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. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Hands Down Landmark Vetter v. Resnik Copyright Termination Decision — ‘No Explicit Geographical Limitation’ to U.S. Copyright Recaptures

   The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has handed down a landmark copyright ruling in Vetter v. Resnik, determining that U.S. copyright termination rights apply worldwide. That significant appellate court decision, affirming a prior district court ruling in the recapture showdown, was filed yesterday. And as we’ve reported, the underlying legal battle kicked off in 2023, […]

2. Artificial Intelligence Attribution and Licensing Startup Musical AI Scores $4.5 Million Raise: ‘We Have Made Attribution Simple and Turnkey’

   Artificial intelligence attribution startup Musical AI (formerly Somms.ai) has announced a $4.5 million raise and set its sights on inking “breakthrough industry deals.” Ottawa-headquartered Musical AI unveiled that multimillion-dollar round’s close today, a little under one year after securing $1.5 million from investors. Heavybit, the self-described “leading early-stage investor in enterprise...

3. Who’s Gonna Blow Up in 2026? Spotify, Vevo, Shazam Release Their Lists of Artists and Songwriters to Watch This Year

   Spotify, Shazam, and Vevo release their lists of artists and songwriters to watch in 2026, spotlighting emerging talent about to hit the mainstream. Who’s going to make it big in 2026? Spotify, Vevo, and Shazam have each released a list of artists and songwriters to keep an eye on this year, poised to make a […]

4. Too Lost Acquires MAYK’s ‘Social Meme Music’ Catalog—Cementing Its Role In the UGC Music Era

   Music distributor Too Lost has acquired the full catalog of MAYK, the user-generated content (UGC) music creation platform behind a wave of viral ‘social meme music’ popularized on TikTok and other social media platforms. This article was created in collaboration with DMN partner Too Lost. This move follows a multi-year partnership that began in 2021 […]

5. Cher Demands $1 Million in Legal Fees From Mary Bono After Resounding Copyright Win

   Cher asks a judge to force Sonny Bono’s widow to cover her $1 million legal fees after the legendary singer’s resounding win in her copyright battle. After winning her legal battle with Sonny Bono’s widow Mary, Cher is now asking a federal judge to put Mary on the hook for her $1 million legal fees, […]

6. 50 Cent Spearheads $124 Million Entertainment-Focused Investment In Shreveport, Louisiana

   50 Cent’s G-Unit Film & Television announces plans to invest over $124 million into Shreveport’s entertainment industry in a multi-phase initiative. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television Louisiana has announced a finalized agreement with the state to invest over $124 million in a multi-phase initiative to buoy Shreveport’s entertainment industry. The plan will […]

7. BTS, BigHit, Live Nation Reveal Larger-Than-Life Global 2026 Mega-Tour — With More Than 75 Shows Spanning 34 Regions

   K-pop kings BTS announce their much-anticipated return to the global stage with a world tour spanning 2026-2027—over 75 shows in 34 regions. News of the highly anticipated return of K-pop kings BTS is finally in the air, as the group announces a world tour spanning 2026 and 2027. Due to be the biggest global K-pop […]

8. Sony Music Publishing Acquires Big Yellow Dog Music—Catalog Incudes Meghan Trainor, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, and More

   Sony Music Publishing acquires indie publisher Big Yellow Dog Music, featuring songs from Meghan Trainor, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, and more. Sony Music Publishing Nashville has announced the acquisition of independent publishing and artist development company Big Yellow Dog Music (BYD), effective immediately. The agreement sees Sony Music Publishing as owner of BYD’s catalog of […]

9. Madison Beer Goes Big on ‘The Locket Tour’ Plus iHeartRadio Album Preview Streaming Live on TikTok

   Madison Beer gears up for The Locket Tour across North America, Europe, and the UK, including stops at MSG, Kia Forum, The O2, and Fenway. Platinum-selling sensation Madison Beer has announced a headlining tour with stops throughout North America, Europe, and the UK to support her forthcoming album, locket, which drops this Friday, January 16. […]

10. Cutting Edge Group Purchases Composer John Paesano’s Catalog — Including ‘Maze Runner,’ ‘Planet of the Apes,’ and ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ Scores

    Cutting Edge Group has acquired the over 80-score catalog of composer John Paesano, whose credits extend to multiple Maze Runner films, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and more. Cutting Edge reached out with word of its latest IP play this morning, pointing specifically to the purchase of “the royalty streams” behind Paesano’s career, […]

11. Trevor Noah Bids Farewell to Hosting the Grammys — After One Last Show, That Is

    Trevor Noah will host the Grammy Awards for the sixth year in a row, but CBS confirms it will be the comedian’s final time hosting the ceremony. On Tuesday, CBS announced that comedian Trevor Noah will host the upcoming Grammy Awards for the sixth year in a row. However, executive producer Ben Winston confirmed that […]

12. BMG Upgrades Global Berlin Headquarters to Iconic Lumina Building—If You Like Rooftops, You’re Gonna Wanna Check This Out

    BMG announces a move from its current global headquarters in Berlin to the top floor of the stunning Lumina building, also in Berlin, in early 2027. BMG has announced it will move its global headquarters to the top floor of Berlin’s iconic Lumina building, formerly Galeries Lafayette, in early 2027. The new headquarters will be […]

13. How Labelcaster Is Powering the New Generation of Indie Labels

    Independent labels are no longer fringe players in the music industry—they’ve become a powerful global force in the recorded music economy. Independent labels have risen to a 35% share of the overall U.S. on-demand audio streaming market in 2025. With the onslaught of uploaded music to DSPs, now over 120,000 tracks per day*, indie labels’ […]

14. TikTok Reportedly Realigns Stateside Staff Ahead of ‘TikTok USA’ Launch — Some Domestic Employees To Work Under a ByteDance-Owned Unit Post-Divestment

    TikTok is reportedly realigning its stateside staff ahead of the planned “TikTok USA” rollout – with certain team members transitioning to the new entity and others staying aboard a ByteDance-owned unit. Top-level details about the personnel recalibration came to light in a recent Business Insider piece. However, the changes’ particulars, including the precise number of […]

15. Live Sector Coalition Demands EU Regulatory Action Addressing ‘Ticket Resale Abuse’ — ‘We Need Quicker, Easily Enforceable Takedown Rules’

    Time to rein in secondary ticketing marketplaces? A live sector coalition is demanding EU regulatory action to address “ticket resale abuse” on platforms including Viagogo and StubHub International. That aptly named coalition, the Face-value European Alliance for Ticketing (FEAT), today urged enhanced ticket-resale regulations in an open letter. And said letter reached Michael McGrath, the...