Mervyn Lyn

Mervyn has worked in the music business through various roles for over 40 years. He started DJ’ing in the late 70’s and was soon running his own events, before working at Blues & Soul Magazine. He was headhunted by Virgin Records as Black Music Promotions Manager.

He then went on to run Sleeping Bag Records in Europe followed by Motown Records where he was Head of Marketing for Motown Records UK. He left BMG with Motown in the early 90’s to become GM Motown Records International, at Polygram. He returned to BMG some four years later to run black music across the group. BMG soon after merged with Sony Music Entertainment and Mervyn was appointed VP of Marketing and Promotion, Europe for SonyBMG and then taking the domestic role of VP Marketing Sony Music Entertainment. His last role within the company was as VP Strategic Partnerships where he created the partnerships and activations of their artists with brands.

Mervyn set up his company in 2012 helping brands partner with talent in music, sport and entertainment to amplify their messages. Their first client was MasterCard and with it their Priceless Surprises campaign with the likes of Pharrell, Usher, Mary J Blige, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande, Laura Mvula, Kaiser Chiefs, Paloma Faith and Mark Ronson amongst the highlights.

As well as running his agency, Mervyn is a trustee of Arms Around the Child, The AP Foundation and now Nordoff Robbins. He is also a board advisor of 56 Black Men, who champion for a world where black men are spotlighted for positive contributions as oppose to the often-negative stereotypes projected by the media and to help create a world where black men feel adequately represented, empowered and heard.

Mervyn is a champion of diversity, equality and inclusion. He serves on the EJAG board (Equality and Justice Advisory Group) for The BPI (British Phonographic Industry). He is also a member of UK Music Diversity Taskforce.