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. Olivia Rodrigo Pre-Sale Becomes a High-Priced War-Zone

   Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing strikes again, angering fans with exorbitant ticket prices that some said should be “illegal” for an arena show. Olivia Rodrigo is embarking on the “Unraveled Tour,” a global trek with 65-plus dates in support of her forthcoming third album—but fans are already disgruntled over the pre-sale ticket prices. Unfortunately, it’s a tale […]

2. France’s SACEM Discloses Nearly $1.8 Billion in 2025 Distributions Amid Continued International Growth, Tech Upgrades

   Due in part to continued international collections growth, France’s Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music (SACEM) distributed a little over €1.5 billion (currently $1.77 billion) last year. That’s according to SACEM’s newly released 2025 annual report, which identified total collections of $2.01 billion/€1.71 billion (up 6% year over year). An all-encompassing online category...

3. Spotify Data Analysis Reveals the Secret Formula for Winning the Eurovision Song Contest

   As the Eurovision Song Contest marks its 70th anniversary, Spotify data provides unique insights into what makes a winning entry. Eurovision 2026 draws ever nearer, and Spotify has revealed newly released data that provides a deep dive into European listening habits and the most popular entries of all time. As one of the key moments […]

4. Sony Music Edges Closer to Acquiring Blackstone’s Recognition Music, According to Multiple Reports

   Sony Music Group is in the home stretch to acquire Blackstone’s Recognition Music Group at a $3.5 billion to $4 billion price tag. Sony Music Group is negotiating with Blackstone to acquire Recognition Music Group, according to reports from Bloomberg. If completed, the deal would be Sony’s third and largest acquisition of assets previously held […]

5. Is the King of Pop Coming for Queen? ‘Michael’ Is Now the 10th Highest-Grossing Biopic of All Time

   Michael continues to drive fans to the theater at a record pace, with worldwide box office numbers surpassing $430.3 million after its second week. Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic continues to exceed expectations, with overseas numbers boosting its overall worldwide success following its second weekend. Now, Michael has surpassed The Intouchables at the worldwide box […]

6. Time for a Takeover? Universal Music ‘Really Needs a Reset’ and ‘Has to Do Something’ Amid Rumored Investor Concerns, Pershing’s Bill Ackman Says

   Universal Music Group (UMG) “has to do something” and “really needs a reset” amid rumored investor concerns as well as a sagging share price – at least according to Pershing Square’s Bill Ackman, who’s weighing in after unveiling a $64 billion offer for the major label conglomerate. Ackman made these and other comments during a […]

7. Universal Music Fires Back Against Salt-N-Pepa Appeal in High-Stakes Copyright Termination Legal Battle

   Universal Music Group (UMG) has fired back against Salt-N-Pepa’s appeal in a high-stakes rights-reversion case involving “Push It” and a number of other well-known works. DMN’s been covering that courtroom confrontation since May 2025, when Salt-N-Pepa sued the major label for allegedly failing to honor a legitimate 2022 termination notice. Therein, Salt and Pepa sought […]

8. Minogue’s Got Momentum: Netflix Series Adds to UTA’s Win Streak After Vegas, AFL Grand Final Gigs

   United Talent Agency cashes in more wins on longtime Australian superstar Kylie Minogue, as Netflix announces a three-part documentary about her. Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for its upcoming three-part documentary about Aussie pop princess Kylie Minogue. Simply titled “Kylie,” the series promises to center on the life and career of one of Australia’s […]

9. How Hybrid Formats Are Reshaping the Album Experience

   For decades, streaming and social media platforms have made music access easier and more immediate. At the same time, the shift toward frictionless, algorithm-driven discovery has changed how listeners engage with music. In optimizing for convenience and scale, some elements of the traditional album experience, such as sequencing, artwork, and contextual storytelling, have become less […]

10. Antitrust Showdowns Aren’t Cheap: Live Nation Acknowledges $450 Million ‘Legal Accrual,’ Reports $371 Million Q1 2026 Operating Loss

    Marathon antitrust legal battles aren’t cheap: Live Nation has acknowledged a $450 million hit stemming from “governmental investigations and litigation,” and the massive expenditure contributed to a sizable Q1 2026 operating loss. The Ticketmaster parent disclosed that eye-watering legal bill in its newly released first-quarter performance breakdown. Though it probably doesn’t need saying,...

11. ElevenLabs Investors Now Include BlackRock, Eva Longoria, and Jamie Foxx

    AI voice company ElevenLabs has just announcd new investors in its $500 million Series D fundraise, including Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, BlackRock, and Nvidia. AI voice startup ElevenLabs first announced its Series D funding round in February, and now the company has revealed a list of new investors who contributed. These include entities like BlackRock, […]

12. What Is ‘Blue Dot Fever’? Empty Ticketmaster Seating Maps Are Suddenly Trending

    Empty seats on venue maps show that demand for concert tickets can’t keep up with the price, but artists continue to blame logistics and timing. Is this a blip or is something more serious brewing? Over the past few weeks, an increasing number of artists have postponed or removed dates from their tours—or cancelled entire […]

13. Can Spotify India Win the War Against Free? Latest Disclosures Reveal Surprising Premium Subscriber Gains

    Spotify has just revealed a promising milestone in India by successfully converting a substantial amount free users into paying subscribers. The gains are happening in a market long dominated by free content. India has traditionally remained a market driven by free content, thanks to platforms like YouTube and telecom-bundled music services. So when Spotify entered […]

14. SNEP, SACEM, and 79 Other French Organizations Back Aggressive AI Regulatory Bill — Proposed Law Would Presume Models Trained on ‘Cultural’ Works ‘Unless Proven Otherwise’

    Is it time to make “guilty until proven innocent” the norm in training-focused lawsuits against gen AI developers? SNEP, SACEM, and 79 other French organizations seem to believe so, as they’re aggressively backing a related bill. Those entities, plus different music-space reps, film-sector groups, and others yet, just recently voiced support for the legislation in […]

15. Indie Music Sector Flames Copyright Office Over ‘Disastrous’ 43% Registration Fee Increase

    A2IM led a coalition of indie orgs in filing a formal complaint with the U.S. Copyright Office, opposing the proposed 43% registration fee increase. On Monday, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) filed formal comments with the U.S. Copyright Office, leading a coalition of independent music organizations in opposing the Office’s proposed 43% average […]