Rdio—the Oakland, California-based, on-demand streaming service providing access to more than 30 million songs, which Cumulus has a 15 percent stake of—will be acquired by Pandora in a $75 million cash deal.

Key assets involved in the deal, announced yesterday (Nov. 16), include technology, intellectual property, and talent (with the exclusion of Rdio CEO Anthony Bay). If approved, the remainder of Rdio is expected to file for bankruptcy and shutter its existing service, which currently operates in over 100 countries.

The acquisition will allow Pandora to begin to more directly competing with on-demand streaming services like Spotify, YouTube Music, Deezer, Google Play, Rhapsody, or Apple Music. Additionally Pandora may increase international availability, as the service is only available in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

“Whether streaming through radio, on-demand or in-person at live events, Pandora is building the definitive source for fans to discover and celebrate music,” said Brian McAndrews, chief executive officer at Pandora. “Wherever and however fans want to hear music, we intend to be their go-to destination…We seek to be the definitive source for music discovery and enjoyment globally,” he continued in describing a full on-demand paid subscription model, intended “to substantially broaden our subscription business.”

Pandora has been subject to lower rates and a more simplified licensing structure because of its limited, non-interactive streaming model (amount of skips per hour, not offering full-album streaming). Earlier this month, Pandora stated its deal with Sony/ATV music publishing will allow “new flexibility to the company’s product offering over time.” According to Variety, “music licenses typically don’t transfer to a new owner with an acquisition, so Pandora would still have to strike direct deals with the labels to keep Rdio up and running.” The current announcement will help Pandora, however, realize plans to “expanded [its] listening experience by late 2016, pending its ability to obtain proper licenses.”

Although the streaming giant currently offers an ad-free version—Pandora One—charging $4.99 a month, Pandora has seen advertising revenue grow only 31 percent year-over-year while its content acquisition costs soared 90 percent, and it failed to turn a profit after deducting operating expenses, according to Ad Age.

Rdio was founded in 2010 by Skype’s co-founders Niklas Zennstroem and Janus Friis, who remained heavily involved in the company and is thought to have invested more than $200 million in Rdio, according to Variety, where Janko Roettgers continues:

In 2013, Rdio struck a deal with U.S. radio giant Cumulus, trading 15 percent of its equity for $75 million in radio advertising, that valued the company at $500 million.

In early November, Cumulus revealed to investors that it had taken a $19.4 million writedown on its equity in Rdio this year.

Rolff Zwiep. Photo: C.J. Hicks

Music industry veteran Rolff Zwiep has been named manager of Blackbird Studio, Tennessee’s largest audio recording facility.

“Rolff exemplifies the attitude and approach we have at Blackbird – professional but laid back, over-delivering every chance we get and doing everything we can to give people a great experience here,” said Blackbird owner John McBride. “I am proud that he is part of our team. Rolff is a great guy, not just in business, but as a person.”

Zwiep has more than 30 years of experience in the Nashville music business. He came to Music City from his hometown of New Knoxville, Ohio in 1983. The musician was hired by Picker’s Pickup, Nashville’s first cartage service, in 1984. Since then, he has worked for S.I.R., Drum Paradise, his own T.K.O. firm and Underground Sound as a stage manager, cartage professional and drum tech.

In 1989-1994, he was the production manager of The Nashville Symphony. He launched Blackbird’s equipment-rental business in 2004. He is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Music.

“Everything – all of the ability and knowledge I have gained – has led me to this,” said Zwiep of his appointment. “I guess you could call this a dream job.”

Blackbird Studio was founded by John McBride in 2002. It now incorporates nine studios, the rental business, Little Champion Music Publishing and Blackbird Academy, which trains producers and engineers via bi-annual classes.

“What better place to learn than in the same rooms where hit records are recorded on a regular basis?” said McBride. “I look at the artist, producer and engineer as painters – and I want to give them every color of the palette.” Blackbird is notable for its extensive collection of vintage microphones and other gear, as well as its hospitality.

Its clients include such pop stars as Adele, Green Day, Pearl Jam, fun, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Megadeth, The Beastie Boys and Train. Pop legends including Bon Jovi, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, Johnny Mathis, John Fogerty, Keith Richards, Neil Young, R.E.M., Rush, Steven Tyler and Stevie Nicks have sought out the studio.

Nashville’s finest also record at Blackbird, ranging from country Hall of Fame members Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks, George Strait and Kenny Rogers to current country stars Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Kenny Chesney and Martina McBride, who is the owner’s spouse.

In addition, the elite of Nashville’s pop community records at Blackbird – Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Jack White, Sheryl Crow, Keb Mo, Kelly Clarkson, Paramore, Taylor Swift, Better Than Ezra, Kelly Clarkson and more.

“We also have a lot of international clients,” commented Zwiep. “We have had British, Scandinavian, German, Irish, Japanese and artists from all over the world.”

“I am proud that we have been involved in more than a billion records sold,” said McBride. “And I think Rolff Zwiep is definitely going to continue to help great music come out of this place.”

Mike Simmons, who is Zwiep’s long-time business colleague, becomes manager of Blackbird Audio Rentals. Former night manager Jeff Woods also advances into the company’s rental business.

Blackbird Studio is located in the Nashville neighborhood Berry Hill. Known as “Little Music Row,” the area is home to more than 30 other recording studios.

Pictured (L-R): Tim Hunze, Marc Rucker and Hannah Showmaker of Parallel Entertainment

Manager Marc Rucker and new artist Ryan Beaver have joined Parallel Entertainment Nashville.

Rucker comes to Parallel Entertainment from Crush Music where he worked with John Grady to manage Ashley Monroe, Striking Matches and Ryan Beaver. Prior to that, he was at Huskins-Harris Business Management working with Chris Young, Jerrod Niemann and Frankie Ballard. Rucker is also a founding board member of Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP).

Beaver, who was named one of Rolling Stone‘s artists to watch this fall, joins the Parallel team for management representation. Beaver’s first single, “Dark,” will be featured on his upcoming album, Rx, set for an early 2016 release.

“The combination of Parallel’s all-encompassing knowledge of the entertainment industry coupled with my experience will provide a strong foundation for the new Nashville home of Parallel Entertainment,” says Rucker. “Our focus in Nashville will be specifically on musical artists and growing the careers of those who are both new and established. I’m excited to be working along side some of the best in the business in JP, Tim Hunze and Hannah Showmaker Wilson.”

“We are very excited to have Marc be a part of our family. He is a really great addition to the Parallel team and we look forward to our future together,” says J.P. Williams, CEO of Parallel Entertainment.

Thirteen up-and-coming artists are on the ballot to select the CRS 2016 New Faces of Country Music Show lineup. Voting to determine the finalists opens tomorrow, Nov. 17 at 8 a.m. CT to all country radio station employees. Voting will remain open through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 at countryradioseminar.com. The five acts with the most votes will make up the lineup for the show.

This year’s candidates up for voting are:

A Thousand Horses (Republic Nashville)
Brothers Osborne (EMI Nashville)
Cam (Arista Nashville)
Canaan Smith (Mercury Nashville)
Chase Bryant (Red Bow Records)
Chris Janson (Warner Music Nashville)
Dan & Shay (Warner Music Nashville)
Granger Smith (Wheelhouse Records)
Kelsea Ballerini (Black River Entertainment)
LoCash (Reviver Records)
Michael Ray (Warner Music Nashville)
Old Dominion (RCA Nashville)
Raelynn (Valory Music Co.)

Any full-time employee of a commercial, 24-hour country-formatted radio station may vote for the 2016 New Faces of Country Music Show performers. Votes must be cast from voter’s station email in order to be verified and successfully cast.

The New Faces of Country Music Show will be held at the New Home of CRS 2016, the Omni Hotel Nashville. The show is co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and is one of the most anticipated events at Country Radio Seminar. Five emerging artists who have achieved significant success at Country radio during the qualification period are selected each year to perform at the showcase event.

Dinner tickets for the New Faces of Country Music Show are sold-out. All registrants without dinner/show tickets will have the ability to watch the show via video stream in various CRS viewing party locations at the Omni Hotel.

Qualification criteria for New Faces of Country Show include:

1. The qualification period is Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 during the year immediately preceding the New Faces of Country Music Show.
2. Candidates may not have appeared on a previous New Faces of Country Music Show. Solo performers that become a member of a group or duo, or a group or duo member that becomes a solo artist are considered eligible.
3. Candidates must have charted at least one Top 25 single on the the Mediabase Country Chart as published in Country Aircheck or at least one Top 25 single on the Billboard Country Chart during the qualification period.
4. Candidates may not have more than two albums on the Billboard Country Top 50 Country Album chart, nor more than two albums that peaked above No. 50 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart (or corresponding Nielsen Soundscan-based chart) by the end of the qualification period.

The $529 regular registration rate is now available at countryradioseminar.com.

Legendary singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn is set to be honored with Billboard‘s inaugural Women in Music “Legend” award. The honor will be presented during Billboard’s 2015 Women in Music event on Dec. 11 in New York City.

The honor acknowledges and celebrates Lynn’s contributions to American music.

“From the moment she broke through more than five decades ago, Loretta Lynn has been an unstoppable musical force who writes and performs with a breathtaking fearlessness and honesty,” said Janice Min, co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group, which consists of Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. “As a musical pioneer, author, and inspiration to everyone from Jack White to Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn has pushed every boundary in music and is the definition of a legend. We are honored to present this award to her.”

Lynn will release her first studio project in more than 10 years, Full Circle, on March 4, 2016. Lynn has garnered 29 Top 10 albums on the Top Country Albums chart (11 of them went to No. 1). In 2004, Lynn’s Jack White-produced Van Lear Rose reached No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. She has earned 16 No. 1 singles, including “She’s Got You,” “After the Fire Is Gone,” and her signature hit “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

During the 2015 Women in Music event, Lady Gaga will be honored with the Woman of the Year award. Also being honored are Kelsea Ballerini, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Fifth Harmony, Lana Del Ray, and Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard.