Rdio adds indie music artists via Merlin deal

Social music service Rdio has inked a new licensing agreement with global independent rights agency Merlin, adding content from indie labels including Merge, Warp, Rough Trade, Epitaph and Beggars Group. Founded by entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis--who previously teamed for peer-to-peer file sharing effort Kazaa and VoIP service Skype--the subscription-based Rdio boasts personalized recommendations for new music based on users' specific tastes and listening behavior, along with on-demand artist-based radio stations, a matching tool that replicates existing iTunes or Windows Media Player libraries and collaborative, shared playlists allowing users to swap links and information to favorite songs via email, Facebook and Twitter. The new Merlin agreement adds music from critical favorites like Vampire Weekend, Belle and Sebastian, Spoon, the National, Boards of Canada and the Pixies.

While the deal encompasses global distribution, Rdio will initially introduce the Merlin catalog to its North American subscribers, rolling out across additional territories in the coming months.

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