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. Law Requiring AM Radio in Every Vehicle Gets Tossed From Federal Funding Bill

   The AM in Every Vehicle Act was excluded from the continuing resolution (CR) bill to fund the federal government. The National Association of Broadcasters lobbied to have the bill included, but musicians and the musicFirst Coalistion want to see the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) passed at the same time. The AMFA has strong bipartisan […]

2. Senators Urge Biden to Extend TikTok’s January 19th Forced-Sale Cutoff — ‘The Stakes Here Are High’

   With just 30 days remaining until TikTok’s forced-sale deadline in the U.S., senators from both sides of the aisle are asking the president to approve a one-time 90-day extension. Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) made that request in a straightforward letter to President Biden. As more than a few creators, businesses, and […]

3. Federal Judge Reportedly Prepares to Dismiss the Majority of Music Publishers’ Anthropic Lawsuit

   A federal judge is reportedly poised to dismiss the majority of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by music publishers against AI giant Anthropic. That development emerged during a hearing yesterday on Anthropic’s motion to dismiss. From the outset, we’ve covered the defendant’s efforts to toss the complaint, which alleges that Anthropic infringed upon a number […]

4. Usher’s ‘Past, Present, Future’ Tour Clocks 62 Straight Sellouts

   Usher wraps up the North American leg of his Past, Present, Future tour in Miami, clocking 62 sold-out shows across the trek. On December 19, entertainment icon Usher wrapped up the North American leg of his Past, Present, Future tour at Kaseya Center in Miami. Guests of the evening included Uncle Luke, DJ Khaled, and […]

5. Academy Disqualifies Robbie Williams’ ‘Better Man’ Track from Oscar Eligibility

   Despite making the finalists for Best Original Song at the Oscars, the Academy disqualifies Robbie Williams’ track from his recent biopic. Robbie Williams’ song, “Forbidden Road” from his recent biopic, Better Man, has been disqualified from Oscar eligibility at this year’s Academy Awards, despite having made the shortlist of 15 finalists. Written by Williams, Freddy […]

6. Def Jam Launches Ad-Supported TV Channel on Tubi, Samsung TV+

   Def Jam Recordings is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a new free, ad-supported TV (FAST) channel—the first of its kind in the United States. The new channel will feature both long-form and short-form content including music videos, documentaries, and live performances. Celebrated artists like LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, John Legend, and DMX are just […]

7. A (Final?) TikTok Christmas — Celebrating #HolidayMusic with Mariah Carey, WHAM!, Michael Bublé & More

   TikTok launches a festive in-app experience with exclusive content for the holiday season and reveals the top Christmas songs for 2024. With Christmas just around the corner — and TikTok’s future in the U.S. uncertain — the platform invites users to search for #HolidayMusic for a festive new in-app experience. The #HolidayMusic hub offers exclusive […]

8. Spotify Fires Back Against Drake’s ‘Not Like Us’ Streaming Manipulation Allegations: ‘No Evidence to Substantiate This Claim’

   Spotify has officially fired back against Drake’s claims that it and Universal Music conspired to artificially boost the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Update (12/20): Shortly after this piece’s publication, a Drake rep reached out with a statement from the artist’s legal team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. “It is not surprising that Spotify […]

9. ‘Freak-Off’ Turns Into ‘Sell-Off’: Diageo Actively Exploring the Sale of Cîroc Vodka After Tainted Diddy Association

   Spirits giant Diageo is exploring the sale of Cîroc Vodka after the brand’s association with the now-disgraced music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. London-headquartered spirits group Diageo is exploring the sale of Cîroc Vodka, after its association with now-disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who previously backed the brand. The company has contacted potential buyers, including […]

10. Fat Joe Ponders the Fate of Diddy, Jay-Z, and Other Hip-Hop Icons: ‘This Is the Worst Time to Be a Celebrity in the History of Mankind’

    Fat Joe tells Math Hoffa that 2024 might be the worst year in hip-hop history: ‘This is the worst time to be a celebrity in the history of mankind.’ If you thought 2024 was a subpar year, you’re not alone. Fat Joe thinks it might actually have been one of the worst years on record, […]

11. SiriusXM Shares Are Down More Than 60% YTD — Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Is Snapping Shares Up

    SiriusXM stock has fallen more than 60% over the past year, but Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has continued snapping up shares at the discounted price. Other hedge funds are joining in as SiriusXM re-focuses on its auto-listening segment. Quarterly revenue for SiriusXM rose sharply for several years before the COVID pandemic. But sales for the […]

12. Questlove-Directed SNL Music Documentary Coming to NBC

    A documentary about the music performances on Saturday Night Live (SNL), directed by Questlove, is coming to NBC. As “Saturday Night Live” celebrates 50 years, a documentary about the show’s music performances, directed by Questlove (Ahmir Thompson) and Oz Rodriguez debuts next month. The three-hour special, “Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music,” premieres […]

13. AI-Powered Concert Listings? Hearby Just Generated an App for That

    How much bigger can the global live concert space grow? Boston-based Hearby is betting that AI-generated concert searches can crack the discovery riddle and boost attendance across the board. Here’s a look at the just-launched ‘Ask Hearby.’ Ready for a break from AI infringement problems, endless legal battles, and dystopian nightmares? While most of the […]

14. Three Years Later, Universal Music Settles Trademark Lawsuit Filed Against Investment Platform Republic

    More than three years later, Universal Music Group (UMG) and the company behind Republic – the investment platform, not the label – have officially put their legal battle to rest. The involved parties just recently informed the court that they’d hammered out a settlement in their years-old trademark dispute. As we covered back in November […]

15. As the Industry Remains Laser-Focused on a Streaming Plateau, the Latest Data Shows Some Outright Subscriber Declines in the U.S.

    Following numerous signs of a paid-streaming plateau, new data is shedding light on an even more troubling trend: some outright subscriber declines in the world’s largest music market. That data comes from DMN Pro, which has now provided multiple in-depth looks during 2024 at the hard numbers behind the U.S. streaming space. Earlier in December, […]