Co-founder, Deezer

Daniel Marhely and the founding of Deezer

Daniel Marhely developed Deezer with Jonathan Benassaya, the service that became a legal streaming platform in 2007.

Daniel Marhely is a co-founder of Deezer. Jonathan Benassaya met him after coming back to France, and the two built the service together.

The earlier project, Blogmusik, was shut as illegal in 2007. The founders struck licensing deals, including one with SACEM, and relaunched it as Deezer.

In October 2008 Deezer raised $8.4 million. In October 2012 it raised $130 million from Access Industries.

Deezer listed on Euronext Paris on 5 July 2022. In 2025 it posted its first full-year net profit, €8.5 million.

Read the full Deezer founder story

What is Daniel Marhely's role at Deezer?

Daniel Marhely is a co-founder of Deezer, the French music streaming service, which he developed with Jonathan Benassaya.

How did Daniel Marhely start Deezer?

Jonathan Benassaya met Marhely after returning to France. In 2007 the music project was relaunched as Deezer after licensing deals, including one with SACEM.