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. Ohio Jury Sides With Afroman In High-Profile First Amendment Lawsuit Over ‘Lemon Pound Cake’

   A jury has sided with Afroman in a lawsuit initiated by deputies who took issue with the artist mocking them in music videos. The rapper quickly fought back on First Amendment and freedom of speech grounds. On Wednesday, an Ohio jury sided with rapper Afroman in a lawsuit filed against him by sheriff’s deputies who […]

2. Deezer Achieves Its First Year of Profitability In Fiscal 2025 — With ‘AI Transparency’ a Serious Differentiator

   Deezer reports its first year of profitability for the fiscal year 2025—the first time the French music streamer has surpassed all key metrics. On Wednesday, French music streamer Deezer unveiled its 2025 financials, reporting profitability for the first time and exceeding all three key metrics across adjusted EBITDA, positive net income, and free cash flow. […]

3. ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Global Concert Tour Planned by Netflix

   Capitalizing on its recent Oscar win and news of a sequel, Netflix is planning a ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ world tour, rumors reveal. Netflix is planning a KPop Demon Hunters global concert tour, according to a source familiar with the discussions on Wednesday. The rumor comes hot on the heels of the film’s Oscar win and […]

4. Sony Says It Has Removed 135,000+ Deepfakes of Its Artists’ Music

   Sony Music says it has requested the removal of more than 135,000 songs created by fraudsters impersonating its artists on streaming services. AI deepfakes of Beyoncé, Queen, and Harry Styles are among those removed. Digital Music News has been reporting on the existence of AI deepfakes proliferating on digital streaming providers like Spotify, which does […]

5. BMG Files Massive Copyright Suit Against Anthropic — 45-Page Complaint Alleges Training Infringement, Piracy, Unlawful Copying, CMI Removals, and More

   Anthropic is grappling with another massive infringement lawsuit – this time from BMG, which has accused the AI giant of running “roughshod over the rights of countless creatives and rightsholders.” BMG submitted its nearly 50-page complaint to a California federal court yesterday, about seven weeks after Universal Music and Concord fired off a sweeping suit […]

6. US States Suing Live Nation Call Their First Witness: The Employee Who Bragged About ‘Robbing’ Customers ‘Blind’

   The Live Nation employee who bragged to a coworker in private messages about “robbing customers blind” testified at the company’s antitrust trial. Benjamin Baker, Head of Ticketing for Venue Nation, Live Nation’s amphitheater division, became a star witness for the 30-plus states that are suing the company in a high-profile antitrust trial. Baker’s Slack messages […]

7. Vinyl Sales Are on the Rise, IFPI, RIAA, and Luminate Data Shows — But Do These Growth Stats Tell the Full Story?

   The possible “vinyl plateau” drew to a screeching halt during 2025 – at least according to newly released RIAA, IFPI, and Luminate sales data. But following sweeping methodology changes, do these stats tell the full story? As is so often the case in the music world, one seemingly straightforward question has the potential to elicit […]

8. EC Delays Its New Rules on Payouts for Radio and Public Performances—IMPALA Says Europe Desperately Needs to Speed It Up

   IMPALA calls on the EU to speed up its work so European rights holders do not lose revenue to countries that don’t offer the same levels of protection. The European Association of Independent Music Companies, IMPALA, is now calling on the European Commission (EC) to speed up its work. In a message blasted out this […]

9. Roland Introduces AI Melody-Generation Tool for Music Creators

   Instrument manufacturer Roland unveils Melody Flip, an AI-based melody-generation software based on research from Sony Computer Science Laboratories. Roland, an instrument manufacturer best known for its drum machines and synthesizers, has debuted a new melody-generation software, which taps research from Sony Computer Science Laboratories (Sony CSL). Melody Flip aims to combine Roland’s...

10. Avex Bags a Big One with Bruno Mars; Global Publishing Administration Deal Kicks Off Following BMG/Warner Chappell Agreement

    Avex Music Group announces a global publishing admin partnership with Bruno Mars, set to kick off following his current deal with BMG/Warner Chappell. Bruno Mars has entered into a publishing agreement with Japan’s Avex Music Group (AMG), which will serve as the artist’s publishing administrator following the conclusion of his current deal with BMG/Warner Chappell. […]

11. Spotify’s AI DJ Expands to Premium Listeners in New Markets, Including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Japan

    Spotify’s AI-based DJ is now available to Premium subscribers in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland. Starting today, Spotify’s AI-based DJ is now available to Premium Spotify listeners in both English and Spanish across several new markets. These include Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland....

12. Fred again.. Says Too Many Plugins Might Be Compromising Your Creativity

    Fred again.. says less is more when it comes to plugins, and saturating your workflow with too many of them may do more harm than good. British DJ and producer Fred again.. feels there’s very little difference between plugins in your digital audio workstation (DAW), and using too many of them might be stifling your […]

13. IFPI Report Reveals Nearly $32 Billion in 2025 Global Recorded Music Revenue — China Posts 20.1% Growth to Become the World’s Fourth-Largest Market

    Thanks in large part to continued paid streaming gains, the global music industry generated $31.7 billion in recorded revenue, up 6.4%, during 2025. Meanwhile, China, Mexico, and Brazil alike turned in double-digit growth. These and other figures come from the IFPI’s just-released 2026 Global Music Report. Behind the top-level revenue total, streaming’s contribution rose 7.7% […]

14. Live Nation Begins Doling Out Multimillion-Dollar Payments to States Following the DOJ Settlement — Initial Recipients Include Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Iowa

    Thirty states are charging forward with antitrust claims against Live Nation, though six other states have officially accepted the Justice Department’s settlement. Now, legal documents shared with Digital Music News reveal that many states negotiated multimillion-dollar payouts from Live Nation as part of their settlement agreements. We broke down the remaining state plaintiffs’ action...

15. Former Epstein Pal Ramsey Elkholy of Monotronic Issues Cease-and-Desist Against Digital Music News, Alleging ‘Implied Defamation’

    Los Angeles-based musician Ramsey Elkholy has now tapped New York-based firm Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins to lead his legal offensive against Digital Music News. An Aidala attorney has issued a cease-and-desist demand to Digital Music News following our reporting on Elkholy’s extensive communication and long-running relationship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, asserting...