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Pandora Media Inc has partnered with a global rights agency representing thousands of independent artists and bands, such as Arcade Fire, Wilco and Lenny Kravitz, the online streaming music service said on Wednesday. The partnership with London-based Merlin is the first for Pandora, meaning it will now have a direct relationship with more than 20,000 independent record labels and distributors that represent about 10 percent of the worldwide music market. Pandora licenses the rights to play recording artists through SoundExchange in the United States, using a rate established by the government. The move is significant for Pandora, which has been in a public battle with artists and musicians over its push on Capitol Hill to change the regulation on how online streaming music services pay royalties.