. They handle rights, they negotiate distributions, and focus on a global scale. The idea is that one centralized voice for independent labels beats a thousand small voices trying to be heard. It’s a competitive world and Merlin wants to help overcome fragmentation. If you’re a musician or record label, visit the site and register. To date, Merlin has agreements with over 12,000 labels.