Jim Mahoney is the US General Manager of Merlin (www.merlinnetwork.org) the not for profit, global digital licensing agency representing the world’s leading independent music labels including but not limited to Alligator Records, Beggars Group, Curb Records, Domino, Dualtone, Epitaph, Merge, Secretly Label Group/SC Distribution, Sub Pop and Yep Roc Records/Redeye Distribution. He joined Merlin in September of 2014 after spending 7 years as the vice president of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM; www.a2im.org) the non-profit trade organization representing the rights and interests of U.S. independent music companies. Mahoney has spent his 20+ year career in music working entirely within the independent music sector having also served as president of Fat Beats Records & Distribution (working with Atmosphere, Black Milk & RJD2), senior director of urban product development at Roadrunner Records (working with MC Breed and producer Domingo) and national director of marketing and promotions at Profile Records (working with DJ Quik, Camp Lo, Smoothe Da Hustler, Nine, Special Ed & Run DMC).