Filling Catalog Holes – Rdio Makes Nice With Merlin

Updated. Rdio filled a few catalog holes today by partnering with Merlin. This deal will give the streaming music service access to titles by top indie artists including Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Spoon, The xx, The National, Pixies, Belle and Sebastian, Tim McGraw and Boards of Canada. The Rdio – Merlin relationship will initially focus on the U.S market and later expand globally.

Last year, Rdio launched without Merlin's content – likely in an attempt to ease licensing terms. Now it's just a matter of convincing indie rock (and Tim McGraw) fans to give the music service a second chance. Understandably, catalog holes, aside from price, are a main thing that fans take issue with in trying out a service.

If a fan's favorite band isn't on a music service then neither are they.