What about Magix Software. They own Sound Forge and Vegas. They have a DAW, but nothing like Sonar.

elsongs
If Gibson would be willing to sell off Cakewalk's technology (programming code, development research) to another company that would be ideal. If they sold it to PreSonus, I'd be really happy. Studio One is my 2nd (by a long-shot) DAW, and it can do things SONAR can't, and likewise SONAR can do many things Studio One can't (Instrument Definitions/integration with hardware). If they were to merge Cakewalk technology into Studio One, I can be focused on one truly awesome DAW.
 
Or how about Microsoft buying Cakewalk? There is precedent for this, of course, when Apple bought Emagic and brought Logic under its wing. Since MS wants to push the Surface Pro line as being a product for creatives, why not? Cakewalk products have always been the most compatible software with regard to the Windows spec from Day One.
 
And speaking of Gibson, I will NEVER buy a Gibson guitar, ever.

Microsoft is really high on killing of good aps these days. I dont trust them anymore.

Magix has Samplitude and Sequoia. 2 very top dog Audio suites. I'm curious what other current developing DAW sequencing software has been around longer than Cake?

The sensible acquisition would be by a mostly windows audio company that needs a flagship DAW. This company would need to wait for team to build code from ground up to be cross platform. Magix seems like a decent option until you consider they already own a powerful flagship DAW and several lighter ones.

Maybe a mid-tier plug-in developer loiking to nake big step. I think larger plug-in makers would be more inclined to develope their own. I return to smaller company owning cakewalk would take them back to roots.

It would be great if there was a program that could convert Sonar bundles into a Cubase file or some other program.

How about Roland buying it, since they already have a hardware union , I think

Roland sold it to Gibson, so there’s a reason they didn’t want it, possibly

guitz
How about Roland buying it, since they already have a hardware union , I think

Considering Roland already tried , that is least likely scenario. I think the age of big name instrument makers buying up music software makers has passed.

People have been making rumors about Cakewalk buying Native Instruments forever.  It'd be ironic if it worked out the other way around.

If I were rich, I'd buy it. Then I'd only do monthly updates if you all begged and kissed my arse in these forums.
 
I hope it gets bought by a music lover, not a music company which concentrates on other priorities.
 
If it really is the end, they could rename it, open source it, or give it away for a period until the user base is huge.
 
Respect and appreciation to the Cakewalk crew and Sonar.