We all know Gibson is in deep debt and has been for a long time. For big companies, a popular way of getting rid of some of their debt is to buy up another company (let's call it company 'C'), rid C of all or most of its assets by transferring them to another subsidiary, then offloading a lot of liabilities to C and pulling the plug. I'm not saying that this is what is happening right now, but it would be naive to think at least some of this was not plannned in some way. It's been done so many times before...

Leee
There is something beautiful here among all the sadness, anger, and disbelief.  And that is the amount of sadness, anger and disbelief that this news has generated.  People are comparing it to losing a loved one or getting a divorce.
The very fact that a piece of software can stir up so many intense emotions says a lot about that software!
We're literally seeing the classic Seven Stages of Grief being played out right in this very thread! 
It's a true testament of the love and devotion Sonar users have for this software, and a credit to the people who created and maintained it.   Thank you Cakewalk for all the great years of audio production.  We hope to see you again, some how or some way.  We'll keep the home fires burning. 

Good point, Lee

Ok I'm so shocked by the news that my first reaction was to download the latest version of Sonar and put it safe with a backup.
I started this adventure with Pro Audio 9 and from my studio some 40 soulful productions, houses and Italian blockbusters have been released with Cakewalk.
Sonar for me is the most professional DAW in the market and my clients have always chosen Sonar files instead of other daws that define the standard ......
For the moment I will continue to work with Sonar and I hope that special persons like Greg and Noel can continue to give us software like Sonar and if that will be so whatever they will offer I will be with them.
I thank all the people at Cakewalk for the professionalism that has allowed me to be appreciated by my customers and surely on my next vinyl work will be written "recorded, edited and produced with Cakewalk Sonar Platinum".
I was a little disappointed with Mr. Anderton's reaction, which seems to me too aseptic to the importance of the event, but it's just my impression and I will continue to appreciate it for its great professionalism.
I still hope in a positive solution to the situation because this software deserves to be brought forward by a large company in the audio industry with a vision of the future different from the small and blind Gibson ....... In Italy I will continue to say that Sonar is the best !!!
 

Should we make a petition page to ask Microsoft rescue Sonar and make it like a Office system? They could even make it as a bundle to the large Surface Studio. I know I have said it was a bad idea before but when I think of it. This is the only solution. I have sent the Norwegian Microsoft Facebook page a message. But if we make a official petition we could ld gather some signations in it... We should also take a little time to write a good info of the petition and maybe some Cakewalk user reviews.

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
Thanks folks, sincerely we are as sad about this as you are. As mentioned in the announcement please rest assured that your software will continue to work and the servers are still active. This is very new so we'll publish a FAQ as we gather more information. 

Suggestion that I think all here will appreciate and mostly agree with based on what I see posted on the forum. Of course, aim to have another company, Behringer or whoever, buy and continue development. This actually could be sort of an opportunity. Many of us with you for decades as I have been (since it was just early MIDI) appreciate the many new features and of course audio power included. That said, 10,000 free plug-ins from Blue Tubes etc aren't essential, nor is further development of Rapture or other synths. Right now, the synths included in Platinum could create any song from classical to hip hop without any other musical software.

What we've always pined for is good stability, and improvements in ability to install, re-install, re-authorize in new machines. The Command Center is really an example of that kind of progress. In other words a scaled down Sonar that only updates bug fixes plus further portability and in ease of use and upgrading enhancements, with the only advancements being easier to use edit features, audio engine / quality improvements (if that's even possible, well, when 128 bit comes along, I guess). Those things I would happily as someone who's also bought the lifetime free subscription last year pay $100 per year on an added subscription to maintain.

I don't think I'm alone. The smaller workforce that's required to do all of that should be affordable with that scaled down operations and some / all working from home. Should this work and even become a mere bundling option to Behringer to get them to help it survive, would also possibly work. I am very happy to support the idea of a slower changing, stable, every more simple and quick to use, or relocate or reinstall product that is updated with any new major change in Windows, to accept new audio formats, even VST 4 if that happens, to newer and better (though already great) OMF format etc.. Many here would too. This can actually work.

Note: When I say "scaled down" I mean development. Keep the extras you already have, maybe a few software companies not directly affiliated with Sonar (the way Sonitus is, thank God, great products) won't be paid to license free effects. Most have a batch of VST effects we go to aside from Sonar and there is enough freeware to round that out if you don't want to spend one penny more. As great as the new limiter is, honestly, there are at least four others I reach for first. It's alright if you will never offer another and just bundle that. The already included synths and samples in their current form will never not be useful and never need to be updated.

Except maybe for new VST format, compatibility with Windows 2019 revision, etc.. Many upgrades in the past had stacks of new effects and synths, what is there now is more than enough. Improvements in CPU / RAM use and efficiency, speed, etc., and compatibility as time goes on and audio engine improvements could be done with a lot less folks, financed by this obviously very concerned base of users who don't want to relearn a new DAW or pray Microsoft bundle it in software which in its own way could lead to a future demise. If they do, great, still keep a smaller backbone going to say no matter what, at least the basic stuff I describe will survive.