Rdio cozies up to Roku with an updated app & more

Rdio is trying to make itself the most attractive streaming music service for those who own a Roku set-top box.

Rdio has reached a new agreement with Roku that will see the streaming music service more tightly integrated into Roku’s line of set-top boxes, it announced today. This includes rolling out a redesigned Rdio channel for Roku with improved navigation that’s closer to the revamped version of the service released a few months back. Rdio is also getting shortcut buttons on Roku remote controls, which — like the Netflix and Crackle buttons — will take you directly to the Rdio app without having to navigate through the channel menu. And in case that doesn’t make it easy enough for people to use Rdio, its app will now appear on the “My Channels” section by default.

With such heavy competition among streaming music services, it makes sense that Rdio would try to make itself more visible by partnering with Roku, which has some of the best-selling set-top boxes on the market. It still has quite a way to go before it reasonably has a shot at giving Spotify some serious competition, but teaming up with Roku is a good move.

Rdio is offering two months free for its premium Rdio Unlimited service to those who sign up via Roku, which should be easier now that Rdio’s payment process is also integrated within Roku.