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. IQ Magazine Integrates Hearby Gig Guide into Manchester Music Report

   IQ Magazine has incorporated Hearby’s gig discovery platform into its Manchester Report 2026, offering a data-backed view of one of the United Kingdom’s most active live music markets. This article was created in collaboratio nwith DMN partner Hearby. The report highlights Manchester’s sustained position as the UK’s second-largest live music hub. It pairs editorial analysis […]

2. Good Grief! ‘Peanuts’ Music Copyrights Owner Fires Off Four Infringement Lawsuits — U.S. Gov’t, Heritage Auctions, GameMill, and Buckle-Down Face Complaints

   What do the federal government, video game publisher GameMill Entertainment, Heritage Auctions, and belt-buckle specialist Buckle-Down have in common? For one thing, they’re facing infringement lawsuits from Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP), which controls the Peanuts music catalog. LMFP yesterday fired off all four complaints, which arrive hot on the heels of Sony Music’s deal […]

3. Live Nation and Ticketmaster ‘Must Be Separated,’ Dozens of US State AGs Demand in Stepped-Up Court Filings

   A group of state attorneys general demand the breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster a month after the trial that determined them to be a monopoly. On Thursday (May 21), the coalition of over 30 state attorneys general that sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster in a trial that found the live events giant to be […]

4. Interactive Digital Avatar of Ozzy Osbourne Is In the Wild and ‘Kind of Scary,’ Says Jack Osbourne

   Though he died last year, Ozzy Osbourne’s “digital DNA” will live on thanks to a partnership between the Osbournes and entertainment company Hyperreal. Sharon and Jack Osbourne, the late Ozzy’s wife and son, detailed plans to create an interactive digital avatar of the Prince of Darkness during the second day of Licensing Expo 2026 in […]

5. Music Industry Risks Becoming More Hostile Toward Working-Class Artists, According to Tinie Tempah

   The music industry runs the risk of excluding working-class musicians without saving small venues, Tinie Tempah said at the Ivor Novello Awards. Without efforts to save small venues that help grow budding artists and work to promote talent from diverse backgrounds, the music industry is likely to exclude working-class artists. That’s according to Tinie Tempah […]

6. Can Spotify Decommission Ticket Scalpers? DSP Launches ‘Reserved’ With Live Nation, Plans to Offer Pre-Sale Tickets to Artists’ ‘Most Dedicated Fans’

   Is Spotify the key to ensuring that superfans, not scalpers, secure face-value tickets to high-demand tours? We’re about to find out, as the streaming platform has debuted “Reserved” to set aside passes for diehard supporters. Spotify unveiled Reserved during its Investor Day event and in a formal release. Though said release mentions Live Nation a […]

7. Stability AI Releases ‘Stable Audio 3.0,’ Trained on Authorized Sources and Able to Generate 6-Minute Tracks

   Stability AI launches Stable Audio 3.0, AI music models trained entirely on licensed data and able to generate tracks of over six minutes in length. Stability AI has announced the launch of Stable Audio 3.0, a family of four new AI music models that the company promises are trained entirely on licensed data. These new […]

8. AI, Under Control? Spotify and Universal Music Group Announce Landmark DSP Licensing Agreements for Fan-Made, AI-Crafted Covers and Remixes

   Spotify and Universal Music Group have announced a licensing agreement for a ‘responsible AI’ tool to launch as a paid add-on for Spotify subscribers. It’s another step forward for UMG’s controlled, walled-garden AI licensing vision, one that isn’t quite working for companies like Suno. Today, Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) have announced landmark recorded...

9. Mick Jagger Spotted in Italy Filming a Major New Motion Picture

   Mick Jagger has arrived on the island of Stromboli, near Sicily, to film Italian director Alice Rohrwacher’s adaptation of “Three Incestuous Sisters.” Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger was postponed by a day, but arrived via helicopter this week on the island of Stromboli, off the coast of Sicily. There, he will star in Italian director […]

10. Ontario Begins Enforcement of Its Hardline Ticket-Scalping Ban, the Most Aggressive Ticket Resale Law In North America

    Ontario’s ban on resale-for-profit is now the most aggressive ticket resale law in North America, overtaking Maine’s 10% resale price cap that passed in June 2025. The Canadian province now joins Ireland, Denmark, Italy, and France in banning ticket resale-for-profit, while the UK and select states in the US only have proposed caps. The Ontario […]

11. ‘Protect Working Musicians Act’ Reintroduced in Congress — Proposed Law Would Enable Indie Musicians ‘To Collectively Refuse to License Their Music’ for Streaming and Gen AI

    A federal lawmaker has reintroduced the Protect Working Musicians Act, which is designed to enable indie musicians “to collectively negotiate music licensing terms with” on-demand streaming and gen AI platforms. Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC) once again introduced the legislation today, with Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) aboard as cosponsors. As some will […]

12. Winners of the Ivor Novello Awards 2026 Announced

    Winners of the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards have been announced, including Thom Yorke, George Michael, Sam Fender, Calvin Harris, Rosalia, and more. On Thursday, May 21, the winners of the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards were announced at the annual awards ceremony held at Grosvenor House, London, recognizing and celebrating exceptional achievements in British and Irish […]

13. The ‘No Fakes’ Act is Back — But After ‘Dying in Committee,’ Can a 2026 Version Pass in Congress?

    The first version of the NO FAKES Act “died in committee” after being introduced in the summer of 2024. But a 2026 version has reared its head. Will the new-and-improved version make headway? A revised version of the NO FAKES Act (Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act), a bill originally introduced in […]

14. Rapper Russ, Easy Street Records Among the Biggest Winners at Music Biz 2026

    The Music Business Association’s annual conference, Music Biz 2026, saw artist Russ honored with a gargantuan NMPA Gold & Platinum Recognition plaque. Hosted by the Music Business Association, Music Biz 2026 took place last week at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, the annual event’s second edition in the city. Attendees were treated to industry-defining conversations and […]

15. Democrats Intensify the Pressure on a Live Nation/Ticketmaster Split: “It’s Time for Structural Remedies”

    At a congressional hearing this week on Capitol Hill, lawmakers and industry advocates argued that the antitrust verdict against Live Nation was simply wrong. On Monday, lawmakers, artists, promoters, and independent venue operators used a congressional forum to argue for widespread structural changes across the live entertainment industry in light of the antitrust verdict against […]