Spotify Will Now Allow Indie Labels To Put Albums Behind a Paywall

Spotify announced a new multi-year licensing deal with Merlin, the “global music rights agency” at the helm of independent music. Following a recent partnership with Universal Music Group that allows the service to offer an exclusive two-week embargo on select releases, the streaming platform will now allow Merlin’s 20,000 independent labels a similar option to restrict new albums to the site’s paying subscribers for the same two-week window.

Spotify has yet to negotiate a similar deal with Sony and Warner, the other two major labels.