Digital Music News – studio recording, publishing, streaming, live concerts, talent development

The latest music news from Digital Music News, affecting recording industry, music publishing, mp3 streaming, concert industry, talent development, venture capital, and music technology, with reporting on artists new releases and where to get new mp3 songs.

1. The NFL Taps Green Day to Perform Super Bowl LX’s Opening Ceremony

   The NFL announced that Green Day will open Super Bowl LX with a high-energy opening ceremony celebrating the Super Bowl’s 60th anniversary. The East-Bay natives will help open the event at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8, 2026. The Super Bowl LX opening ceremony performance will air live at 3pm PT on […]

2. TikTok Planning to Tighten Up Age Checks in Europe as Regulatory Pressure Intensifies

   TikTok plans to roll out its new age-detection system across Europe in the coming weeks amid heightened scrutiny over child safety issues. After testing its new age-detection system in Britain over the last year, TikTok will start rolling out the tech across Europe in the next few weeks, according to a new report from Reuters. […]

3. Vietnam Green-Lights $5.5 Billion Entertainment Complex in Ho Chi Minh City

   Ho Chi Minh City is developing a $5.5 billion entertainment complex project with up to 70,000 seats, a retractable roof, and advanced air-conditioning. On Thursday, January 15, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex. The $5.52 billion project features a planned stadium with up […]

4. Social Media Minefield Continues: Drew Barrymore Slapped With Copyright Infringement Suit Over Song Used In Instagram Post

   Drew Barrymore has now been sued for copyright infringement for using an uncleared song in an Instagram post promoting her beauty brand back in 2023. Drew Barrymore is the latest celebrity to get slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit for using an uncleared sample in a social media post promoting their brand. In Drew’s case, […]

5. Sweden Disqualifies Partly AI-Generated Folk-Pop Song After It Generates Millions of Streams Worldwide — Humans Behind the Song Defend AI as a ‘Tool In Our Creative Process’

   A partly AI-generated folk-pop hit has now been barred from Sweden’s official singles chart. The track at the center of the controversy is “I Know, You’re Not Mine” (“Jag vet, du är inte min”) and is credited to virtual artist Jacub. Humans behind the track say AI is merely a tool in their creative process. […]

6. Spotify Stock (SPOT) Continues to Take a Bath Following Price Hikes — Friday’s $504.50 Close Virtually Wipes Out 2025 Run-Ups

   Spotify’s stock continued to head southward in Friday trading despite — or because of — recent price hikes. That’s part of a precipitous drop that started last summer and has largely eliminated year-2025 gains. Spotify shares dipped again in Friday trading (January 16th) after a volatile week, with SPOT ultimately landing at the less-than-stellar $504.50 […]

7. How Much Additional Revenue Will Spotify’s U.S. Price Increases Generate? Analysts Weigh In Amid Lackluster SPOT Performance

   How much additional revenue will Spotify generate thanks to its latest U.S. price increases? As soft SPOT targets continue to surface, analysts are weighing in with growth estimates. We covered Spotify’s stateside price bumps soon after their announcement yesterday morning. And while logic suggested that the increases would drive a share-price spike, that wasn’t the […]

8. Apple Music Blitzes Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show Trailer — And Pushes Multi-Month Free Trials — Immediately Following Spotify’s U.S. Price Bumps

   Hot on the heels of Spotify’s stateside price bumps, Apple Music has put out an official trailer for Bad Bunny’s quick-approaching Super Bowl Halftime Show. Meanwhile, the Apple-owned DSP and the NFL are also offering three-month free trials to new subscribers. The Super Bowl Halftime Show sponsor Apple Music released the teaser this morning, three […]

9. Latest Music Industry Hires: TuneCore, UMG, Gap, Fender, SESAC, Merlin, Rostrum Pacific, More

   Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of January 16th, 2026. If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to news@digitalmusicnews.com. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. And, keep track of all the […]

10. Ludacris Removed From ‘Rock the Country’ Lineup After Broiling Backlash

    Ludacris is no longer on the bill for the 2026 Rock the Country music festival after backlash from fans, but Nelly is still set to perform. Kid Rock’s Rock the Country music festival has removed rapper Ludacris from the lineup with no announcement. Organizers confirmed the news when the eight-location event posted its scheduled performers […]

11. Amazon Music Premieres ‘Songline’ Series with A$AP Rocky Album Preview, Plus Twitch and Prime Video Tie-Ins

    Amazon Music taps A$AP Rocky to headline the upcoming episode of its Songline performance series to promote his new album. A$AP Rocky will headline the next episode of Amazon Music’s Songline performance series to deliver an exclusive presentation of new music from his latest album, Don’t Be Dumb. The special drops on Yams Day, January […]

12. Roblox Hit ‘Steal a Brainrot’ Taps Bruno Mars for Celebrity Concert Collaboration

    Roblox hit “Steal a Brainrot” gets its first celebrity concert, with Bruno Mars set to play the virtual venue this weekend to promote his new single. Multiplayer gaming platform Roblox’s smash hit Steal a Brainrot—the first game on the platform to hit 25 million concurrent players after its launch last year—is now a big enough […]

13. Calvin Harris Wins $13.5 Million Payout In Legal Battle Against Ex-Manager—Though Another $12 Million Remains Under Dispute

    Calvin Harris has just won $13.5 million in a loan dispute with his former advisor, but the remaining legal battle over $12 million in equity investments continues. Calvin Harris scored a win in his ongoing legal war with his former financial advisor, Thomas St. John, whom he accused of embezzling millions from the DJ back […]

14. Right on Cue, Spotify Confirms U.S. Price Increases — Individual Rises to $12.99 Per Month, Duo Hits $18.99, and Family Jumps to $21.99

    Right on cue, Spotify has upped its prices in the U.S., where Individual now costs $12.99 per month (up from $11.99) and Family will set subscribers back $21.99 per month (previously $19.99). Spotify implemented the long-anticipated stateside increases (on top of pricing boosts in Estonia and Latvia) this morning, against the backdrop of slowing subscriber […]

15. Construction Is a Go on $21.3 Million Legends-Operated Long Beach Amphitheater—Mötley Crüe, Toto Already Booked at 11K-Capacity Venue

    Long Beach begins construction on the much-anticipated $21.3 million waterfront amphitheater, with acts like Mötley Crüe and Toto already booked. Long Beach broke ground this week on its highly anticipated amphitheater, a $21.3 million outdoor entertainment venue due to open this summer to host artists including 80s legends Mötley Crüe and Toto. The temporary venue […]